Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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CONFITEOR

"I confess." The act of repentance that from the earliest Christian times was part of the Church's Eucharistic liturgy. In its usual form before the Second Vatican Council the confession was made to God, to the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Michael, St. John the Baptist, Sts. Peter and Paul, and all the other saints. The present formm declares: "I confess to Almighty God, and to you my brothers, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, act and omission: through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech the Blessed Mary every Virgin, all the angels and saints, and you brethren, to pray for me to the Lord our God." (Etym. Latin confiteor, I confess.)