“A Special Act of Sorrow” is a prayer of contrition that acknowledges the full breadth of human sinfulness across all stages and aspects of life. This profound act of repentance expresses deep sorrow for offending God’s tender heart, while seeking forgiveness and grace for spiritual transformation through Christ’s Passion. The prayer serves as a complete examination of conscience and heartfelt plea for mercy, making it particularly valuable for preparation for confession or personal devotional practice.
Forgive me my sins, O Lord, forgive me my sins; the sins of my youth, the sins of my age, the sins of my soul, the sins of my body; my idle sins, my serious voluntary sins, the sins I know, the sins I have concealed so long, and which are now hidden from my memory.
I am truly sorry for every sin, mortal and venial, for all the sins of my childhood up to the present hour. I know my sins have wounded Thy tender Heart, O my Savior, let me be freed from the bonds of evil through the most bitter Passion of my Redeemer.
O my Jesus, forget and forgive what I have been, and grant me grace to be what I ought to be.
The “Litany of Penance“ is a prayer asking for God’s mercy, forgiveness, and aid in turning from sin. It invokes Jesus Christ, recalling His mercy and forgiveness shown to many sinners and outcasts in the Bible – from Adam to Zacchaeus. It asks for the grace to judge ourselves and produce worthy fruits of penance so that sin does not reign in us. The prayer seeks pardon, peace, cleansing from offenses, and the ability to serve God with a quiet mind.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Incarnate Lord, have mercy on us. Lover of souls, have mercy on us. Savior of sinners, have mercy on us.
Who didst come to seek those that were lost, have mercy on us. Who didst fast for them forty days and nights, have mercy on us. By Thy tenderness towards Adam when he fell, have mercy on us. By Thy faithfulness to Noah in the ark, have mercy on us. By Thy remembrance of Lot in the midst of sinners, have mercy on us. By Thy mercy on the Israelites in the desert, have mercy on us. By Thy forgiveness of David after his confession, have mercy on us. By Thy patience with wicked Ahab on his humiliation, have mercy on us. By Thy restoration of the penitent Manasseh, have mercy on us. By Thy long suffering towards the Ninevites, when they went in sackcloth and ashes, have mercy on us. By Thy blessing on the Maccabees, who fasted before the battle, have mercy on us. By Thy choice of John to go before Thee as the preacher of penance, have mercy on us. By Thy testimony to the Publican, who hung his head and smote his breast, have mercy on us. By Thy welcome given to the returning Prodigal,have mercy on us. By Thy gentleness with the woman of Samaria, have mercy on us. By Thy condescension towards Zacchaeus, persuading him to restitution, have mercy on us. By Thy pity upon the woman taken in adultery, have mercy on us. By Thy love of Magdalen, who loved much, have mercy on us.
By Thy converting look, at which Peter wept, have mercy on us. By Thy gracious words to the thief upon the cross, have mercy on us.
We sinners, we beseech Thee, hear us. That we may judge ourselves, as to escape Thy judgment, we beseech Thee, hear us. That we may bring forth worthy fruits of penance, we beseech Thee, hear us. That sin may not reign in our mortal bodies, we beseech Thee, hear us. That we may work out our salvation with fear and trembling, we beseech Thee, hear us. Son of God, we beseech Thee, hear us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
O Lord, hear our prayer. And let our cry come unto Thee.
Let us pray: Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to Thy faithful, pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their offenses, and also serve Thee with a quiet mind, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The “Seven Penitential Psalms“ (Psalm 6, Psalm 32, Psalm 38, Psalm 51, Psalm 102, Psalm 130, Psalm 143) are seven psalms of repentance that are customarily prayed throughout the season of Lent as a penance for one’s sinfulness. These psalms help to acknowledge one’s sins and to seek forgiveness from the Lord.
Psalm 6 Do not reprove me in your anger, LORD, nor punish me in your wrath. Have pity on me, LORD, for I am weak; heal me, LORD, for my bones are shuddering.
My soul too is shuddering greatly– and you, LORD, how long? Turn back, LORD, rescue my soul; save me because of your mercy.
For in death there is no remembrance of you. Who praises you in Sheol?
I am wearied with sighing; all night long I drench my bed with tears; I soak my couch with weeping.
My eyes are dimmed with sorrow, worn out because of all my foes.
Away from me, all who do evil! The LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD will receive my prayer.
My foes will all be disgraced and will shudder greatly; they will turn back in sudden disgrace.
Psalm 32 Blessed is the one whose fault is removed, whose sin is forgiven.
Blessed is the man to whom the LORD imputes no guilt, in whose spirit is no deceit.
Because I kept silent, my bones wasted away; I groaned all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength withered as in dry summer heat.
Then I declared my sin to you; my guilt I did not hide. I said, “I confess my transgression to the LORD,” and you took away the guilt of my sin.
Therefore every loyal person should pray to you in time of distress. Though flood waters threaten, they will never reach him.
You are my shelter; you guard me from distress; with joyful shouts of deliverance you surround me.
I will instruct you and show you the way you should walk, give you counsel with my eye upon you.
Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding; with bit and bridle their temper is curbed, else they will not come to you.
Many are the sorrows of the wicked one, but mercy surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; exult, all you upright of heart.
Psalm 38 LORD, do not punish me in your anger; in your wrath do not chastise me!
Your arrows have sunk deep in me; your hand has come down upon me.
There is no wholesomeness in my flesh because of your anger; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.
My iniquities overwhelm me, a burden too heavy for me.
Foul and festering are my sores because of my folly.
I am stooped and deeply bowed; every day I go about mourning.
My loins burn with fever; there is no wholesomeness in my flesh.
I am numb and utterly crushed; I wail with anguish of heart.
My Lord, my deepest yearning is before you; my groaning is not hidden from you.
My heart shudders, my strength forsakes me; the very light of my eyes has failed.
Friends and companions shun my disease; my neighbors stand far off.
Those who seek my life lay snares for me; they seek my misfortune, they speak of ruin; they plot treachery every day.
But I am like the deaf, hearing nothing, like the mute, I do not open my mouth,
I am even like someone who does not hear, who has no answer ready.
LORD, it is for you that I wait; O Lord, my God, you respond.
For I have said that they would gloat over me, exult over me if I stumble.
I am very near to falling; my wounds are with me always.
I acknowledge my guilt and grieve over my sin.
My enemies live and grow strong, those who hate me grow numerous fraudulently,
Repaying me evil for good, accusing me for pursuing good.
Do not forsake me, O LORD; my God, be not far from me!
Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my salvation!
Psalm 51 Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love; in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions.
Thoroughly wash away my guilt; and from my sin cleanse me.
For I know my transgressions; my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your eyes So that you are just in your word, and without reproach in your judgment.
Behold, I was born in guilt, in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, you desire true sincerity; and secretly you teach me wisdom.
Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
You will let me hear gladness and joy; the bones you have crushed will rejoice.
Turn away your face from my sins; blot out all my iniquities.
A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit.
Do not drive me from before your face, nor take from me your holy spirit.
Restore to me the gladness of your salvation; uphold me with a willing spirit.
I will teach the wicked your ways, that sinners may return to you.
Rescue me from violent bloodshed, God, my saving God, and my tongue will sing joyfully of your justice.
Lord, you will open my lips; and my mouth will proclaim your praise.
For you do not desire sacrifice or I would give it; a burnt offering you would not accept.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn.
Treat Zion kindly according to your good will; build up the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will desire the sacrifices of the just, burnt offering and whole offerings; then they will offer up young bulls on your altar.
Psalm 102 LORD, hear my prayer; let my cry come to you.
Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.
For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn away as in a furnace.
My heart is withered, dried up like grass, too wasted to eat my food.
From my loud groaning I become just skin and bones.
I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.
I lie awake and moan, like a lone sparrow on the roof.
All day long my enemies taunt me; in their rage, they make my name a curse.
I eat ashes like bread, mingle my drink with tears.
Because of your furious wrath, you lifted me up just to cast me down.
My days are like a lengthening shadow; I wither like the grass.
But you, LORD, are enthroned forever; your renown is for all generations.
You will again show mercy to Zion; now is the time for pity; the appointed time has come.
Its stones are dear to your servants; its dust moves them to pity.
The nations shall fear your name, LORD, all the kings of the earth, your glory,
Once the LORD has rebuilt Zion and appeared in glory,
Heeding the plea of the lowly, not scorning their prayer.
Let this be written for the next generation, for a people not yet born, that they may praise the LORD:
“The LORD looked down from the holy heights, viewed the earth from heaven,
To attend to the groaning of the prisoners, to release those doomed to die.”
Then the LORD’s name will be declared on Zion, his praise in Jerusalem,
When peoples and kingdoms gather to serve the LORD.
He has shattered my strength in mid-course, has cut short my days.
I plead, O my God, do not take me in the midst of my days. Your years last through all generations.
Of old you laid the earth’s foundations; the heavens are the work of your hands.
They perish, but you remain; they all wear out like a garment; Like clothing you change them and they are changed,
but you are the same, your years have no end.
May the children of your servants live on; may their descendants live in your presence.
Psalm 130 Out of the depths I call to you, LORD;
Lord, hear my cry! May your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
If you, LORD, keep account of sins, Lord, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness and so you are revered.
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits and I hope for his word.
My soul looks for the Lord more than sentinels for daybreak.
More than sentinels for daybreak,
let Israel hope in the LORD, For with the LORD is mercy, with him is plenteous redemption,
And he will redeem Israel from all its sins.
Psalm 143 LORD, hear my prayer; in your faithfulness listen to my pleading; answer me in your righteousness.
Do not enter into judgment with your servant; before you no one can be just.
The enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground. He has made me dwell in darkness like those long dead.
My spirit is faint within me; my heart despairs.
I remember the days of old; I ponder all your deeds; the works of your hands I recall.
I stretch out my hands toward you, my soul to you like a parched land.
Hasten to answer me, LORD; for my spirit fails me. Do not hide your face from me, lest I become like those descending to the pit.
In the morning let me hear of your mercy, for in you I trust. Show me the path I should walk, for I entrust my life to you.
Rescue me, LORD, from my foes, for I seek refuge in you.
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your kind spirit guide me on ground that is level.
For your name’s sake, LORD, give me life; in your righteousness lead my soul out of distress.
In your mercy put an end to my foes; all those who are oppressing my soul, for I am your servant.
“Psalm 51“ is a prayer of repentance and plea for God’s mercy and forgiveness. The psalmist acknowledges his transgressions and asks God to cleanse him from his iniquities. The psalm emphasizes the importance of true repentance, a contrite heart, and the need for God’s grace to restore the sinner. It also expresses the psalmist’s desire for renewal, a steadfast spirit, and the joy of God’s salvation.
Have mercy on me, God, in your goodness; in your abundant compassion blot out my offense. Wash away all my guilt; from my sin cleanse me. For I know my offense; my sin is always before me.
Against you alone have I sinned; I have done such evil in your sight That you are just in your sentence, blameless when you condemn.
True, I was born guilty, a sinner, even as my mother conceived me. Still, you insist on sincerity of heart; in my inmost being teach me wisdom.
Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure; wash me, make me whiter than snow. Let me hear sounds of joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Turn away your face from my sins; blot out all my guilt. A clean heart create for me, God; renew in me a steadfast spirit. Do not drive me from your presence, nor take from me your holy spirit.
Restore my joy in your salvation; sustain in me a willing spirit. I will teach the wicked your ways, that sinners may return to you.
Rescue me from death, God, my saving God, that my tongue may praise your healing power. Lord, open my lips; my mouth will proclaim your praise.
For you do not desire sacrifice; a burnt offering you would not accept. My sacrifice, God, is a broken spirit; God, do not spurn a broken, humbled heart.
The “Prayer of Daily Neglects“ focuses on atoning for the small faults and negligences that occur in daily life. It involves reflecting on moments when we have been inattentive to those around us, wasted time, or failed in small ways, and asking for God’s mercy. The prayer helps us to become more conscious of minor sins and to make amends through contrition, resolution to improve, and grace sought from God.
A powerful prayer of penance that is prayed after confessing one’s sins to a priest in confession. After making an act of contrition, the priest will grant absolution to the penitent, absolving him/her of their sins by the grace of God.
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all, because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid in the near occasion of sin. Amen.
