You can read a prayer of contrition in the ninth chapter of the book of Daniel. This prayer is a confession of guilt, both personal and national. It is an assertion that the destruction of the Jewish kingdom in the 6th century was a divine punishment visited upon sinners who had turned away from God’s laws. The prayer is fairly lengthy and detailed.
As it turns out, Daniel’s prayer was heard. The angel Gabriel came to him with a message: “When you began your petition, an answer was given which I have come to announce, because you are beloved” (Dan 9:23). Note that the answer was given already at the beginning of Daniel’s lengthy prayer of contrition, but this answer was not delivered until some time later. Daniel had to finish his long prayer before the angel would come to him, and the Jewish people had to wait decades before coming home at last.
This is why we so often need to make prayers of contrition, even if there seems to be no short-term reward for it. We know by faith that our prayers are heard from the very beginning, and we also know by faith that God will answer them at a time of his choosing. Our challenge is to wait, to be vigilant.
This is why it is so important for every society to have people who dedicate themselves to repentance and atonement for sins. The penitential orders of monks and nuns, of priests, religious and laity serve a vital civic function. Lent is a good time for us to learn from them and to imitate them in our own way.