Prepare your heart and your hands, for the bridegroom approaches

​Go to Confession

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Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas before confession

​O Almighty and most merciful God, Who hast made me out of nothing, and redeemed me by the Precious Blood of Thine Only Son; Who hast with so much patience borne with me to this day, notwithstanding all my sins and ingratitude; ever calling after me to return to Thee from the ways of vanity and iniquity, in which I have been quite wearied out in the pursuit of empty toys and mere shadows; seeking in vain to satisfy my thirst in unclean waters, and my hunger with husks of swine: behold, O most gracious Lord, I now sincerely desire to leave all these my evil ways, to forsake the region of death where I have so long lost myself, and to return to Thee, the Fountain of Life.

I desire, like the prodigal son, to enter seriously into myself, and with the like reception from His most tender mercy.  But, O my God, though I can go astray from Thee myself, yet I cannot make one step towards returning to Thee, unless Thy divine grace move and assist me.  This grace, therefore, I most humbly implore, prostrate in spirit before the throne of Thy mercy; I beg it for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who died upon the Cross for my sins; I know that Thou desirest not the death of a sinner, but that he may be converted and live; I know Thy mercies are above all Thy works; and I most confidently hope that as in Thy mercy Thou hast spared me so long, and hast now given me this desire of returning to Thee, so Thou wilt finish the work which Thou hast begun, and bring me to a perfect reconciliation with Thee.

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Day of wrath and doom impending!
David's word with Sibyl's blending,
Heaven and earth in ashes ending!

 

​​Dies iræ, dies illa,
Solvet sæclum in favilla:
Teste David cum Sibylla.

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Oh, what fear man's bosom rendeth,
When from heaven the Judge descendeth,
On whose sentence all dependeth.​

Quantus tremor est futurus,
Quando judex est venturus,
Cuncta stricte discussurus!

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Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth;
Through earth's sepulchres it ringeth;
All before the throne it bringeth.​

Tuba, mirum spargens sonum
Per sepulchra regionum,
Coget omnes ante thronum

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Death is struck, and nature quaking,
All creation is awaking,
To its Judge an answer making.​

Mors stupebit, et natura,
Cum resurget creatura,
Iudicanti responsura.

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​Lo, the book, exactly worded,
Wherein all hath been recorded,
Thence shall judgement be awarded.

Liber scriptus proferetur,
In quo totum continetur,
Unde mundus iudicetur.

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​When the Judge his seat attaineth,
And each hidden deed arraigneth,
Nothing unavenged remaineth.

Iudex ergo cum sedebit,
Quidquid latet, apparebit:
Nil inultum remanebit.

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What shall I, frail man, be pleading?
Who for me be interceding,
When the just are mercy needing?​

Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?
Quem patronum rogaturus,
Cum vix iustus sit securus?

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​King of Majesty tremendous,
Who dost free salvation send us,
Fount of pity, then befriend us!

Rex tremendæ maiestatis,
Qui salvandos salvas gratis,
Salva me, fons pietatis.

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​Think, kind Jesu! — my salvation
Caused Thy wondrous Incarnation;
Leave me not to reprobation.

Recordare, Iesu pie,
Quod sum causa tuæ viæ:
Ne me perdas illa die.

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​Faint and weary, Thou hast sought me,
On the Cross of suffering bought me.
Shall such grace be vainly brought me?

Quærens me, sedisti lassus:
Redemisti Crucem passus:
Tantus labor non sit cassus.

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​Righteous Judge, for sin's pollution
Grant Thy gift of absolution,
Ere the day of retribution.

Iuste Iudex ultionis,
Donum fac remissionis
Ante diem rationis.

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Guilty, now I pour my moaning,
All my shame with anguish owning;
Spare, O God, Thy suppliant groaning!​

Ingemisco, tamquam reus:
Culpa rubet vultus meus:
Supplicanti parce, Deus.

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​Through the mortal woman shriven,
Through the dying thief forgiven,
Thou to me a hope hast given.

Qui Mariam absolvisti,
Et latronem exaudisti,
Mihi quoque spem dedisti.

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​Worthless are my prayers and sighing,
Yet, good Lord, in grace complying,
Rescue me from fires undying.

Preces meæ non sunt dignæ:
Sed tu bonus fac benigne,
Ne perenni cremer igne.

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​With Thy sheep a place provide me,
From the goats afar divide me,
To Thy right hand do Thou guide me.

Inter oves locum præsta,
Et ab hædis me sequestra,
Statuens in parte dextra.

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When the wicked are confounded,
Doomed to flames of woe unbounded,
Call me with Thy saints surrounded.​

Confutatis maledictis,
Flammis acribus addictis,
Voca me cum benedictis.

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​Low I kneel, with heart's submission,
See, like ashes, my contrition,
Help me in my last condition.

Oro supplex et acclinis,
Cor contritum quasi cinis:
Gere curam mei finis.

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​Ah! that day of tears and mourning,
From the dust of earth returning
Man for judgement must prepare him,
Spare, O God, in mercy spare him.

Lacrimosa dies illa,
Qua resurget ex favílla
Iudicandus homo reus:
Huic ergo parce, Deus:

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​Lord, all-pitying, Jesus blest,
Grant them Thine eternal rest. Amen.

Pie Iesu Domine,
Dona eis requiem. Amen.