Prayers for Forgiveness
Psalm 50 — the Miserere — is the Church's great confession psalm, prayed every Friday morning for fifteen centuries. The Act of Contrition is its short form; the confessional is where both are aimed.
Traditional prayers
Act of Contrition
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.
Our Father (Lord's Prayer)
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
From Scripture
3Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.
4Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
9Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.
12Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels.
— Psalm 50 (51) — Miserere, vv. 3-4, 9, 12, Douay-Rheims · read the full chapter
9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all iniquity.
— 1 John 1, vv. 9, Douay-Rheims · read the full chapter
Psalm numbers follow the Douay-Rheims (Vulgate) numbering; the common Hebrew numbering appears in parentheses.
Pray a novena
How to use these prayers
These prayers prepare for the sacrament rather than replace it — find confession times near you on this site, and see our step-by-step confession guide if it's been a while.