Is there a model prayer for repentance?

St. Basil the Great offers us his own prayer for repentance, which reveals the following to us:

• a. He fixes his eyes on God’s overflowing love and compassion, and not just on his own sins.

• b. He asks God to grant him a repentance such that his repentance never loses its way.

• c. He blends tears of repentance with the joy of thanksgiving to the Forgiver of sins.

• d. He proclaims his love for God, being beloved by Him until the end.

• e. He asks him for strength to be saved from the devil and the world.

• f. He does not promise to do good deeds, but asks God to grant him goodness.

O Master Lord, God of all, and infinitely righteous Father. O You who is ever existent and abides forever. You are ever-existent without change. You had no beginning and will have no end.

O You who are imperceptible in essence, infinite in greatness, perfect in goodness and flowing in nature.

The depth of Your strength and wisdom are indescribable.

1469 St. John Cassian, The Conferences 2.14–15 (NPNF II/11:315–316).

I bless You as you look with mercy and compassion on my wretchedness, for You save me from the filth of this vain and malicious world, made of brick. You save me from the numerous nets of the ruler of the darkness of this age.

I bless You, Lord, for showing me, a sinner, Your wondrous mercies. You have become my Beloved One to the end in all things. You are the instructor and governor, the refuge and the helper, the fortress of every soul and body.

I bless You, Lord, for You show me, the unworthy, the abundance of Your infinite love. Although I daily subject myself to Satan because of my laziness, You guard me and deliver me from his traps.

I bless You, Lord, for You grant me the strength to repent for my sins, and You grant me countless opportunities to return from my malice.

I bless You, Lord, for although I have no strength, You strengthen my weakness, not allowing me to completely fall, but You stretch out Your helping hand from above and restore me back to You again.

How can I repay You, O Master who is full of goodness, for all the blessings you bestowed on me? You never cease laboring for me, I the sinner.

What thanksgivings can I offer You? This is why I cry out to You from dawn till evening like a swallow, and I sing joyfully to You like a nightingale. I will never cease blessing You all the days of my life, O my Creator, who is Benevolent to me and my Protector.

I am unworthy to speak to You O God, for I am very sinful. But I thank You Lord, for Your patience with my many transgressions. You did not punish me until this very moment.

I thank You, Lord, for You do not desire the death of a sinner, but rather that he returns and lives (Ezek. 18:23).

I deserve to be greatly punished, and be cast away from Your presence, but Your love that tolerated me extended Your longsuffering towards me.

I thank You, Lord, even when I am unable to thank You as befits Your patience for me. Have mercy on me, Lord, and straighten my life according to Your will. Lead me, for Your kindness knows what is best for me. According to Your great compassions,

make me perfect in every good deed that pleases You, and free my poor flesh. For Your work is mercy and our salvation, O God.

We glorify You, give thanks to You, and worship You with Your Only Begotten Son, and Your All-Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver, from now and forever and unto the ages of all ages, Amen.[ 1470]

1470 Cf. Nikolaos S. Hatzinikolaou, An Anthology of Patristic Prayers (Massachusetts: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1988): pp. 53–55.