Confiteor

/ˌkɒnfɪˈteɪɔːr/ noun

Definition

A formal prayer of confession, traditionally beginning with the Latin words 'I confess'; used in Christian liturgy.

Etymology

Latin first-person singular present tense of 'confiteri' (I confess). The Catholic Mass traditionally includes the Confiteor, a formal admission of sins spoken or sung by the priest and congregation.

Kelly Says

The Confiteor has been recited for nearly 1,000 years in Catholic churches—its Latin words are so famous that even non-Latin speakers recognize the opening 'Confiteor Deo...', making it a kind of linguistic anchor of medieval Christianity.

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