How to Ask for Forgiveness in Mass: A Profound Act

I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, Through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

Amen

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Remember, Lord, your Church, spread throughout the world, and bring her to the fullness of charity with the Pope, our Bishop, and all the clergy.

Remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection, and all who have died in your mercy: welcome them into the light of your face. Have mercy on us all, we pray, that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with the blessed Apostles, and all the Saints who have pleased you throughout the ages, we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life, and may praise and glorify you through your Son, Jesus Christ.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day
our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.

Asking God for forgiveness during Mass should not be a mechanical act, but a sincere expression of repentance. Here are some tips to live this aspect of the liturgy more fully:

1. Offer God Our Time

It may happen that you feel there are other urgent matters or important (or VERY important) activities at the same time as the Mass. There, you have the first opportunity to be generous, put God first, and trust in His omnipotence.

Surely you have experienced that if you postpone other things to participate in the Holy Mass, all kinds of miracles happen that make your time more productive, or achievements occur that you could never have accomplished on your own in that time. If it hasn’t happened to you yet, prioritize going to Mass several times, and you’ll soon experience it!

The Lord does not let Himself be outdone in generosity! Give Him your time and heart, which is all He’s interested in. He already has everything else, He needs nothing more.

2. Examine your conscience

Are you aware of how your daily actions affect your relationship with God?

Before Mass begins, you could take a few minutes in silence to examine your conscience. Reflect on your thoughts, words, and actions, identifying those attitudes that distance you from God’s love. Also, consider how you have responded to the call to love and serve others. This exercise will help you participate in the penitential act with greater depth and prepare you to receive the Eucharist with a more willing heart.

If you arrive 5 minutes before the Holy Mass begins and dedicate yourself to kneeling and telling God that you come to Mass leaving other important things because you want to give Him Glory, give Him thanks, ask for Forgiveness, and ask for help, your mind will have time to tune in, and you will benefit from the Holy Mass much more!

3. Pray with a sincere heart

How can you make your words of repentance more meaningful?

When you recite prayers like “I confess” or “Lord, have mercy,” try to ask for forgiveness with full awareness of their meaning. Instead of repeating them out of habit, pause to think about each phrase, recognizing your need for God’s mercy. You can close your eyes for a moment, breathe deeply, and let those words resonate in your heart as a personal and genuine petition.

If you need help remembering what to ask God’s forgiveness for, you can start asking for God’s forgiveness:

• for all the selfish acts you may have committed, even for the sins you didn’t realize you committed but that offended God and others
• for sins of omission (the good actions for other people that you could have done but didn’t)
• for believing ourselves to be better than others
• for believing that we deserve something because we go to Mass frequently
• for being so focused on the things we like or trying so hard to escape pain

4. Participate in the Sacrament of Confession

When was the last time you experienced the peace of sacramental forgiveness?

While the penitential act during Mass helps us reconcile with God for venial sins, the sacrament of confession is fundamental for seeking forgiveness and receiving mercy for grave sins. Consider including regular confession as part of your spiritual life. By doing so, you not only experience the peace of forgiveness, but also prepare yourself to fully participate in the Eucharist, with a heart renewed by grace.

Many Churches offer confession schedules before or after Masses. Remember that you can see the Confession schedules within the Catholic Mass Times app on your phone!

5. Forgive others

Is there someone you need to forgive to find peace in your heart?

Asking God for forgiveness is deeply connected to our ability to forgive others. Before Mass, reflect on whether your heart has resentments or wounds that need healing. Asking God for the grace to forgive not only liberates the other person but also liberates you, allowing your heart to be more open to receiving God’s love and peace.

Asking God for forgiveness during Mass is an invitation to experience His infinite mercy and to renew our relationship with Him. Through liturgical prayers and gestures, we are called to recognize our faults, sincerely repent, and trust in Christ’s redeeming love. As the Catechism reminds us, “the Eucharist is a sacrifice of expiation” (CCC, 1367).

May each Mass be an opportunity to open our hearts to God’s forgiveness, allowing His grace to transform our lives and lead us to live in communion with Him and with our brothers and sisters.