Here’s a penitential litany for the beginning of Lent. It comes from Bosco Peters’ Liturgy website.
Penitential Litany
Let us kneel and in silence call to mind
our sin and the infinite mercy of God.
(silence)
We have not loved you with all our heart,
and soul, and mind, and strength.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
We have not forgiven others as we have been forgiven.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
We have been deaf to your call to serve.
We have been unfaithful, proud, and hypocritical.
Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
We have been self-centered, and have taken advantage of others.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
We have been envious of those more fortunate than ourselves.
Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
We have loved worldly goods and comforts too much.
We have been dishonest in daily life and work.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
We have neglected prayer and worship, and have failed to commend the faith that is in us.
Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
We have been blind to human need and suffering, and indifferent to injustice and cruelty.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
We have thought uncharitably about others, and we have been prejudiced towards those who differ from us.
Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
We have wasted and polluted your creation, and lacked concern for those who come after us.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
(Unison confession)
Merciful God,
we have sinned
in what we have thought and said,
in the wrong we have done
and in the good we have not done.
We have sinned in ignorance:
we have sinned in weakness:
we have sinned through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry.
We repent and turn to you.
Forgive us, for our Saviour Christ's sake,
and renew our lives to the glory of your name. Amen.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
We have not forgiven others as we have been forgiven.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
We have been deaf to your call to serve.
We have been unfaithful, proud, and hypocritical.
Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
We have been self-centered, and have taken advantage of others.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
We have been envious of those more fortunate than ourselves.
Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
We have loved worldly goods and comforts too much.
We have been dishonest in daily life and work.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
We have neglected prayer and worship, and have failed to commend the faith that is in us.
Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
We have been blind to human need and suffering, and indifferent to injustice and cruelty.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
We have thought uncharitably about others, and we have been prejudiced towards those who differ from us.
Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
We have wasted and polluted your creation, and lacked concern for those who come after us.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
(Unison confession)
Merciful God,
we have sinned
in what we have thought and said,
in the wrong we have done
and in the good we have not done.
We have sinned in ignorance:
we have sinned in weakness:
we have sinned through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry.
We repent and turn to you.
Forgive us, for our Saviour Christ's sake,
and renew our lives to the glory of your name. Amen.
— from Ash Wednesday—A Service for the Beginning of Lent, posted on Bosco Peters’ Liturgy website. http://liturgy.co.nz/
For other worship resources for Ash Wednesday (February 22, 2012), click on Ash Wednesday in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.
