Prayer After Confession in the Catholic Church

If you have just come out of the confessional, you may be wondering what to say now. The short answer: Roman Catholics are not required to pray a set prayer after confession, though many do. A simple prayer of thanks, a prayer such as the one Jesus taught, or a prayer of your own words is entirely fitting. The important thing is that you turn to God with a thankful heart, because the Church teaches that your sins are forgiven through the sacrament. If you are not Catholic, the same principle holds: after you have confessed sin to God, you respond with thanks and with a life that is turning toward him. This article explains what Catholics commonly pray, why penance is given, and how Protestants and Catholics understand confession differently.

What do Catholics usually pray after confession?

The Church does not prescribe a single prayer to be said after you leave the confessional. What is required is that you complete the penance the priest gave you, which may be prayers such as the Our Father, Hail Mary, or Glory Be, or some other act of devotion. Many Catholics also make an act of thanksgiving. A common one is: I thank You, my God, for the gift of forgiveness. Help me to sin no more and to love You more each day. Amen.

Others simply pray the Lord’s Prayer slowly, letting the words about forgiveness sink in:

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. — Matthew 6:9-13 (ASV)

Notice that Jesus ties our forgiveness to our willingness to forgive others. That is not a condition for earning forgiveness but a sign that we have received it. If you are holding a grudge, confession is a good moment to bring that too.

Why does the priest give a penance?

Penance is not a second forgiveness. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the sacrament of reconciliation imparts forgiveness of sins, and the penance given by the priest is an act of satisfaction that expresses sorrow and begins to repair the harm sin has caused. It is a way of making amends, however small, and of turning away from sin. The Bible speaks of confession both to God and to a neighbour we have wronged:

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail. — James 5:16 (BSB)

That verse is one reason the early Church practised confession. In the Catholic understanding, the priest acts in the person of Christ and the Church, and the absolution he speaks is Christ’s forgiveness. Protestants do not have sacramental confession to a priest, but they still confess sin directly to God and often to a trusted believer for prayer and accountability. Both traditions take sin seriously and point to the same mercy.

What does the Bible say about prayer after forgiveness?

Scripture gives many examples of what to say after sin has been dealt with. David, after his sin with Bathsheba, prayed:

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit. — Psalm 51:10-12 (BSB)

That is a good model for after confession: ask God to change your heart, not just to cancel a debt. The prophet Micah says God delights to forgive:

He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast out all our sins into the depths of the sea. — Micah 7:19 (BSB)

And John writes:

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. — 1 John 1:9 (BSB)

These promises are for every believer, Catholic or Protestant. They are the ground on which any prayer after confession stands.

How is Catholic confession different from Protestant confession?

Roman Catholics believe that Christ instituted the sacrament of penance, in which the penitent confesses mortal sins to a priest, receives absolution, and performs a penance. The priest is bound by the seal of confession and may never reveal what he hears. This is not merely a human tradition, Catholics argue, but is rooted in passages such as John 20:22-23, where Jesus breathes on the apostles and speaks of forgiving and withholding sins.

Protestants generally hold that confession is made directly to God through Christ, who is our only mediator (1 Timothy 2:5), and that no priest is needed to pronounce forgiveness. They point to 1 John 1:9 and to the temple curtain being torn at Christ’s death (Matthew 27:51) as signs that believers now have direct access to God. Many Protestant churches still encourage confessing sins to a pastor or a mature believer for counsel and prayer, as James 5:16 suggests, but this is not considered a sacrament that conveys forgiveness.

The Orthodox Church has its own practice of confession to a priest, similar in some ways to the Catholic sacrament, but with different theological emphases and disciplines. This site follows the historic Protestant reading, while respecting Catholics and Orthodox who hold their own convictions. If you are Catholic and have made a sacramental confession, this site does not replace it. It is a private place to confess to God, but it is not a sacrament.

What should I do if I still feel guilty after confession?

Feelings of guilt do not always disappear immediately. The enemy of our souls likes to keep us in shame, but God’s word says otherwise. When the prodigal son returned, his father ran to him, embraced him, and kissed him (Luke 15:20). There was no lecture, no probation period. The father said that his son who was dead was alive again, and who was lost was found (Luke 15:24).

If you have confessed your sin and received absolution, you can trust God’s promise. If the guilt persists, it may be a matter for prayer, for talking with a pastor or confessor, or for examining whether there is restitution or reconciliation you still need to make. It may also be a sign of a deeper wound that a doctor or licensed counsellor can help with. Guilt is not the same as the Holy Spirit’s conviction; conviction leads us to Christ, while shame drives us away from him.

After confession, take a moment to thank God specifically for the forgiveness you have received. You might pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your mercy. I receive Your forgiveness by faith. Strengthen me by Your Spirit to walk in newness of life. Amen.

Then go and do what James says: pray for one another, and live in the good works God has prepared for you.

Where do I go from here?

Whether you prayed a formal act of contrition, the Lord’s Prayer, or a few words of your own, the point is that you are turning to God. He is not waiting to condemn you; He is waiting to welcome you. Read Psalm 51 and 1 John 1 this week. Pray honestly. And if you are part of a local church, talk with a pastor or a trusted believer who can walk with you. Confession is not the end of the Christian life; it is a doorway back into fellowship with the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit.

If you are in crisis or having thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out for help right away. In the United States and Canada, call or text 988. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, call Samaritans on 116 123. In Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Anywhere else, visit findahelpline.com or call your local emergency number.

Questions people ask

Do I have to say a specific prayer after Catholic confession?

No. The Church does not require a set prayer after you leave the confessional. You must complete the penance the priest gave you, but you are free to thank God in your own words, pray the Lord’s Prayer, or simply sit quietly in gratitude. Many Catholics find an act of thanksgiving helpful, but it is not obligatory.

What is the difference between Catholic and Protestant confession?

Catholics confess mortal sins to a priest in the sacrament of reconciliation and receive absolution. Protestants confess directly to God through Christ, often with a pastor or believer for counsel and prayer, but they do not consider confession a sacrament. Both traditions take sin seriously and point to God’s mercy in Christ.

Can I pray after confession if I am not Catholic?

Yes. Any believer can pray after confessing sin to God. A simple prayer of thanks, a request for a clean heart, or the Lord’s Prayer are all appropriate. The promise of 1 John 1:9 is for all who confess, regardless of church tradition.