💔 Confiteor – I Confess

The Confiteor is a powerful prayer of confession and repentance that is used during Mass and in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This prayer, which begins with "I confess to almighty God," helps us acknowledge our sins and ask for forgiveness from God, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels, the saints, and our brothers and sisters. It is a beautiful expression of humility and contrition.

The Confiteor Prayer

Latin

Confiteor Deo omnipotenti,

beatae Mariae semper Virgini,

beato Michaeli Archangelo,

beato Ioanni Baptistae,

sanctis Apostolis Petro et Paulo,

omnibus Sanctis,

et vobis, fratres,

quia peccavi nimis

cogitatione, verbo, opere et omissione,

mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Virginem,

beatum Michaelem Archangelum,

beatum Ioannem Baptistam,

sanctos Apostolos Petrum et Paulum,

omnes Sanctos,

et vos, fratres,

orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum.

English

I confess to almighty God

and to you, my brothers and sisters,

that I have greatly sinned

in my thoughts and in my words,

in what I have done

and in what I have failed to do,

through my fault, through my fault,

through my most grievous fault;

therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,

all the Angels and Saints,

and you, my brothers and sisters,

to pray for me to the Lord our God.

When the Confiteor is Used

• During Mass - As part of the Penitential Act at the beginning of Mass
• Sacrament of Reconciliation - During confession to express contrition
• Liturgy of the Hours - In the Divine Office and other liturgical celebrations
• Personal Prayer - As a daily examination of conscience
• Before Communion - To prepare for receiving the Eucharist
• Penitential Services - During communal reconciliation services

Meaning and Significance

Acknowledgment of Sin

The Confiteor helps us honestly acknowledge our sins and take responsibility for them.

Humility

It cultivates humility by recognizing our need for God's mercy and forgiveness.

Communal Aspect

It acknowledges that our sins affect the entire community and asks for their prayers.

Intercession

It asks for the intercession of Mary, the angels, saints, and our brothers and sisters.

Biblical Foundation

The Confiteor is deeply rooted in Scripture:

• 1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins"
• Psalm 51:3 - "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me"
• James 5:16 - "Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another"
• Luke 18:13 - "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!"
• Proverbs 28:13 - "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy"

The Confiteor follows the biblical pattern of acknowledging sin, expressing contrition, and seeking forgiveness through prayer and intercession.

Historical Background

The Confiteor has a rich liturgical history:

• Early Church - The practice of confessing sins publicly dates to the early Church
• Monastic Tradition - It was used in monastic communities for daily examination of conscience
• Liturgical Development - It became a standard part of the Mass during the Middle Ages
• Vatican II - The prayer was simplified and translated into vernacular languages
• Ecumenical Prayer - Similar prayers exist in other Christian traditions

The Confiteor has evolved over time but maintains its essential purpose of helping us acknowledge our sins and seek forgiveness.