The Confiteor undergoes a few changes in the new translation of the Missal.

In previous columns we have looked at isolated examples from the new Missal and compared them to the current translation. In this month’s column I would like to look at the Confiteor—“I confess to almighty God”—and explain the changes in the new translation. Some of the differences will serve as a review of principles we have already discussed, but others will be new. The two versions have been placed side by side in the box below, and the changes are in bold type.

You’ll see from the comparison that “sinned through my own fault” has been changed to “greatly sinned,” and “through my fault” has been placed after the list of sins (thoughts, words, deeds, and omissions). This was done for at least two reasons. First, the new translation is a more accurate rendering of the word order of the Latin original and thus follows the principle that the “straightforward, concise, and compact manner of expression is to be maintained insofar as possible” (Authentic Liturgy, No. 57).

The second reason goes back to the intimate relationship between sacred Scripture and liturgical texts, a relationship that should be made evident in the translation (Authentic Liturgy, No. 49). The biblical source for the Confiteor is the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14.

While the Pharisee congratulated himself on his holiness and looked down on the tax collector, the latter lowered his head, beat his breast, and confessed his sinfulness. It was the tax collector, not the Pharisee, who went home justified.

In describing the tax collector’s words and actions, the Greek uses the imperfect tense, which expresses a repeated action. Thus, he was repeatedly beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” That same humility and honesty are expressed in the Confiteor through the threefold confession of personal fault—“through my fault” (in Latin, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa). This is an example of why Authentic Liturgy insists that “repetition” be accurately translated (No. 59).

The final difference is the change from “and I ask blessed Mary” to “therefore I ask blessed Mary.” Again, there are a couple of reasons for this. First, it is a more accurate rendering of the Latin original, which has ideo (therefore), not et (and). This follows Authentic Liturgy, which specifies that “the theological significance of words expressing causality, purpose, or consequence be maintained” (No. 57c).

But what is the “theological significance” of this change? Why, after confessing our sins, do we implore the intercession of Mary, the saints and angels, and our brothers and sisters? We do this because we are acutely conscious of our weakness and sinfulness. We know we do not become holy solely through our own efforts but through the grace of God and his help, which come to us through the intercession of his Blessed Mother, the saints and angels, and the body of Christ. “Therefore”—not “and”—we ask for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels and saints, and one another.

The new translation of the Confiteor is not simply more faithful to the Latin original. It also gives more accurate expression to important theological and spiritual truths: our need for the communion of saints and the importance of honesty and humility before God. Finally, it sets more clearly before us the example of the humble and contrite tax collector, who went home justified.

Present text
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 in what I have failed to do; and 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.

New text
I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; 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.

Father Stice is the director of the diocesan Worship and Liturgy Office. He can be reached at frrandy@dioknox.org.