Time Is Of The Essence

We are seeing and hearing more and more of the desperate plight of the people in Haiti after the devastating earthquake.

The people of Haiti desperately need our aid and support. You may begin by going to the site for Catholic Relief Services, and making a donation now. If you are not comfortable making a donation online, you may donate to Catholic Relief Services by phone, by calling 1-800-736-3467 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (U.S. and Canada), or you may send a check by mail to: Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090


You may also go to The Hunger Site, and click on the banner entitled “Earthquake in Haiti - PLEASE HELP NOW”.

This is so important, that this same post is going to be placed on all of the Faith of the Fathers blogs.

Let’s all do what we can. No matter how little it seems, all donations help.

John 15 : 7

 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be done unto you.

Prayers for Confession

 

 

Below, there are prayers for the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation (Confession). The first three prayers are Acts of Contrition. Any one of the three forms may be prayed. I personally prefer the first.

The next prayer, can be prayed before going to Confession.

Finally, the last prayer is prayed after Confession to give thanks to God for His forgiveness and Grace.

*        *        *        *        *        *        *

Acts of Contrition

1.

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 the near occasions of sin. 
Amen


2.

My God,
I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good,
I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things.
I firmly intend, with your help,
to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us.
In his name, my God, have mercy.
Amen

3.

O my God,
I am sorry for my sins because I have offended you.
I know I should love you above all things.
Help me to do penance, to do better,
and to avoid anything that might lead me to sin.
Amen.

*        *        *        *        *        *        *

Before Confession

Receive my confession,
O most loving and gracious Lord Jesus Christ,
only hope for the salvation of my soul.
Grant to me true contrition of soul,
so that day and night I may by penance
make satisfaction for my many sins.

Savior of the world,
O good Jesus,
Who gave Yourself to the death of the Cross to save sinners,
look upon me,
most wretched of all sinners;
have pity on me,
and give me the light to know my sins,
true sorrow for them,
and a firm purpose of never committing them again.

O gracious Virgin Mary,
Immaculate Mother of Jesus,
I implore you to obtain for me
by your powerful intercession
these graces from you Divine Son.
St. Joseph, pray for me.
Amen

*        *        *        *        *        *        *

After Confession

O almighty and most merciful God, I give You thanks with all the powers of my soul for this and all other mercies, graces, and blessings bestowed on me, and prostrating myself at Your sacred feet, I offer myself to be henceforth forever Yours.

Let nothing in life or death ever separate me from You! I renounce with my whole soul all my treasons against You, and all the abominations and sins of my past life.
I renew my promises made in Baptism, and from this moment I dedicate myself eternally to Your love and service.

Grant that for the time to come, I may detest sin more than death itself, and avoid all such occasions and companies as have unhappily brought me to it.
This I resolve to do by the aid of Your divine grace, without which I can do nothing. 

Amen.