| CONFITEOR
(From conferences on the Holy Mass given by Dom Prosper Gueranger)
Holy Church here makes use of the formula of confession, which she has drawn up; it probably
dates from the 8th century. We are not allowed to make the slightest change in the words. It has
this prerogative, in common with all the other Sacramentals, - that its recitation produces the
forgiveness of venial sins, provided we be contrite for them. Thus it is, that God, in His Infinite
Goodness, has provided us with other means, over and above the Sacrament of Penance, whereby
we may be cleansed from our venial sins: He, for this end, inspired His Church to give us her
Sacramentals. The Priest, as we were saying, begins the confession; and, first of all, he accuses himself to God. But, he is not satisfied with that; - he as good as says: "I not only desire to confess my sins to God, but to all the Saints; in order that they may join their prayers with mine, and obtain pardon for me." Therefore, he immediately adds: "I confess to the Blessed Mary ever Virgin." Not that he has ever committed any offence against this holy Mother; but he has sinned in her sight; and the very thought of it urges him to make his sins known to Her also. He does the same to the
glorious St. Michael, the great Archangel, who is appointed to watch over our souls, especially at
the hour of death. In like manner, he confesses to St. John the Baptist, who was so dear to our
Lord, and was His precursor. Lastly, he desires to own his sins to Saints Peter and Paul, the two
Princes of the Apostles. Certain Religious Orders have permission to add the name of their
Patriarch or Founder. Thus, the Benedictines insert the name of St. Benedict; the Dominicans, St. Dominic; the Franciscans, St. Francis. After mentioning these and all the Saints, he would have
even the Faithful, who are present, know that he is a sinner; and he therefore says to them: And to
you, Brethren! because, as he is now humbling himself on account of his sins, he not only accuses
himself before those who are glorified in God, but moreover, before those his fellow-mortals who
are there visibly present, near the sanctuary. And not satisfied with declaring himself to be a
sinner, he adds in what way he has sinned; and confesses, that it is by all the three ways, wherein
men commit sin, namely, by thought, word, and deed: cogitatione, verbo, et opere. Then wishing
to express, that he has thus sinned and through his own freewill, be utters these words: Mea culpa,
mea culpa, mea maxima culpa: through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. And, that he may, like the publican of the Gospel, outwardly testify his inward repentance, he thrice strikes his breast, whilst saying those words. Conscious of the need he has of pardon, he once more turns towards Mary and all the Saints, as likewise to the Faithful who are present, begging that they will all pray for him. In reference to this formula of Confession, which has been established by our holy Mother the Church, it may be well to remind our readers, that it would, of itself, suffice for one who was in danger of death, and unable to make a more explicit Confession.
The Ministers answer the Priest by wishing him the grace of God's mercy; they express their wish
under the form of prayer, during which he, the Priest, remains bowed down, and answers: Amen.
But, the Ministers themselves stand in need of God's pardon; and, therefore, they repeat the same
formula as the Priest, for the confession of their sins; only, instead of saying: Et vobis, fratres, and
to you, Brethren, they address the Priest, and call him Father: Et tibi, Pater. It is never allowable to change anything which holy Church has prescribed for the celebration of the Mass. Hence, in the Confiteor, the Ministers must always use the simple words: Et tibi, Pater; Et te, Pater; they must add no further title, not even were they serving the Pope's Mass. As soon as the Ministers have finished the Confession formula, the Priest says the same prayer for them, as they had previously made for him; and they, also, respond to it by an Amen. A sort of blessing then follows: Indulgentiam, &c., whereby the Priest asks, both for himself and his brethren, pardon and forgiveness of their sins; he makes the sign of the Cross, and uses the word nobis and not vobis, for he puts himself on an equality with his Ministers, and takes his share in the prayer that is said for all.
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