A General Confession
A short prayer from the Book of Common Prayer, for use at morning and evening.
Although much of the Book of Common Prayer was simply a translation of the mediaeval Latin service books, this prayer, from the start of Morning and Evening Prayer, was newly added in 1552. Commentators are quick to observe that it was no less than St Basil the Great (330-379) who declared that all prayer should begin with some acknowledgement of our shortcomings.
ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, We have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep.* We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.* We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, And we have done those things which we ought not to have done,* And there is no health in us:* But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us miserable offenders; Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults, Restore thou them that are penitent, According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord: And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.