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I confess

Lord have mercy. I confess. Origins of this prayer. A general confession of sin Preparatory prayer used by the priest just before Mass 12 th Century – used by everyone at the beginning of Mass. Preparing ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

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I confess

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  1. Lord have mercy I confess

  2. Origins of this prayer • A general confession of sin • Preparatory prayer used by the priest just before Mass • 12th Century – used by everyone at the beginning of Mass

  3. Preparing ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries • When we come into the awesome presence of God we become aware of who we are • Sinners in need of God’s mercy • In the ‘I confess’ we publicly acknowledge this fact

  4. Owning up • In the ‘I confess’ we admit our own personal responsibility • We remind ourselves of the many ways that we sin • Thoughts that lead to • Words that lead to • Deeds • What we have done • We have failed to do

  5. Closer to the Latin • through my fault • through my fault • through my most grievous fault • mea culpa • mea culpa • mea maxima culpa This is a ritualised poetic way to emphasise our awareness of sinfulness It expresses the sincerity of our contrition

  6. Modern blame culture • When I say ‘I confess’ I take responsibility • Our modern culture looks for others to blame.... • Think of examples of this • In owning up we realise and acknowledge that we need to change • This is the basis of conversion of heart or metanoia

  7. Hardness of heart • When we refuse to look at ourselves • When we do not own up • When we think we have done no wrong • This is called hardness of heart • The opposite of hardness of heart • Is humility • A word which comes from the same root as humus –earthed • Humility is about standing in the truth of who I am

  8. A request for prayer • It is out of the awareness of our need that we ask • God • Mary • The Angels and Saints To pray for us to the Lord our God Our sin affects everybody

  9. Words of absolution • May almighty God have mercy on us • forgive us our sins • and bring us to everlasting life. • The priest says these words for all of us and himself • These words impart the forgiveness of God • Just as when we pray any act of sorrow

  10. Origins of ‘Lord have mercy’ • Began as a litany fifteen hundred years ago • Everyone would be invited to pray for an intention • This could be quite long • Developed into • 3 Kyrie eleisons • 3 Christe eleisons • 3 Kyrie eleisons • addressed to the Trinity

  11. Reflection • How does this prayer link into your pattern of daily prayer? • Why is this a prayer to be used regularly in the season of Lent? • How will you feel as you say the new phrases of the revised text?

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