Instructions for using the Repentance Prayer

The process is between you and God, so see it with your eyes, say it with your mouth, and hear it with your ears. Expect God to hear and answer your prayer. Respond with praise and thanksgiving aloud!

A process of repentance from the Catholic tradition

Prayer for Self-Knowledge

0 Blessed Trinity, please help me to know my deeds and my heart without deception. Save me, dear God, from falsehood and pretension, not only in the eyes of others, but in the depths of my own soul. I ask for the grace to know clearly how I have sinned, and how I have failed You. Most particularly, to realize the roots and reasons, and sources of my sins. To begin to see myself as I really am, to acknowledge the deep flaws and weaknesses of character that lie under the surface of my behavior. What kind of a person am I, God?

Lord, help me also to be completely sorry once again for all the ugly, hateful, and unspeakable past sin of my life. Come, Holy Spirit fill my mind with light and my heart with honesty. Search me, Lord.

Contrition

(Sorrow of the Soul and detesting the sins committed)

My God, I am sorry for all my sins, offenses, arid negligence. I am sincerely sorry for the good I have not done, for the good I have done poorly, for any evil I have done. I am sorry for the failures, even for the faults I do not remember; and I am especially sorry for.... (specific Faults and sins). Lord Christ, I cannot pretend that I have shown in my actions the love I claim to have for You in my heart. I see in my life sloth and self-seeking and smallness and mean habits and cheap ways. I am not surprised, for I know my petty weaknesses, ugly impulses and secret hidden hatefulness. My God, You have spent a lot of grace on me, and I show little gain for it.

And yet most dear and holy Father, do not give up on me, I plead. I have said it so often, yet I say it again; My God, I am sorry. I am sorry for everything in me that displeases YOU. I am sorry for my sins. I am sorry because I am truly ashamed of the deeds I have done. But, dear God, I am sorry most of all because I have offended You. You are infinitely good; and in spite of all, I love You. Lord Jesus, I am sorry for sending You to the cross. Holy Spirit I am sorry for all the times! have offended You. Most loving God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I beg You in Your love and mercy to forgive me.

Resolution

“And I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace not to sin again.” Dear God, how often I have said those words! Too often they have not amounted to much, yet now, once more, I say them, and I want to mean them. I do want to avoid all evil. I do desire to pray better, be better. I would like to love You, Lord, as I should. I want to be a better Christian.

“With the help of Thy grace”... Those are the words that count, my God! All my resolutions are breath and words and halting, feeble desires, but Your grace is sufficient Lord Christ, You are the same Mighty One who forgave Magdalene, Peter, and the good thief, and your grace does not grow weak with the years. Jesus, I ask You, please do something with me, to me, about me and in me. Lord Christ, change me; make me everything You want me to be.

Holy Spirit come to me with Your rich gifts, especially the gift of fortitude. Make me strong with Your overpowering strength, and kindle in my heart the fire of Your love.

Thanksgiving

Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit from the bottom of my heart I offer You my thanks for all your countless gifts and blessings to me.

Thank You for the precious gift of life. Thank You for giving me my mind, my will and my emotions. Thank You for all the opportunities You have given me through my parents, friends arid family. May I be worthy of these gifts.

Thank You, loving Father, for the gift of redemption; for the Blessed Incarnation of Your only begotten Son. For all the perfect things He said and did on earth, for His passion, death and resurrection. Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit who came to me and who will dwell in me as long as I live.

Dear God, thank You for the gift of faith. Thank You for the sure hope of seeing You one day, Face to face in complete and everlasting happiness. Thank You for the gift of eternal life. Thank You for forgiving me now and giving me a fresh start.