The prayer of Manasseh (A prayer for Mercy.)

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Str84ward

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I found this prayer in a Bible when I was in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. I think it is a great penintential prayer fit for the Year of Mercy.

My question is that why isn’t this prayer as widely known as Psalm 51 or the other penitential prayers from the Bible?

“
OLord Almighty,
God of our ancestors,
of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob
and of their righteous offspring; 
you who made heaven and earth
with all their order; 
who shackled the sea by your word of command,
who confined the deep
and sealed it with your terrible and glorious name; 
at whom all things shudder,
and tremble before your power, 
for your glorious splendour cannot be borne,
and the wrath of your threat to sinners is unendurable; 
yet immeasurable and unsearchable
is your promised mercy, 
for you are the Lord Most High,
of great compassion, long-suffering, and very merciful,
and you relent at human suffering.
OLord, according to your great goodness
you have promised repentance and forgiveness
to those who have sinned against you,
and in the multitude of your mercies
you have appointed repentance for sinners,
so that they may be saved. 
Therefore you, OLord, God of the righteous,
have not appointed repentance for the righteous,
for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who did not sin against you,
but you have appointed repentance for me, who am a sinner.

For the sins I have committed are more in number than the sand of the sea;
my transgressions are multiplied, O
Lord, they are multiplied!
I am not worthy to look up and see the height of heaven
because of the multitude of my iniquities. 
I am weighted down with many an iron fetter,
so that I am rejected because of my sins,
and I have no relief;
for I have provoked your wrath
and have done what is evil in your sight,
setting up abominations and multiplying offences.

And now I bend the knee of my heart,
imploring you for your kindness. 
I have sinned, OLord, I have sinned,
and I acknowledge my transgressions. 
I earnestly implore you,
forgive me, OLord, forgive me!
Do not destroy me with my transgressions!
Do not be angry with me for ever or store up evil for me;
do not condemn me to the depths of the earth.
For you, O*Lord, are the God of those who repent, 
and in me you will manifest your goodness;
for, unworthy as I am, you will save me according to your great mercy, 
and I will praise you continually all the days of my life.
For all the host of heaven sings your praise,
and yours is the glory for ever. Amen.”
 
The *Prayer of Manasseh *is actually not regarded by the Catholic Church as part of Sacred Scripture.

It is mentioned in the Catholic Encyclopedia article on “Apocrypha” in the section on “Apocrypha of Jewish origin” in the sub-section on “Apocryphal psalms and prayers.”

Also see the Wikipedia article on “Prayer of Manasseh.”
 
So can we pray it?
The *Prayer of Manasseh *is actually not regarded by the Catholic Church as part of Sacred Scripture.

It is mentioned in the Catholic Encyclopedia article on “Apocrypha” in the section on “Apocrypha of Jewish origin” in the sub-section on “Apocryphal psalms and prayers.”

Also see the Wikipedia article on “Prayer of Manasseh.”
 
It may not be Canon in Catholic Bibles but being in the appendix along with 3 and 4 Esdras ( more commonly known as 1 and 2 Esdras as 1 and 2 Esdras in the Vulgate are now more commonly known as Ezra and Nehemiah), are still used in Catholic liturgy; barely but still, it must mean the Church has some regard for them. It’s a beautiful prayer. I don’t know why it isn’t it in the Canon. I believe traditionally it would follow the books of Chronicles in older Bibles.

newliturgicalmovement.org/2017/01/actual-apocrypha-in-liturgy.html?m=1
 
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