forgiveness – A Collection of Prayers

Confession

Almighty and most merciful Father,
we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much
the devices and desires of our own hearts.
We have offended against thy holy laws.
We have left undone those things which we ought to have done,
and we have done those things which we ought not to have done,
and there is no health in us:
but thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders.
Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults.
Restore thou them that be penitent,
according to thy promises declared unto mankind,
in Christ Jesu our Lord.
And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life,
to the glory of thy holy name. Amen.

Source: Book of Common Prayer, 1552, Confession at Morning Prayer. Spelling updated.

Revised/updated in The Worship Sourcebook:

Almighty and merciful God,
we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much
the devices and desires of our own hearts.
We have offended against your holy laws.
We have left undone those things which we ought to have done;
and we have done those things which we ought not to have done.
O Lord, have mercy upon us.
Spare those who confess their faults.
Restore those who are penitent,
according to your promises declared to the world
in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
And grant, O merciful God, for his sake,
that we may live a holy, just, and humble life
to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

Source: The Worship Sourcebook, first edition, 2004, p. 90, Book of Common Prayer, (1552) alt., public domain.

C. S. Lewis offers his comments on this confession in his article, “Miserable Offenders” An Interpretation of Prayer Book Language https://anglicanhistory.org/usa/advent/misoff.html

Rite Two in the Book of Common Prayer (1979) has a streamlined version of the prayer:

Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Lutheran Book of Worship (1978) and Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006) adapted the confession:

Most merciful God,
we confess that we are in bondage to sin
and cannot free ourselves.
We have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you
with our whole heart;
we have not loved
our neighbors as ourselves.
For the sake
of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us.
Forgive us, renew us, and lead us,
so that we may delight in your will
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your holy name.
Amen.

Lutheran Worship (1982) and Lutheran Service Book (2006) have also adapted the confession:

Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

Christian Worship: Hymnal (2021, WELS) has also adapted the confession in a manner closer to the BCP original:

Almighty and merciful Father,
we have strayed from your ways like lost sheep.
We have followed what we have devised and desired in our hearts.
We have offended you and sinned against your holy law.
We have done those things that we should not have done,
and we have not done those things that we should have done.
Have mercy on us, Lord!
Spare us, forgive us, and restore us,
according to your promises in Christ Jesus.

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Good Friday Litany

Lord, hear the prayers of your people,
and forgive our sins, for you are kind.

Lord, Creator of the world, you judge righteously, deliver us from evil by your Right Hand,
and forgive our sins, for you are kind.

By your Cross you purchased for yourself a people from the nations, graciously blot out the sins of all, O Christ,
and forgive our sins, for you are kind.

You called on the Father, and asked him to forgive. Forgive our debts, and loosen our bonds,
and forgive our sins, for you are kind.

You promised the rest of Paradise to the thief. Help the penitents who are bound,
and forgive our sins, for you are kind.

Mozarabic Breviary, 574. Freely modified from Devotions from Ancient and Medieval Sources (Western), ed. Rev. Charles Plummer, 1916.

Litany of Repentance

Christ, pitying Redeemer of souls, listen to the sighing of those who mourn,
and have mercy.

Lord, hear to your Church, and grant forgiveness to all we pray for,
and have mercy.

Remember that we are but dust and will return again to the earth. Refashion us for good,
and have mercy.

Forgive the sinner, restore captives to their country, and answer the prayers of all,
and have mercy.

Forgive our guilt, forgive our sins, forgive the debts of all, to all grant pardon,
and have mercy.

Source: Mozarabic Breviary, 418, Freely modified from Devotions from Ancient and Medieval Sources (Western), ed. Rev. Charles Plummer, 1916.

For Forgiveness

God and King,
by your mercy,
pardon the sins of your servant __________.
Deliver him from all the bonds of the enemy
that he may cling to your commandments with all his heart,
and always love you alone with all his strength,
and one day be counted with your blessed ones;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Old Rheims Manuscript, 9th century

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954. (New Ancient Collects, #370)

For Forgiveness and Deliverance

O Christ,
my Creator and Redeemer,
almighty Lord God,
forgive the sins of all
who are joined to me by friendship or blood,
and for whom I pray, or have resolved to pray, —
and all your faithful people.
Deliver them from all evil,
preserve them in all good,
and bring them to eternal joy;
for your honor and glory. Amen.

Source: Gregorian Sacramentary

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954

For Forgiveness

Almighty God,
with Fatherly tenderness
receive those who flee from your anger,
that those who dread the scourge that comes from your majesty
may rejoice in your forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Gelasian Sacramentary

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954