Preparation and thanksgiving
Confession Prayers
A calm, practical preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, with prayers before and after confession.
Prayer Before Examining Your Conscience
O Holy Spirit, source of light, come to my assistance.
Show me my sins as they truly are before God:
not to discourage me, but to draw me to the mercy of Jesus Christ.
Give me sincerity to hide nothing, humility to accuse myself without excuse,
true sorrow for having offended God,
and a firm purpose to amend my life. Amen.
A Concise Examination of Conscience
This is a starting point, not an exhaustive list. Review serious sins in kind and number as far as you can remember, and follow the guidance of your confessor.
- God: Have I neglected prayer, Sunday Mass, the sacraments, or reverence for God’s name? Have I trusted superstition, resentment, or fear more than God?
- Neighbor: Have I failed in charity, truth, justice, forgiveness, chastity, or my duties to family and those entrusted to me?
- Self: Have I misused food, drink, sexuality, money, technology, work, or leisure? Have I cared responsibly for my body and vocation?
- Omissions: What good did I knowingly refuse to do? Whose needs did I ignore?
Prayer for Contrition
O Lord Jesus Christ, lover of our souls, who for the great love You bear us
willed to suffer death upon the Cross,
give me true sorrow that I have offended You.
I cast myself into the arms of Your mercy.
Wash away my sins in Your Precious Blood,
and grant that I may love You faithfully from this hour until death. Amen.
Immediately Before Confession
Merciful Father, I come as I am.
Let me confess simply, completely, and without fear.
Place Your words on my lips and Your peace in my heart.
Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You,
and I detest all my sins because of Your just punishments,
but most of all because they offend You, my God,
who are all-good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace,
to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.
Prayer After Confession
Eternal Father, I thank You for the mercy You have shown me
through the merits of Jesus Christ.
Accept the penance given to me and supply what is lacking in my sorrow.
Strengthen me against temptation, restore what sin has wounded,
and let this sacrament bear fruit in a life of charity and peace. Amen.
Prayer for Perseverance and Amendment of Life
My Savior, I have promised to renounce sin and its occasions.
You know my weakness; do not permit me to be separated from You.
Give me watchfulness in danger, courage in temptation,
patience when I fall, and perseverance in beginning again,
until I see You face to face. Amen.