Acts of Contrition

 ACTS OF CONTRITION

From the Order of Penance

1. O MY GOD, I AM SORRY

O my God, I am sorry and repent with all my heart for all the wrong I have done and for the good I have failed to do, because by sinning I have offended you, who are all good and worthy to be loved above all things. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid the occasions of sin. Through the merits of the Passion of our Savior Jesus Christ, Lord, have mercy.

2. REMEMBER, LORD, THE COMPASSION

Remember, Lord, the compassion and mercy you showed long ago. Do not recall my sins and failings. In your mercy remember me, Lord, because of your goodness. (Ps 25 [24): 6-7)

3. WASH ME, O LORD

Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. I acknowledge my offense; my sin is before me always. (Ps sI [so]: 4-5)

4. FATHER, I HAVE SINNED

Father, I have sinned against you and I am not worthy to be called your son. Be merciful to me, a sinner. (Lk 15: 18; 18: 13)

6. LORD JESUS, WHO OPENED

Lord Jesus, who opened the eyes of the blind, healed the sick, forgave the inhal woma resus, later his denial, confirmed Peter in your love, hear my plea forgine almy sins, renew me in your love, and grant that I may live in perfect communion with my brothers and sisters and so proclaim your salvation to all.

7. LORD JESUS, WHO CHOSE

Lord Jesus, who chose to be called the friend of sinners, through the mystery of your Death and Resurrection, free me from my sins. May your peace grow strong in me, that I may bear the fruits of charity, justice, and truth.

8. LORD JESUS CHRIST, LAMB OF GOD

Lord Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, who take away the sin of the world, through the grace of the Holy Spirit be pleased to reconcile me with your Father; cleanse me in your Blood from every fault and make me fully alive to the praise of your glory.

9. HAVE MERCY ON ME, O GOD

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your merciful love; turn your face from my sins and blot out all my guilt; create a pure heart in me, O God, renew an upright spirit deep within me.

10. THE JESUS PRAYER

Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

11. 0 MY GOD, I AM HEARTILY SORRY

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sin because of your just punishments, but most of all because they offend you, my God who are real good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resole with the help of your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.

12. 

My God, I am sorry for all my sins with all my heart.

In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, 

I have sinned against you,

whom I should love above all things.

Please help me, to do penance,

to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.

My God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Infant of Prague Prayer

O Holy Infant Jesus of Good Health, I believe in the Infinite Goodness of Your Heart. Mercifully help me in my present necessity.

Holy Infant Jesus of Good Health, I hope in the Boundless Mercy You show to those who humbly look up to You for help. Mercifully hear my petition and grant me the favor of Your kind help.

Holy Infant Jesus of Good Health, I love You with all my heart. I entrust and consecrate myself to Your Most Loving Heart. Do hear my plea, I implore You, and mercifully extend to me Your Helping Hand.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be)

PRAYER

Most Amiable Child Jesus, You Who said: "Ask and you shall receive," graciously hear my petition and grant me the favor I ask of You, if it be for Your Greater Honor and Glory and for the good of my soul. Amen.

Epiphany House Blessing

 It is a beautiful blessing, one that brings many graces upon those who practice it in faith and is an added protection against any spiritual enemies that may be lurking around.

How to bless your home with Epiphany chalk

Once you acquire the blessed chalk, either a priest or another member of the household can bless the home in the following manner (adapted from the Roman Ritual):

Upon entering the house [or at the front door]:

Priest/Head of Household: Peace be to this house.
All: And to all who dwell herein.
Priest: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial.

During the Magnificat, the room is sprinkled with holy water and incensed.

All: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.

After this is completed:

All: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial.

Priest: Our Father Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead and lead us not into temptation,
All: But deliver us from evil.
Priest: All they from Saba shall come
All: Bringing gold and frankincense.
Priest: O Lord, hear my prayer.
All: And let my cry come unto Thee.

Priest:
Let us pray. O God, who by the guidance of a star didst on this day manifest Thine only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we who know Thee by faith may also attain the vision of Thy glorious majesty. Through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.
Priest: Be enlightened, be enlightened, O Jerusalem, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee– Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary.
All: And the Gentiles shall walk in thy light and kings in the splendor of thy rising, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee.

Priest: Let us pray. Bless, O Lord God almighty, this home, that in it there may be health, purity, the strength of victory, humility, goodness and mercy, the fulfillment of Thy law, the thanksgiving to God the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. And may this blessing remain upon this home and upon all who dwell herein. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.

After the prayers of the blessing are recited, walk through the house and bless each room by sprinkling with Epiphany/holy water and incensing it.

Take the blessed chalk and first write the initials of the three Wise Men, connected with Crosses, over the inside of your front door (on the lintel, if possible). Then write the year, breaking up the numbers and the year so that they fall on both sides of the initials. It should look like this, for example

20 C+M+B 2x

with the “20 “being the millennium and century, the “C” standing for the first Wise Man, Caspar, the “M” standing for Melchior, the “B” standing for Balthasar, and the “2x” standing for the decade and year, for example ’23, ’24, ’25, etc. 

It is also popularly believed that the Kings’ initials stand for “Christus mansionem benedicat” (“Christ bless this house”).

Isn’t It Time Yet, Lord?

Borrowed inspiration from Undaunted Disciple-

 Have you ever felt like time was playing a cruel trick on you?

Days stretch into weeks,

prayers seem to echo unanswered,

and a longing for something whispers,

"ISN'T IT TIME YET, LORD?"

In these moments, it's easy to fall into the trap of impatience, of projecting our own timelines onto God's grand tapestry.

But here's the beautiful truth: 

God's timing isn't a ticking clock,

it's a symphony of grace playing out

in His perfect rhythm.

He doesn't operate on our human deadlines,

He is never bound by the limitations of our calendars.

His plans unfold in a way that transcends our understanding, 

weaving together threads of love, patience, and purpose

into a masterpiece that only He can see.