Litany of Penance

Litany of Penance

Antiphon: They that are whole, need not the physician: but they that are sick. I came not to call the just, but sinners to penance.
V. Wash me yet more from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.
R. Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be
made whiter than snow.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God of all goodness, Who willest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live,
Have mercy on us.*

Who pardonest not the Angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell for all eternity,*
Who, when Adam fell, didst call him to confession and repentance for his sin,*
Who didst preserve Noe from the flood, and from the lot of the ungodly, but saving him in the ark,*
Who didst draw Lot from the midst of sinners,*
Who, softened by the prayers of Moses, didst forgive the sins of the backsliding people,*
Who didst pardon the sin of David, after his confession and repentance,*
Who didst spare Achab when he humbled himself in penance,*
Who didst graciously hear the penitent Manasses, and establish him on his throne,*
Who didst grant pardon to the Ninevites when they did penance for their sins in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes,*
Who didst succor the Machabees, when they fasted and lay in ashes,*
Who didst command Thy priests to weep, and pray, and offer sacrifice for the people,*
Who didst come into the world to save sinners,*
Who when Thou wouldst redeem the world, didst send as Thy messenger John Baptist, the preacher of penance,*
Who didst fast forty days and forty nights,*
Who didst prevent, with Thy grace, Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom,*
Who didst bear witness that the publican, humbly striking his breast, was justified,*
Who didst deliver the paralytic from his infirmity, when Thou hadst forgiven him his sins,*
Who, by the example of the prodigal son, didst offer to sinners the hope of pardon,*
Who didst make known to the woman of Samana the fountain of living water,*
Who didst bring salvation to the house of Zacheus, repenting of his sins, and making restitution fourfold,*
Who didst exercise Thy mercy in behalf of the woman taken in adultery,*
Who didst receive publicans and sinners, and didst eat with them,*
Who didst forgive Magdalen her many sins, because she loved much,*
Who, looking tenderly on Peter, who denied Thee, didst bring him to compunction and to tears,*
Who didst promise Paradise to the penitent thief,*
Who lovest all Thy creatures and hatest nothing that Thou hast made,*
Who givest to sinners both place and time for repentance,*
Who didst come to seek and to save that which was lost,*
Who hast pity on all men, and hidest the sins of those who truly repent,*
Who would have mercy, and not sacrifice,*
Who, when we repent, rememberest our sins no more,*
God, most merciful and patient, tender and loving-kind, notwithstanding our sins,*
We sinners: Beseech Thee to hear us.
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to lead us to a true repentance,
We beseech Thee, hear us.**
That we may judge ourselves, and so escape Thy judgment,**
That we may bring forth in due time worthy fruits of penance,**
That, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we may live soberly, justly and godly,**
That sin may not reign in our mortal body,**
That we may not love the world, nor the things of the world,**
That we may work out our salvation with fear and trembling,**
Son of God,**