Prayer for Reconciliation before Life’s End

I know, O my God, that it is appointed unto men once to die; but after this the judgment. Therefore I place myself before Thy judgment now while I am still alive, and desire to be reconciled with Thee before I die. O righteous God, because I do not know how long it will be till I shall depart from this world, I come before Thy judgment and accuse myself.

O Lord, I acknowledge that I am a great sinner. I have transgressed all Thy holy commandments, and have often done so knowingly. I have not loved Thee with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my strength. I have not always followed in the footsteps of Jesus, nor let myself be always led by the Holy Spirit as I ought to have done. I have, indeed, become Thy child in Holy Baptism, but I have not always lived as Thy child. In coming to Confession, and in partaking of the Lord’s Supper, I have promised much; but I have kept little, and have been conformed again to the world. Lord, I have not done right, and my sins oppress me. I have not walked in the way which Thou hast shown me. Mine iniquities are gone over my head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

O gracious God, who hast promised that Thou wouldest not have the death of the sinner, but that he turn from his way and live; behold I come now, while I am still in the possession of my faculties and able to think, and desire to make my peace with Thee. O, I repent of my sins; I fall down before Thy judgment-seat, and say, Lord God, the Father in heaven, have mercy upon me; Lord God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy upon me; Lord God the Holy Ghost, have mercy upon me. I seek refuge, O Father, in Thine infinite mercy. I have sinned against heaven and in Thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called Thy child; but I beseech Thee, be merciful to me and disown me not on account of my sins.

O Jesus, I flee to Thee, my Intercessor; I beseech Thee, pray for me poor sinner now in the hour of my death. For if any man sin, we have an advocate with God, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world. For the sake of Thy precious blood forgive me all my sins, and for Thy holy wounds’ sake let me find grace before the bar of justice. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. O Blessed Holy Spirit, I flee to Thee: create in me a new heart; cleanse and sanctify it; and bear witness with my spirit, that I am a child of God and am regarded with favor. Work in me true repentance, living faith, and the holy purpose to live only for Thy glory and to die in child-like obedience. Work in me holy thoughts, devout supplications, and sweet meditations on death. Grant me refreshing thoughts of heaven and the future glory. Speak to my heart the comforting words: “My son, be of good cheer: thy sins be forgiven thee.” Then I shall not be afraid to die, because I know that the sins which are forgiven here are forgiven in heaven also. O Holy Trinity, be gracious unto me; when I leave this world let me find favor with Thee; do not impute my sins unto me, but have mercy upon me according to Thy loving-kindness. Amen.