The “Offering of Self” Prayer from St. Ignatius of Loyola
Pray this short prayer to make an offering of Self from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Pray this short prayer to make an offering of Self from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Repentance is fundamental to forgiveness. Jesus calls us first to conversion through repentance, then to following him and becoming a disciple. Many people misunderstand the purpose of repentance. It is required not as an external outward thing, but for an interior conversion of the heart. Not until we admit our sins and humble ourselves in the presence of God are we able to amend our life and begin again on the path to holiness.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:
1430 Jesus’ call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before him, does not aim first at outward works, “sackcloth and ashes,” fasting and mortification, but at the conversion of the heart, interior conversion. Without this, such penances remain sterile and false; however, interior conversion urges expression in visible signs, gestures and works of penance.
1431 Interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed. At the same time it entails the desire and resolution to change one’s life, with hope in God’s mercy and trust in the help of his grace. This conversion of heart is accompanied by a salutary pain and sadness which the Fathers called animi cruciatus (affliction of spirit) and compunctio cordis (repentance of heart).
1432 The human heart is heavy and hardened. God must give man a new heart. Conversion is first of all a work of the grace of God who makes our hearts return to him: “Restore us to thyself, O LORD, that we may be restored!” God gives us the strength to begin anew. It is in discovering the greatness of God’s love that our heart is shaken by the horror and weight of sin and begins to fear offending God by sin and being separated from him. The human heart is converted by looking upon him whom our sins have pierced.
Jesus have mercy on me. Judge me as people of Nineveh who repented after Jonah warned them. Jesus, please thoroughly wipe out my guilt and heal me of my shame.
In today’s Lenten reflection we repent and say, “I have sinned” and move ourselves toward greater holiness by leaving behind sinful habits and following Christ more closely.
Don’t know how to pray to God and wondering how to have meaningful prayer? This guide will show you the basics and get you started.
Psalm 51 is a beautiful prayer of repentance that prepares the heart for the sacrament of confession.
Do you desire to turn back toward God? Are you wondering, “How do I repent?” This meditation will help you overcome the darkness in your life through a genuine confession.
Pray the Confiteor prayer after confession, which is the prayer of the faithful after making a confession to the priest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
This meditative prayer by St. John Henry Newman is a prayer of repentance asking for grace to overcome sinful habits.
The Chaplet of the Five Holy Wounds meditates on the 5 wounds of Jesus Christ. This prayer on the 5 wounds of Jesus has been in practice for centuries. The chaplet reflects on Christ’s passion and suffering for you, and how your personal sin has wounded Him.
“Jesus My Redeemer” is a prayer of praise repentance and love for private devotion. It begins: “My God, my most gracious good, I beg You to give me the grace to accept the gift You have freely offered me.”
“O Jesus, I surrender myself to You, take care of everything!” The Surrender Novena prayer was written by Servant of God Don Dolindo Ruotolo.
