Prayer for a sorrow for sins like that of St. Augustine

Ask God to inspire in you a sorrow for your sins, as St. Augustine had.

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We are all sinners, but we don’t always have contrition, or sorrow for our wrongdoing. We might know that what we did was wrong, but we aren’t “sorry” about it.

The examples of St. Augustine and St. Monica can be inspirational for us, showing us the power of prayer as well as the grace that comes from a contrite heart.

Here is the collect prayer from the feast of St. Monica that asks God for an increase in our sorrow for the sins we commit.

God our Father, comforter of the sorrowful,
you accepted Saint Monica’s offering of tears
for the conversion of her son, Augustine.
Help us, by their intercession,
to be truly contrite for our sins
so that we may receive the grace of your forgiveness.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.