Psalm 51 (Psalm 50 in the Douay numbering), known by its Latin first word Miserere, is the great psalm of repentance. Tradition connects it to King David after the prophet Nathan confronted him with his sin. It has shaped Christian sorrow for sin for three thousand years and is prayed every Friday morning in the Liturgy of the Hours and throughout Lent. Pray it before Confession, during an examination of conscience, on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, or any time you want to re

Devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus honors the Blood He shed for our redemption, from the agony in the Garden to the piercing of His side. The Church traditionally dedicates the month of July to the Precious Blood, and St. Gaspar del Bufalo was one of the devotion's great promoters. This short offering presents the Blood of Christ to the Father in atonement for our sins and for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. The line "Blood of Christ, inebriate me" comes from the Anima Chri

Honor the Holy Face of Jesus wounded for our sins. The Prayer O Lord Jesus Christ, in presenting ourselves before Thine adorable Face to ask of Thee the graces of which we stand most in need, we beseech Thee, above all, to grant us that interior disposition of never refusing at any time to do what Thou requirest of us by Thy holy commandments and Thy holy inspirations. Amen. Traditional Holy Face prayer; classic devotionals, public domain. If these prayers help you, you can s

On the Feast of the Sacred Heart, renew love and reparation to the Heart of Jesus. The Prayer O God, Who in the Heart of Thy Son, wounded by our sins, dost mercifully bestow upon us the infinite treasures of Thy love: grant, we beseech Thee, that, rendering It the devout homage of our affection, we may also fulfill our duty of worthy satisfaction. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. Traditional Sacred Heart feast collect; classic English, public domain. If these prayers h

This prayer, "Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus," is known in Latin as the En ego. For centuries Catholics have prayed it kneeling before a crucifix after Holy Communion, gazing on the five wounds of Christ and recalling the words of the Psalm that the prayer itself quotes: "They have pierced My hands and My feet; they have numbered all My bones." It asks for lively faith, hope, and charity, true sorrow for sin, and a firm purpose of amendment. The Church grants a plen

An Act of Reparation offers love to the Sacred Heart for sins and coldness. Traditional English forms appear in Sacred Heart devotionals. The Prayer O sweet Jesus, Whose overflowing charity for men is requited by so much forgetfulness, negligence, and contempt, behold us prostrate before Thee, eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries to which Thy loving Heart is everywhere subject. Mindful, alas! that we ourselves have had a share for man