Prayers for First Confession
Prayer Before Confession
O my God, I am about to make my first confession. How I desire to receive Thy pardon for all my sins! I pray Thee, give me the grace to know all my sins, to be truly sorry for them, and to confess them sincerely to Thy priest. O Mary, my Mother, help me to make a good confession.
An Examination of Conscience
Before approaching the sacred tribunal, the penitent should diligently examine his conscience upon the Commandments of God and the Precepts of the Church.
1. Have I failed to pray to God, or have I prayed badly?
2. Have I used the Holy Name of God in vain, or spoken ill of holy things?
3. Have I missed Mass on Sundays or Holydays of Obligation through my own fault?
4. Have I been disobedient to my parents or superiors?
5. Have I been angry, quarrelsome, or hurt others?
6. Have I indulged in impure thoughts, words, or actions?
7. Have I stolen anything, or damaged the property of others?
8. Have I told lies, or spoken ill of my neighbour?
9. Have I willingly desired what is impure?
10. Have I been envious or jealous of the good of others?
An Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell; 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 confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.
Prayer After Confession
O most merciful God, I give Thee thanks with all my heart for the pardon Thou hast granted me in this holy sacrament. I am resolved to avoid my sins and the occasions of sin. Grant me Thy grace, that I may persevere in this resolution, and live from this day forward only for Thee. Amen.
Prayers for Confirmation
Prayer to the Holy Ghost
O Holy Ghost, Divine Spirit of light and love, I consecrate to Thee my understanding, my heart and my will, my whole being for time and for eternity. May my understanding be always submissive to Thy heavenly inspirations, and to the teachings of the holy Catholic Church, of which Thou art the infallible Guide; may my heart be ever inflamed with love of God and of my neighbor; may my will be ever conformed to the Divine will, and may my whole life be a faithful imitation of the life and virtues of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and Thee be honor and glory for ever. Amen.
The Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost
Come, O Holy Spirit, and fill my heart with Thy sevenfold gifts:
1. The Gift of Wisdom, that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal.
2. The Gift of Understanding, to enlighten my mind with the light of Thy divine truth.
3. The Gift of Counsel, that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven.
4. The Gift of Fortitude, that I may bear my cross with Thee and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation.
5. The Gift of Knowledge, that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints.
6. The Gift of Piety, that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable.
7. The Gift of the Fear of the Lord, that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him.
Prayer After Confirmation
O my God, I thank Thee for having made me a soldier of Jesus Christ in the sacrament of Confirmation. I renounce again Satan, and his works, and his pomps. I promise to be faithful to Thee, and to fight for Thy glory even unto death. Strengthen me, O Lord, with Thy grace, that I may be a true and valiant soldier, and may one day receive the crown of justice in heaven. Amen.
Contexte Historique
This collection of prayers offers a traditional framework for Catholics preparing to receive the Sacraments of Penance (First Confession) and Confirmation. These are not a single, formal prayer, but rather a compilation of devotions used for centuries to foster the proper disposition of soul. The prayers for Confession focus on achieving sincere contrition and making a firm purpose of amendment, while the prayers for Confirmation are centered on invoking the Holy Ghost and petitioning for His sevenfold gifts, which strengthen the soul to be a ‘soldier of Christ’ in the world.