The Penitential Rite

Facing the People, the Deacon or Priest says:

Ye that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways:

or

Draw near with faith, and make your humble confession to Almighty God, meekly kneeling upon your knees.

The People kneel. Silence may be kept, and then the Priest, facing the altar, begins as follows and the People join in saying:

Almighty God,

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

make of all things, judge of all men;

We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness,

which we from time to time most grievously have committed,

by (strike breast) thought, (strike breast) word, and (strike breast) deed, against thy divine Majesty,

provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us.

We do earnestly repent,

and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings;

the remembrance of them is grievous unto us,

the burden of them is intolerable.

Have mercy upon us,

have mercy upon us, most merciful Father;

for thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake,

forgive us all that is past;

and grant that we may ever hereafter

server and please thee in newness of life,

to the honour and glory of thy Name;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Priest says:

May almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all those who with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him, have mercy on us, pardon and deliver us from all our sins, confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and bring us to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.