Lenten prayers commemorate a solemn Catholic period of fasting, taking stock of one’s sins and moral weaknesses, and reflecting on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of man.
Lent traditionally ends on Easter Sunday, when we acknowledge and revere the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the redemption of the sins of man.
Lenten prayers may be said during the season of Lent, or anytime, as they are very inspirational and speak honestly of our desire for spiritual cleansing and self improvement. Lenten prayers frequently mention the acknowledgment of sin, penance for one’s sins, and a call to do better during the coming year, for Lent is a time for gathering up the sins of the past, cleansing them, and building better spiritual connections to God.
Almighty god
Almighty God, help me at this time
To think of my sins, and do Thou give me
True penitence of them. Grant unto me grace
That I may be in a proper frame of mind
To contemplate the sufferings of the Savior,
In order to make an atonement for the sins of the whole race.
O God, I thank Thee for the precious promise
Of the foregiveness of sin. I now heartily confess
All my sins, and do Thou graciously pardon me,
For the sake of the sufferings of the Savior.
Help me always to remember my sinful nature, and do Thou
Give me continuously a meek and penitent spirit.
O Lord, give unto me the same mind that was in
Jesus Christ during His fasting and temptation,
That I may always resist evil and follow Him only.
Keep me ever in living union with my blessed Savior,
That, departing from all evil, I may live in and for Him.
Amen.
Penance and Redemption
Dear Lord, we are now in the holy season of Lent.
We realize anew that these are the days of salvation.
We know that we are all sinners. We know that in many ways
We have offended Your infinite majesty.
We know that sin destroys Your life in us just as a drought
Withers the leaves and chokes the life from the land.
Help us now, Lord, in our feeble attempts to make up For our
past transgressions. Bless our efforts with the rich
Blessing of Your grace. Make us realize ever more our need of
Penance and redemption. Help us to see, in our ordinary
difficulties and duties, in daily trials and temptations,
the best opportunity of making up for past infidelities.
Every day we are so often reminded in field and wood,
In sky and stream, of Your own boundless generosity to us.
Help us to know that You are never outdone in generosity,
And that the least thing we do for You will be rewarded,
Full measure. Then we shall see, in our own souls, how the
Desert can blossom, and dry land can bring forth the rich,
useful fruit that was expected of it from the beginning.
Amen!