In prayer and liturgy, we need the humility that leads to repentance

The prayer of supplication includes petition. As the Holy Spirit moves within us, the first impulse toward petition is repentance. As we draw closer to God, we realize who we are before him, how we have offended his love and majesty, where we have failed to live up to our status as his sons and daughters, and we readily and wholeheartedly confess our sinfulness before him.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains: “The first movement of the prayer of petition is asking forgiveness...