Father in Heaven, hear the prayers of those who call to you. We are sorry for our many sins, faults and failings. In your merciful love, grant us pardon and peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
1. “I am the Lord your God You shall not have strange gods before me ."
Lord, as I consider the many issues embraced by the first commandment: help me to see where I may have been lax or offended you; help me to be truly sorry for my faults; help me to grow in love of you; and help me to love my neighbor as myself for love of you. I forgive those who have offended or injured me and I ask pardon of all whom I have offended or injured.
Have I failed: -to recognize you my God as the Supreme Good, and source of all good?
-to accept your words as given to us by the Church?
-to give you true worship, or have I neglected my daily prayers?
-to keep the promises I made to you, my God?
-to put my trust in your great love?
-to acknowledge that you God, are all-powerful, all-good and merciful?
-to nourish and protect my faith?
-to reject what is contrary to my faith?
-to hope for blessings?
-to accept that God is faithful to His promises?
-by living in a state of indifference, lukewarmness, or laziness?
-by giving bad example?
-by not standing up for the things I say I believe in?
-by seeking healing or anyother help from occult power? e.g. astrology,
-fortune telling, palmistry, ouija board, tarot cards, crystals, witchcraft, or tea leaves?
-by putting God's goodness and power to the test?
-by showing irreverence to persons, places, or things that are consecrated to God?
Lord please forgive me for any sins I have committed against your first Commandment.
Help me to ask pardon of those whom I have hurt by my sins and help me to see and do your will.
2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain
Lord as I consider the issues embraced by the second commandment: help me to see where I have failed. I am truly sorry for all my sins faults and failings. Help me to grow in love.
Have I failed: -by using the name of God carelessly?
-by using God’s name as a swear word?
-by calling God to witness a lie, e.g. perjury, or a false oath?
-by using the name of God in an offensive way?
Lord, help me to have a great love of your holy name. Help me to teach others a reverence for your Holy Name, especially by my own good example.
3. “Remember that thou keep holy the Lord’s Day
Lord, as I reflect on your third commandment, I ask you to bring to my mind my failures to give you the true worship you require of me. You, who are all good and deserving of my love.
Have I failed: -by failing to worship God in the way He requires?
-by not attending Mass on Sundays or Holy Days?
-to attend Mass through laziness, or without good reason?
Lord, give me a great love for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Through your grace help me to be faithful to the Mass, especially on Sundays and Holy Days.
