Confiteor
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The Confiteor is a Catholic prayer in which the person saying the prayer confesses to God and the saints that he has sinned and asks the saints for intercession. At Mass, the prayer is said twice, first by the priest, then by the servers (substituting "tibi, Pater" and "te, Pater") who represent the people. It is also said in the Divine Office at Prime and Compline, in the same manner as at Mass, or, if the Office is said in private, it is said only once, saying "et omnibus Sanctis" and "et omnes Sanctos".
At the words "mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa", the person saying it strikes his breast thrice, as a gesture of sorrow and penance for sin. This gesture of repentence can also be found in Scripture (Jer. 31:19 "I turn in repentance...I strike my breast").
Confíteor Deo omnipoténti, beátæ Maríæ semper Vírgini, beáto Michaéli Archángelo, beáto Joanni Baptístæ, sanctis Apóstolis Petro et Paulo, ómnibus Sanctis, et vobis, fratres (tibi, Pater), quia peccávi nimis cogitatióne, verbo et ópere: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa. Ideo precor beátam Maríam semper Vírginem, beátum Michaélem Archángelum, beátum Joánnem Baptístam, sanctos Apóstolos Petrum et Paulum, omnes Sanctos, et vos, fratres (te, Pater), oráre pro me ad Dóminum Deum nostrum.
(I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the saints, and to you, brethren (to thee, Father), that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore, I beseech blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, all the saints, and you, brethren (thee, Father), to pray for me to the Lord our God.)
The priest then gives the absolution, which is a sacramental, but not a substitute for the Sacrament of Penance if one is in a state of mortal sin. The Misereatur (with "tui" and "te") is said by the server after the priest says the prayer.
Misereátur vestri (tui) omnípotens Deus, et dimíssis peccátis vestris (tuis), perdúcat vos (te) ad vitam ætérnam. Amen. Indulgéntiam, + absolutiónem, et remissiónem peccatórum nostrórum tríbuat nobis omnípotens et miséricors Dóminus.
(May Almighty God have mercy on you (thee), and forgiving your (thy) sins, and bring you (thee) to life everlasting. Amen. May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, + absolution, and remission of all our sins. Amen.)
[edit] Revised form
In the revised rites following Vatican II, the prayer is said in a shortened form, omitting most of the intercessions of the Saints, and said only at Mass:
Confíteor Deo omnipoténti, et vobis, fratres, quia peccávi nimis cogitatióne, verbo, ópere, et omissióne: 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.
Literal translation: (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.)
ICEL version: (I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and what I have failed to do. Therefore 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.)
