Confiteor

American  

[kuhn-fit-ee-awr] / kənˈfɪt iˌɔr /

noun

Roman Catholic Church.

1. a prayer in the form of a general confession said at the beginning of the Mass and on certain other occasions.

---

Confiteor British  

/ kənˈfɪtɪˌɔː /

noun

1. RC Church a prayer consisting of a general confession of sinfulness and an entreaty for forgiveness

---

Etymology

Origin of Confiteor

1150–1200; Middle English; after first word of Latin prayer: I confess

Example Sentences

He made a huge sign of the cross, lowered his head and recited, again with perfect Latin diction, the Confiteor.

From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin

We have to know by heart all the prayers, the Hail Mary, the Our Father, the Confiteor, the Apostles’ Creed, the Act of Contrition, the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt

Then he went over again the sins that he had to confess, and he repeated the Confiteor and the act of contrition.

From Mademoiselle Blanche A Novel by Barry, John David

With a quiet deliberateness that surprised me, I said the "Confiteor," and accused myself of the long catalogue of sins that I had prepared.

From Tell England A Study in a Generation by Raymond, Ernest

There is a curious energy in the repetition of "Et Apostolicam Ecclesiam," and then a wistful sweetness and tenderness at "Confiteor unum baptisma."

From Old Scores and New Readings Discussions on Music & Certain Musicians by Runciman, John F.