O Lord, I praise, bless, venerate, glorify, and thank your goodness for all, through all, and in all;

for you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from slipping.

I have sinned against heaven and before you.

Have mercy on me, O Lord, and do not destroy me together with my transgressions.

Try me, O God, and discern my paths; see if there is a way of transgression in me, and turn me away from it; and lead me into the eternal way, O God, you who have said: I am the way and the truth, and the life, for you are blessed unto the ages.

A Coptic Christian prayer

by Saint Makarios of Alexandria (300 - 394)

 

O Lord Jesus, because, being full of foolishness, we often sin and have to ask pardon, help us to forgive as we would be forgiven, mentioning neither old offences against us, nor dwelling on them in thought, nor being influenced by them in heart, but loving each other freely, as thou freely loved us; for thy name's sake.

Amen.

Christina Rossetti (1830-1895)

 

Get rid of all bitterness, passion and anger… Instead, be kind and tender- hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ. Since you are God's dear children, you must try to be like him.

From Ephesians, chapter 4

 

Lord, for thy tender mercy's sake, lay not our sins to our charge, but forgive what is past and give us grace to amend our lives; to decline from sin and incline to virtue, that we may walk with a perfect heart before thee, now and evermore.

Lidley's Prayers, 1566

 

Father, forgive me,

for I know so often what I do,

if not before,

or during my offence,

then most certainly thereafter.

Ted Burge