PRO EXAMEN

ORATIO ANTE CONFESSIONEM

Prayer Before Confession

This prayer prepares the soul for the Sacrament of Penance by invoking the Holy Spirit for self-knowledge, the Virgin Mary as Refuge of Sinners, St. Joseph as patron of a happy death, and one's guardian angel for assistance in making a good confession.

Haec oratio animam praeparat ad Sacramentum Poenitentiae invocando Spiritum Sanctum pro sui cognitione.

LATINE
Domine, Deus meus, ante divinam Maiestatem tuam me prosterno,
confitens me contra Te peccavisse.
Ad hoc Sacramentum sanctum Poenitentiae venio
cum sincero desiderio me accusandi de omnibus peccatis meis,
ex corde dolendi de eis, et vitam meam emendandi.
O Spiritus Sancte, illumina mentem meam ut peccata mea cognoscam.
Emmolli cor meum ut vere de eis doleam.
Robora voluntatem meam ut firmiter proponam ea in futurum vitare.
O Maria, Refugium peccatorum,
ora pro me.
Sancte Ioseph, patrone mortis felicis,
ora pro me.
Sancte Angele Custos,
assiste mihi ut bonam confessionem faciam.
Confitear peccata mea cum humilitate, sinceritate, et integritate,
nihil celans et nihil excusans,
ut plenum beneficium huius sancti Sacramenti recipiam.
ENGLISH
O Lord, my God, I prostrate myself before Thy divine Majesty,
confessing that I have sinned against Thee.
I come to this holy Sacrament of Penance
with a sincere desire to accuse myself of all my sins,
to be heartily sorry for them, and to amend my life.
O Holy Spirit, enlighten my mind that I may know my sins.
Soften my heart that I may be truly sorry for them.
Strengthen my will that I may firmly resolve to avoid them in the future.
O Mary, Refuge of sinners,
pray for me.
St. Joseph, patron of a happy death,
pray for me.
Holy Guardian Angel,
assist me that I may make a good confession.
Let me confess my sins with humility, sincerity, and completeness,
hiding nothing and excusing nothing,
that I may receive the full benefit of this holy Sacrament.
NOTA
FONS
Preces Traditionales Ante Confessionem
USUS
Immediate preparation for the Sacrament of Penance
CONTEXT
The three requirements for a good confession are: completeness (confessing all mortal sins in kind and number), sincerity (genuine contrition), and humility (not making excuses).