St. Gerard, Patron of a Good Confession, who gave courage to souls whom fear and shame had overcome; who gave sorrow to their hearts, resolution to their wills, truth to their faltering lips; help me as I prepare for my First Confession. Enable me to know my sins, to be truly sorry for them, and to be firmly resolved, with God’s grace, never to sin again. Help me to confess my sins humbly and sincerely, to confess them in the spirit of faith, as confessing them to Our Lord Himself. Stand by me in this Confession, O gentle Saint, an angel of God sent to free me from sin. Amen.