Prayers After Confession

O most merciful God, who according to the multitude of Thy mercies

dost so put away the sins of those who truly repent that Thou

rememberest them no more: look graciously upon me, Thine unworthy

servant, and accept my confession for Thy mercy’s sake ; receive my

humble thanks, most loving Father, that of Thy great goodness Thou hast

given me pardon for all my sins. O may Thy love and pity supply

whatsoever has been wanting in the sufficiency of my contrition, and the

fulness of my confession. And do Thou, O Lord, vouchsafe to grant me

the help of Thy grace, that I may diligently amend my life and persevere

in Thy service unto the end, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Act Before Confession

(St. Alphonsus de Liguori)
O God of infinite majesty, behold at Thy feet a traitor, who has offended
Thee over and over again, but who now humbly seeks forgiveness. O
Lord, reject me not ; Thou dost not despise a heart that humbles itself : A
contrite heart and humbled heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. I thank
Thee that Thou hast waited for me till now, and hast not let me die in sin,
casting me into hell, as I deserved. Since Thou hast waited for me, my
God, I hope that, by the merits of Jesus Christ, Thou wilt pardon me in
this confession for all the offences I have committed against Thee ; I
repent, and am sorry for them, because by them I have merited hell and
lost paradise. But above all, it is not so much on account of hell which I
have merited, but because I have offended Thee, O Infinite Goodness!
that I am sorry from the bottom of my heart. I love Thee, O Sovereign
Good! and because I love Thee, I repent of all the insults I have offered
Thee. I have turned my back upon Thee ; I have not respected Thee ; I
have despised Thy grace and Thy friendship. O Lord! I have lost Thee by
my own free-will ; forgive me all my sins for the love of Jesus Christ,
now that I repent with all my heart ; I hate, detest, and abominate them
above every evil. And I repent not only of mortal sins, but also of venial
sins, because these are also displeasing to Thee. I resolve for the future,
by Thy grace, never more wilfully to offend Thee. Yes, my God, I will
rather die than ever sin again.

Prayer Before Confession

Accept my confession, O my loving, most gracious Lord Jesus Christ, on

whom alone my soul trusts for salvation. Grant me, I beseech Thee,

contrition of heart, and give tears to mine eyes, that I may sorrow deeply

for all my sins with humility and sincerity of heart.

O good Jesus, Saviour of the world, who gavest Thyself to the death of

the Cross to save sinners, look on me, a miserable sinner who calls upon

Thy name. Spare me, Thou that art my Saviour, and pity my sinful soul ;

loose its chains, heal its sores. Lord Jesus, I desire Thee, I seek Thee, I

long for Thee ; show me the light of Thy countenance, and I shall be

saved ; send forth Thy light and Thy truth into my soul, to show me fully

all the sins and shortcomings which I must still confess, and to aid and

teach me to lay them bare without reserve and with a contrite heart ; O

Thou who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the

Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

O most gracious Virgin Mary, beloved Mother of Jesus Christ, my

Redeemer, intercede for me with Him. Obtain for me the full remission of

my sins, and perfect amendment of life, to the salvation of my soul and

the glory of His name. Amen.

I implore the same grace of thee, O my Guardian Angel ; of you, my holy

Patrons, N. N. ; of you, O blessed Peter and holy Magdalen, and of all the

Saints of God. Intercede for me a sinner, repenting of my sins, firmly

resolving to confess them, and to avoid them for the future. 

Amen.