Whether we seek forgiveness for our own sins or ask God to help us forgive others, prayer is the first starting point in seeking restoration and healing. The prayers below can help guide your thoughts and words as you seek forgiveness or help forgive others. It's a big step to ask for forgiveness and you've taken a bold step in faith!

Before we jump into specific prayers for forgiveness, you may want to take some time to reflect on what God commands us regarding forgiveness and why it is so important to be able to forgive.

Although the Bible is full of passages about forgiveness, forgiving someone who has wronged you is easier said than done. When someone betrays your trust, it's natural to feel hurt, but when you don't forgive someone, you end up carrying your bitterness with you, which can be a real burden. The best forgiveness prayers can help you find peace and comfort, even when forgiving someone seems impossible...or when the person you need to forgive is yourself. Whether you have been hurt by someone you love or have sinned against someone else, these prayers on forgiveness will give you strength and set you on the path to healing.

As difficult as it may be to grant forgiveness, it is the only way to be forgiven, and there are few things more important than that. None of us are exempt from needing forgiveness, and if you are looking to find forgiveness in your heart, then these short prayers to ask for forgiveness and forgive yourself can help.

Collected on this page are a number of sample prayers and resources for asking God for forgiveness and for forgiving others who have wronged us. You can start by reading the short article below on "How to ask God for forgiveness" and then pray the "prayer for the forgiveness of sins" or the traditional prayer. There is also a short prayer of strength to help you overcome any sin or difficulty you are having.

Forgiveness always seems easier on paper. After all, we can look to the Bible for examples of people forgiving each other and draw great inspiration from them. Joseph forgave his brothers for selling him into slavery. In the midst of an intense injury, you may not know the right words to say. The beautiful thing is that there are no right words. God wants to hear the groanings of your heart and comfort you.

We can all think of times when we have fallen short of what we know to be right and good – times when we find ourselves with an unhealthy sense of guilt. Whether we have hurt others, turned away from God, or failed to act when we know what to do, each of us knows well the story of our shortcomings. Fortunately, a life of faith offers the remedy of forgiveness.

One option is to express sorrow for the sin in a private prayer. And while this is important, Catholics also have a special way of asking God for forgiveness through the sacrament of confession. Sometimes also called reconciliation, this is where we speak out loud about our sins to God in the presence of the priest. It can be daunting to do, and fear or embarrassment often keeps many people from receiving the sacrament.

Forgiving the sins of others against you is not as easy as it seems. But remember that by coming to God for forgiveness, you are not in a position to resent your brothers and sisters, even if you are deeply hurt.