Litany of Forgiveness

This litany is a great exercise in asking God for mercy and forgiveness for those times when have not been faithful to following His will for our lives.

This soul-searching litany is based on the Beatitudes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. It can be prayed as an examination of conscience before Confession, during family prayer time, or as a special Lenten penitential prayer.

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LITANY OF FORGIVENESS

Lord Jesus Christ, you said:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Yet we are preoccupied with money and worldly goods and put our trust in what we possess rather than in your care for us.

Have mercy on us,

O Lord, have mercy on us.

Lord Jesus Christ, you said:

Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

Yet we are so concerned about our own rights and self-interest and so little concerned about serving others.

Have mercy on us,

O Lord, have mercy on us.

Lord Jesus Christ, you said:

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Yet we are impatient under our burdens and unconcerned about the burdens of others.

Have mercy on us,

O Lord, have mercy on us.

Lord Jesus Christ, you said:

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall have their fill.

Yet we do not thirst for you, the fountain of all holiness, and we are satisfied with half-measures and mediocrity.

Have mercy on us,

O Lord, have mercy on us.

Lord Jesus Christ, you said:

Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.

Yet we are so quick to condemn, so slow to forgive.

Have mercy on us,

O Lord, have mercy on us.

Lord Jesus Christ, you said:

Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.

Yet we have often regarded persons created in your image as objects of our own lusts and can not raise our eyes to you.

Have mercy on us,

O Lord, have mercy on us.

Lord Jesus Christ, you said:

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.

Yet we are so often ruthless with each other, and our homes and our world are full of discord and resentments.

Have mercy on us,

O Lord, have mercy on us.

Lord, Jesus Christ. you said:

Blessed are those who suffer persecution for holiness' sake, for the Kingdom of God is theirs.

Yet we suffer no opposition because we have been ashamed of you, our Crucified Savior, and have lived worldly compromises of your Gospel.

Have mercy on us,

O Lord, have mercy on us. Amen.

This article has been updated and was originally published in April 2014 (Source: The Catholic Doors Ministry). © The Catholic Company. All rights reserved.

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