Near the beginning of Holy Mass, we make a communal confession of our sins. This is not a specific confession, of course, as in the sacrament of penance, but a general acknowledgement that, like all, “we have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3.23) The Confiteor (“I confess”) began as a private prayer of the priest before he began Mass, but became an opportunity for the people also to associate themselves with this essential preparation for celebrating the Holy Eucharist.

During the prayer, we use a sign that was mentioned by Our Lord in the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican who, “standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes towards heaven; but struck his breast, saying: ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’” (Lk 18.13) This stands as an example for all time of the proper attitude to take in the house of God.

In the Confiteor in addition to God, we also confess to and ask prayers of Our Lady, the angels and the saints, and each other. This emphasises our communion with each other in the Church and the support that we should give to each other in living the Christian life. The Confiteor “sets the stage” for both our worship and our life of charity.