From the Roman Missal

I Confess — Confiteor

Said at the beginning of Mass, beating the breast

LatinEnglish

Confiteor Deo omnipotenti
et vobis, fratres,
quia peccavi nimis
cogitatione, verbo, opere et omissione:
mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.
Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Virginem,
omnes Angelos et Sanctos,
et vos, fratres,
orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum.

I confess to almighty God
and to you, brethren,
that I have sinned exceedingly
in thought, word, deed and omission:
through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.
Therefore I beseech blessed Mary ever Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, brethren,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

SourceFrom the Roman Missal · Said at the beginning of Mass, beating the breast

The history of this prayer

The Confiteor is a general confession of sins made before God and the Church. It began as the priest's private prayer before going up to the altar and by around the eleventh century already had a form close to today's. The “mea culpa” with three strikes of the breast comes from the publican in the Gospel, who would not even raise his eyes (Luke 18:13).

The traditional form names St Michael, St John the Baptist, St Peter and St Paul; the current form, given on this page, is shorter. It is said at the beginning of Mass, and also before Communion outside Mass and in the evening examination of conscience.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Confiteor forgive sins?

Prayed with true sorrow, it helps obtain forgiveness of venial sins, like other sacramentals; grave sins require sacramental Confession.

Why do we strike the breast at “through my fault”?

It is the gesture of the repentant publican in the Gospel (Luke 18:13): acknowledging that sin comes from one's own heart.

How does the old Confiteor differ from the current one?

The old one names St Michael, St John the Baptist, St Peter and St Paul and is said twice at the traditional Mass (priest, then servers); the current one is shorter and said once by all.

More prayers: Every Catholic's prayers

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