The Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance is one of the greatest gifts that God has given to us. Baptism washes away our original sin. Through it, we are incorporated into the Church. We become adopted sons and daughters of the Father. We become a member of the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church.
However, baptism does not remove our inclination to sin. There is still a degree of brokenness in our humanity. This is why we have the tendency to abuse our freedom and eventually commit sin. The Church defines what sin is: Sin is a direct offense to God. It is an abuse of our freedom. It is a stain in our baptismal garment. Sin also severs our relationship with the Church and our neighbors. This is why the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation becomes our way of reconnecting with God and the Church.
As much as we prepare before receiving the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, let us also remember to say our prayer after receiving the forgiveness we need.
Prayer of Resolve after Confession
Father, wellspring of love and mercy, thank You for this gracious opportunity of having received the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance. Through this Sacrament, we are constantly reminded that You are indeed our God who never leaves us in our sinfulness and brokenness. Thank You for this gift of forgiveness and mercy. Thank You for not letting us be left miserable in sin and darkness.
Lord, I pray that this encounter with You in this Sacrament be always engraved in my heart. Please help me to shed tears of remorse and repentance. Yet, at the same time, I am consoled by the truth that the tears I shed water the seeds of conversion and resolve to make amends in my life.
O God, I cannot fathom the love and mercy You have for a wretched sinner like me! With much pain and shame, I can only imagine how I have hurt You through my sins. You love me unconditionally, yet I chose to disobey You and loved only myself and my selfish desires. Your mercy and love, o Lord, surely knows no limits.
I humbly ask You, my Lord, for the grace to turn away from my old ways of sinning. This Sacrament has let me acknowledge my shortcomings. But, at the same time, this Sacrament also tells me that not everything is lost – that there is always hope for me. I confessed to You all the things I did and did not do when I had the opportunity to do good. In return, You gave me Your pardon and peace. May I continue to walk this path of peace and holiness.
Thank You, Lord, for restoring the broken version of myself. Thank You for renewing me. Please grant me a humble heart to truly repent. Please grant me the courage to fight sin. Give me the strength to resist temptation. Grant me the firm resolve to make amends for all the harm I have caused through my sins.
I humbly pray that I may grow daily in faith and obedience. Fill me with Your peace and love so that I may be a sign for others – a sign of hope in the midst of sin and darkness. Make me an instrument of Your forgiveness and mercy for others.
Lord, I also pray for my confessor. Thank you for the ministry of Your priests. Through them, I hear Your assuring and forgiving voice. Through their counsel, I receive Your words of encouragement. Through their prayer, I am assured of Your forgiveness and love. Bless our confessors, dear God, that they may continue their ministry of love and mercy.
Lord, as I walk away from the confessional, may I walk toward You with the hope and confidence that You are always with me. As I humbly fulfill my penance, may I be found worthy of the blessings You have in store for me.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Short prayer after Confession
Gentle and loving God, I thank You for giving us the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance. By this precious Sacrament, I can reconnect with You and the Church. Help me by Your grace to do good and avoid evil. May I never be separated from You and Your love. Encourage me always to do what is right and good. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Word of God
For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.”
2 Chronicles 30:9 NRSVUE
Rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from punishment.
Joel 2:13 NRSVUE
Prayer to Saint Paul the Apostle for genuine conversion
Blessed Saint Paul, zealous Apostle of Christ, you are known for converting from a persecutor of the Church into Christ’s faithful witness. On your way to Damascus, you were struck down and forever changed by your encounter with the Risen Christ. Therefore, I come to you today to pray and ask your intercession for my own conversion from sin.
Dear Saint Paul, your experience reminds me that I am not too far from God’s mercy and love. Pray for me, I humbly ask, that I may experience the same conversion of heart that you experienced. Inspire me to turn away from my sinful desires and ways. Please help me to embrace a life of goodness, righteousness, and holiness.
Pray and intercede for me that I may always acknowledge and resist temptations. May I be filled with the same Spirit that helped you become an obedient Apostle of Christ. May I live each of my days with the love and compassion that is the quality of a true disciple of Christ.
Saint Paul the Apostle, pray for us. Amen.
Further reflection
The Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance is truly a great gift from God. We should be thankful to Him for giving us the means to reconnect with Him and our neighbor. Through this Sacrament, we encounter the mercy and forgiveness of God.
But the more challenging aspect of this Sacrament is how we live after confessing our sins and receiving forgiveness. Genuine conversion is also an element of true repentance. A person who converts embraces a new perspective, set of values, and set of beliefs – all in the name of God. Conversion is a transforming process. It can be a compelling experience that results in significant transformation and spiritual development. It enables us to lead more real, significant lives in line with God’s will. Additionally, it assists us in realizing our true potential and achieving our purpose as God’s children.
