Lord, I lay before you all sins and offences I have committed against you, from the day I first could sin to this very hour. Consume and burn them all with the fire of your love. Do away with all the stains of my sins, cleanse my conscience from all offences, restore to me your grace, fully forgiving me all, and mercifully give me your kiss of peace.
I also lay before you all that is good in me, for you have made me right and sanctified me. Make me grateful and accepting of you, always growing more and more. By your grace, bring me also to a good and blessed end. Amen.
Source: Adapted from Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380-1471), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.
Warm my cold heart, Lord. Form me after your own image. Give me grace to obey you in all things and to always follow where you lead. Teach me to be kind to others, to be gentle and unselfish, careful to hurt no one by word or deed, but eager to do good to all and to make others happy. Lord, forgive the sins of my temper. Pardon all my hasty words and unchristian thoughts. Make me watchful, so that I do not offend with my tongue. Give me a meek and loving spirit, which is of high value in your sight. I do not want to live for myself, but for you. Keep me today, Lord, from all sin, and from anything that displeases you; for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
Source: Bishop Ashton Oxenden (1808-1892), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.
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.
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.
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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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.
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)
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.
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.
Almighty God,
A Collection of Prayers 