O almighty eternal God, You who are always ready to receive the sinner and
to pardon him, look mercifully upon me, who, after having offended You so often,
now desires to return to You by this holy sacrament. Help me to make the necessary
preparation to receive it worthily. Enlighten my mind, that I may see all of my sins clearly.
Soften my heart, that I may be truly sorry for them. Give me the grace and courage to
confess then sincerely, and thus obtain Your pardon, through Jesus Christ Our Lord
and Savior. Amen
Prayers after Examination
O My God, I cry to Thee with the prodical son: "Father, I have sinned against heaven and
before Thee; I may no longer be worthy to be called Thy son." Thou Whose property is
always to have mercy and to spare the pentitent, O have pity, and embrace me in love
and forgive me all my sins. I confess my sins unto Thee, O Christ, Healer of our souls,
Lord of life. Heal my of my spiritual sickness, Thou Who art long-suffering and of
tender mercy; heal me, O Lord Christ. Thou, O God, seest me in all the foulness of my sins!
Blessed Jesus, speak for me, plead for me, come between my soul and my offended God,
that I perish not. Amen.
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all of my sins, because
I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God.
Who art all good and deserving of all of my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to
confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.
Prayers after Performing Penance
Eternal Father! I thank Thee for Thy goodnes and mercy. Thou hast had compassion on me,
although in my folly I had wandered far away from Thee and offended Thee most grieviously.
With fatherly love Thou has received me anew after so many relapses into sin and forgiven me
my offenses through the holy sacrament of Penance. Blessed be Thy infinite mercy! Never
again will I offend Thee. All that I am, and all that I have, shall be consecrated to Thy service
and Thy glory. Amen
