Prayer
before Examination of Conscience.
0 most
merciful God, I give thee most humble and
hearty thanks for all thy mercies unto me, and, parti-
cularly at this time, for thy forbearance and long-
suffering with me, notwithstanding my many and griev-
ous sins. It is of thy great mercy that I have not
fallen into greater and more grievous sins than those
which I have committed, and that I have not been cut
off and cast into hell. O my God, although I have
been so ungrateful to thee in times past, yet now, I
beseech thee to accept me returning to thee with an
earnest desire to repent, and devote myself to thee, my
Lord and my God, and to praise thy holy Name for ever.
Enlighten me, O God, for thou knowest all my ways
and observest all my footsteps. Come, thou true light,
and dispel the darkness of my heart, that I may see
what in me is displeasing unto thee, and that with a
contrite heart I may bewail my sins, rightly confess
them, and effectually forsake and amend them.
Receive my confession, and spare me, O most gra-
cious Lord Jesus Christ, whom I, an unworthy sinner,
am not worthy to name, because I have so often offended
thee through my fault, through my own fault, through
my own most grievous fault, Behold, O God, I humbly
bow my knees before thee. I blush and am con-
founded, and am ashamed to lift up my face unto thee;
for my iniquities are multiplied, and as a heavy burden
oppress me. But thou, O most merciful Jesus, be mer-
ciful unto me a sinner. Rebuke me not in thine anger,
and cast me not away from thy face, O good Jesus,
who hast said that thou willest not the death of a sin-
ner, but rather that he should be converted and live.
Receive me, I beseech thee, returning to thee with a
penitent and contrite heart. Thou art my Saviour and
[p]ray God ; I am thy servant, although a wicked one, and
a most unworthy sinner. Spare me, O most kind Jesus,
who didst die upon the cross that thou mightest save
sinners. To whom shall I flee but unto thee, my only
hope and my salvation? If thou dost reject me, who
will receive me ? To whom shall I look for assistance ?
Who will heal my iniquities? Have mercy upon me,
O most gracious Lord, and despise not the humble and
contrite heart of thy servant. Grant me, I beseech
thee, perfect contrition for my sins,* that I may detest
them with the deepest sorrow of heart. Send forth thy
light into my soul, and discover to me all those sins
which I ought to confess at this time.
Assist me by thy grace, that I may be able to declare
them to the priest thy vicar, fully, humbly, and with a
contrite heart, and so obtain perfect remission of them
all through thine infinite goodness. Amen.
O most gracious Virgin Mary, beloved Mother of
Jesus Christ [p]ray 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 angel
guardian; of you, my holy patrons N. N. ; of you,
O holy Peter and holy Magdalen, and of all the
saints of God. Intercede for me a sinner, repenting
of my sins, and resolving to confess and amend them.
Amen.
*
From The Golden Manual, 1850
