Have mercy on me, O life-giver, through your goodness.

In your great tenderness soothe away my faults.

Cleanse me of my guilt,

    do not hold my failures against me.

For I have come to see that I fail you,

    when I have not acknowledged with my whole being

    that I am made truly in your image;

    in not walking in your ways I have sinned against you.

You are love and truth itself

    and seek sincerity of heart;

  teach me the secrets of wisdom.

Cleanse me from all that prevents me

    from listening to your word.

 

Ianthe Pratt, organizer of Catholic women’s activities in London

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Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.