Prayer for Forgiveness of Sins and a New Beginning
Returning to the Father who runs to meet the prodigal
Morning Prayer editorial team · Updated: November 2026
No sin is bigger than God's mercy. Whatever you carry, this prayer is a way of turning around and walking home to the Father, who is already looking down the road for you.
Let us pray
Merciful Father, I come to You with my sins in my hands, because I can no longer carry them hidden in my heart. You know them already. You saw every one. And still You wait for me with open arms.
I am sorry for the ways I have turned from You: for the words that wounded, the lies I told myself and others, the selfishness I called necessity, the love I withheld. I am sorry for the good I knew to do and did not do. I am sorry for the sins I have confessed before and fallen into again.
Forgive me, Lord. Wash me clean. Do not let shame keep me from You, because shame is not from You. You do not want me groveling; You want me home.
Give me the grace of true repentance, not just regret. Change my heart so that I want what You want. Show me where I need to make amends, and give me the courage to do it. If I have hurt someone, help me seek their forgiveness too.
Thank You that Your mercy is new every morning. Thank You for the cross, where my sin was answered once and for all. Thank You for the sacrament of reconciliation, where I can hear with my own ears that I am forgiven.
I begin again today, Lord, not because I am worthy but because You are good. Amen.
Blessing
May the Father who forgives all sins restore you to grace and fill you with the joy of a clean heart.
How to pray this prayer
- Find a quiet moment and breathe slowly.
- Read the prayer aloud or in your heart.
- Add your own intention before the Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Do Catholics still need to go to confession if they pray for forgiveness?
Yes. Praying for forgiveness is always good and begins the return to God. For serious sins, the sacrament of reconciliation is where Catholics receive Christ's forgiveness through the Church.
What if I keep committing the same sin?
Keep coming back. God is not tired of forgiving you. Repeated struggle is common; what matters is that you do not give up. A spiritual director or confessor can help you find the roots.
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