Confíteor

Confíteor is a Latin phrase meaning "I confess." It is the opening of a Catholic prayer of confession recited during Mass, specifically during the Penitential Act. The prayer acknowledges one's sins and asks for mercy.

The full text of the Confíteor in Latin is "Confíteor Deo omnipotenti, et vobis, fratres, quia peccávi nimis cogitatióne, verbo et ópere: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa. Ideo precor beátam Maríam semper Vírginem, omnes Angelos et Sanctos, et vos, fratres, oráre pro me ad Dóminum Deum nostrum." This translates to "I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned greatly 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. And so 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."

The prayer is typically recited by the congregation, sometimes accompanied by the priest. It is a communal act of humility and repentance, seeking forgiveness before the celebration of the Eucharist. The gesture of striking one's breast three times during the phrase "mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa" is a common physical expression of contrition.

The Confíteor is found in the Roman Missal and has been part of Catholic liturgy for centuries. Variations exist in different liturgical traditions, but the core sentiment of confession and seeking divine mercy remains consistent. It serves as a reminder of the need for spiritual purification before approaching the divine.