Confiteor - I Confess

"I have acknowledged my sin to Thee, and my injustice I have not con­cealed." Psalm 31:5.

The story is told of a mother whose son died fighting for his country. When the dreadful news arrived from the War Office, she was inconsolable. Again and again she expressed the prayerful wish:

"Oh, I wish I could see him again, if only for five minutes."

Someone asked her later for just what five minutes of the boy's life she would like to have him, supposing her prayer could come true. That was a difficult choice for her to make, as the boy was twenty-four years old. Would she like to see him in his sweet babyhood? Would it be the time when he started off to school? Would she like to see him again as he won honors at graduation? Perhaps she would like to see him going bravely into battle.

No, none of these times did the mother choose. She said:

"I would have him as he was one day when he ran in from the yard to ask foregiveness for being naughty. He was so small and so sad. He was perspiring and crying at the same time. The tears and perspiration made streaks down his muddy face. And he fairly flew into my arms, so hard that it hurt me."

To that mother the most memorable moments in the life of her son were those when he came to ask her forgiveness, those few moments when he realized that he had hurt the feelings of his loving mother by his dis­obedience.

Who will say that our own moments of sorrow and contrition are not the most precious in the sight of our heavenly Father? As Christ tells us:

"There will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety-nine just who have no need of repentance." St. Luke, 15:7.

With that thought in mind we would like to consider the Confiteor of the Mass. It is a general confession of sins made by both priest and people. Humbly, publicly, contritely we admit in the sight and hearing of all that we have sinned. The Confiteor is divided into two clearly distinct parts:

1. "I confess to almighty God, and to you to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy apostles, Peter and Paul, to all the saints, and to thee, Father, that I have sinned exceedingly, in thought, word, and deed."

[Novus Ordo translation: I confess to almighty God and to you my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned exceedingly, in my thoughts and in my words; in what I have done and in what I have failed to do.]

Here everyone strikes his breast three times as he says:

"through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault."

Then all continue:

"Therefore I beseech the blessed Mary, ever Virgin, blessed Michael the archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy apostles Peter and Paul, all the saints, and thee, Father, to pray to the Lord our God for me."

In the past Franciscans added the name of St. Francis. The Dominicans added St. Dominic; The Benedictines added St. Benedict.

2. It is proper that we admit our guilt to Mary and the saints:

A. Mary is "the Mother of Mercy" and "Refuge of Sinners."
B. St. Michael is the chief of the heavenly spirits.
C. St. John the Baptist was the forerunner of our Lord.
D. Saints Peter and Paul were the leaders of the early Church. They are usually linked together.

3. Praying the Confiteor the priest bows down profoundly to express with his body the sorrow of his soul. Bowing also helps the soul to humble itself. He joins his hands to show recollection of mind and devotion. The priest strikes his breast three times. In the breast is the heart, seat and source of all good and all evil. The three-fold striking of the breast shows the intensity, the sincerity, and the force of his contri­tion. It also shows sorrow for three kinds of sin - in thought, word, and deed.

After we have confessed our guilt, we ask the saints and their Queen and the faithful around to pray for the celebrant.

4. While the priest remains bowed, the servers, in the name of the people ask God to have mercy on the priest:

"May Almighty God be merciful to you, and, forgiving you your sins, bring you to life everlasting. Amen."

5. Then the servers bow down and recite the Confiteor in the name of the people. When they finish, they remain bowed, as the priest prays over them and the congregation:

"May Almighty God be merciful to you, and, forgiving you your sins, bring you to life everlasting. Amen.

"May the Almighty and merciful Lord, grant you pardon, absolution, and remission of your sins. Amen."

6. I suggest that all of you join with the servers in saying the Confiteor, that you repeat the words at least silently, that you strike your breast, that you sign yourself with the cross, as the priest prays for forgiveness for all.

The sign of the cross reminds us strongly that we are taking part in the Sacrifice of the Mass, that it is from Christ's death on the cross that all blessings and mercy come.

Watch the priest at Mass. Pray the Confiteor. Enter into its spirit. We are all like little children before our heavenly Father. Run to Him in contrition and sorrow. Bow before Him in repentance for your sins. Seek His forgiveness.

Our repentance is pleasing to God, just as the repentance of the little boy in our story was the most pleasing memory of his mother.
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Adapted from Talks on the Mass
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, OFM (© 1950)