Jesus Christ, the beginning and the end,
the resurrection and the life,
the perfect man who gave His life for sinners,
I worship you, I adore you, I sing aloud your name.
I am one of those whom you saved, whom you set free,
when you died on the cross.
You redeemed me from the slavery of sin.
And yet I cannot escape the overpowering sense
that I am still a wretched sinner,
that my every action is worthless or evil.
I am like the dry sand of a desert thirsting for water.
I am like a criminal languishing in prison.
I am like a criminal languishing in prison.
Good people try to help me, and I pray that you will reward them;
but their goodness does nothing to assuage my sense of wickedness.
Patient people try to teach me your ways;
but I am so stubborn that I cannot learn.
Humble people seek to serve me;
but in my pride I cannot truly appreciate their services.
Lift the burden of wickedness; break down my stubbornness; root out my pride.
Let me receive your life-giving love.
Let me be free.
Fulbert of Chartres, c.970-1028, bishop of the Cathedral of Chartres, France
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And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house,
let us go right into the presence of God
with sincere hearts fully trusting him.
For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean,
and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
prayer & verse 