Repentance
Repentance is a sacrament through which the believer, after a loud confession of his sins, with forgiveness spoken aloud by the priest, receives the gracious forgiveness of sins from God Himself and regains the purity and innocence acquired at Baptism. The word repentance means a change in lifestyle and worldview. Confession implies the examination of all the deeds for which conscience or a neighbor accuses him. Before confession, we must analyze our life, actions and thoughts through the eyes of Christ and stand before His icon next to the priest with a heart open to repentance and readiness for change. A good Christian often approaches the sacrament of Confession and lives in Repentance.
How to prepare:
1. Fasting, blessed by the priest
2. Examination of conscience (according to the 10 Commandments of God)
3. Penitential prayers
What to do:
1. To arrange a convenient time with the priest
2. To confess our sins truly and repentantly
3. To try not to repeat the sins
How to pray:
Prayer of repentance
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, Shepherd and Lamb, You offered Your life on the cross to take away the sins of the world. You granted forgiveness to Peter and to the harlot who turned to You in tears. You forgave the debts of the two debtors and also said, "him who comes to me I will not cast out." Lord, receive me, a sinner, and hear my prayer of repentance (Confess to the Lord your specific sins.) I acknowledge my sins and transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, known and unknown. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to turn away from my sins and to amend my life according to Your teachings. Help me to walk in the way of the righteous and to offer praise to Your glorious name forever. Amen
Sweet, Jesus, my Lord and Master, through Your holy passion You have healed my evil passions, and through Your sacred wounds You have cured my sinful wounds. Grant me, compunction. Purify my body with the fragrance of Your life-giving Body, and casting out the bitterness with which the adversary has fed me. Lift up my earth bound mind to You and take me out of the pit of perdition. I have no sincere repentance, I have no true compunction, I have no consoling tears to lead me as a child of God to my spiritual in heritance. My mind has been darkened through worldly passions. I cannot look up to You in grieving remorse. I cannot warm myself with tears of love for You. But, Lord Jesus Christ, the treasury of blessings, grant me through repentance and a diligent heart to seek You. Grant me Your grace and renew in me the form of Your image. I have forsaken You; but, Lord, do not forsake me. Come out to seek me; lead me to Your pasture; number me among the sheep of Your chosen flock and nourish me with the food of Your sacred mysteries, through the intercession of Your all-pure Mother and of all the Saints. Amen.