Prayer Before Confession
July 12th, 1992
Brother John Raymond
St. Leonard lived in the 6th century. Leonard was from a noble
family of Franks. He lived in present day France. St.Leonard was
part of the court of King Clovis I. The pagan King's wife, a
Christian, suggested to him to invoke the Christian God for help to
repel an invading army whose victory seemed sure. Upon doing this
the tide of the battle turned and Clovis was victorious. St.
Remigius, (the Bishop of Rheims who dedicated himself to the
conversion of the Franks) helped by this miracle converted the King,
a thousand of his followers and Leonard to Christianity. With his
conversion Leonard began a life of austerity and sanctification. He
began to preach. His desire to know God grew and grew until finally
he decided to withdraw from the world. He entered a monastery at
Orleans founded by St. Euspicious. His brother, Lifiard, following
his example, left the King's court at the age of forty. He built a
monastery at Meun and lived there. He, too, is honored by the Church
as a saint.
Even in the monastery Leonard could not satisfy his desire for
seclusion. With the Abbot's consent he left and withdrew into the
forest of Limousin. On the way he converted many to the Faith. Here
in the forest he lived on herbs, wild fruits and spring water. He
built himself an oratory, leaving it only for journeys to churches.
He became such a popular figure that others begged him to allow them
to live with him. In time a monastery formed.
Leonard had a great compassion for prisoners. He obtained the
release of many of them. His holiness converted them from their ways
so profoundly that they spent the rest of their lives in his
monastery doing penance.
He died about the year 550. After his biography was written in
the 11th century devotion to him spread everywhere. Churches were
dedicated to him in France, England, Belgium, Spain, Italy,
Switzerland, Germany, Bohemia, Poland and other countries. Pilgrims
from all over flocked to St. Leonard's tomb in France. In one small
town in Bavaria, from the 14th to 18th century, there are records of
about 4,000 favors granted through St. Leonard's intercession.
Prayer Before Confession
O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, worthy of all
my love, I humbly present myself before You. Look upon me with
merciful eyes and help me to be reconciled to You by a good
confession. But as I can do nothing if You do not help me, I implore
You in Your tender mercy to enlighten me, that I may know all my
sins and detest them with my whole heart.
O Jesus, ever flowing fountain of compassion, I approach You to
cleanse me from all my sins. O Divine Physician heal my soul. O
infinite Love, enkindle the flames of Your Love in my soul that it
may love nothing but You. May this Confession bring about in me an
entire change in my life so that I may be fully reconciled to You.
Mother of God, You are so charitable to sinners who desire
repentance, assist me to make a good Confession. My Guardian Angel,
help me to discover the sins I have committed. My Patron Saint and
all you Saints of Heaven, pray for me that I may bring forth worthy
fruits of repentance. Amen.