Confiteor as an Act of Contrition?

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Sorry if this is in the wrong place.

I know Acts of Contrition don’t need to follow any prescribed format, but would it be reasonable to use the Confiteor as an Act of Contrition during Confession? I don’t plan on it; I’m just curious. It seems (from its use in the Mass) that it would fit that use well, but I also feel like it might throw a priest off or be unnecessarily long. Any thoughts?
 
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I think that’s a lovely idea! Just remove the references to the congregation.

eg.

I confess to almighty God

and to you

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

to pray for me to the Lord our God.

I can’t see any reason why not, other than its unusual and may confuse the priest when it’s time to finish the confession. But if you go to a regular confessor so that he gets used to it, then why not?
 
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We use a beginning very similar to the Confiteor in Sweden. This is my quick translation.

“My latest Confession was X time ago. I have completed the penance I was given. I confess to almighty God and you father, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts, words, deeds and what I failed to do.” Sins said here and then the traditional ending: “This is my fault, my fault, my most grievous fault.”

I was on a retreat in an English speaking country and started my confession by just translating what I am used to say. The priest interrupted and had me repeat after him what to say as there was no cheat sheet available. I can tell you it was my worst confession and starting an argument with the priest that words could be different in different countries was not a good idea. Now I always bring my prayer book with me and tell the priest “I say what I am supposed to say in Swedish and sins in English. Are you OK with that?”. They are and seem to take it slower and more according to the form.

I can’t understand why a retreat centre with many international visitors doesn’t have the cheat sheet for us to use. This is typical in other churches with lots of visitors as well.
 
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It does not contain a promise to sin no more, so it would be lacking as a sufficient Act of Contrition in my opinion. A commitment to sin no more is a critical part of repenting. Love the prayer, always disappointed when not used in mass, but I wouldn’t use it for confession or my daily act if Contrition.
 
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HeDa said:
We use a beginning very similar to the Confiteor in Sweden. This is my quick translation.

“My latest Confession was X time ago. I have completed the penance I was given. I confess to almighty God and you father, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts, words, deeds and what I failed to do.” Sins said here and then the traditional ending: “This is my fault, my fault, my most grievous fault.”

I was on a retreat in an English speaking country and started my confession by just translating what I am used to say. The priest interrupted and had me repeat after him what to say as there was no cheat sheet available. I can tell you it was my worst confession and starting an argument with the priest that words could be different in different countries was not a good idea. Now I always bring my prayer book with me and tell the priest “I say what I am supposed to say in Swedish and sins in English. Are you OK with that?”. They are and seem to take it slower and more according to the form.

I can’t understand why a retreat centre with many international visitors doesn’t have the cheat sheet for us to use. This is typical in other churches with lots of visitors as well.
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Thanks for the fascinating information about confession in Sweden and your story about the frustrating experience in an another country.

I like the Swedish format very much as it reminds us of our last confession and penance, sins of omission, and to admit our fault. 😀
 
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tafan2 said:
It does not contain a promise to sin no more, so it would be lacking as a sufficient Act of Contrition in my opinion. A commitment to sin no more is a critical part of repenting.
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But, Canon law only requires that the priest knows that contrition is present, before it requires the priest to absolve. It would seem that the confiteor suffices…
 
I by no means am saying it would be against any law or rubric. But part of confession is true contrition. Many priests have you say an act of Contrition for this purpose. For me, it does not seem to be sufficient. We need to tell God we intend to sin no more.

I would no be surprised if many priests would also find it unsatisfactory.
 
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I don’t find it unsatisfactory. And the Jesus prayer suffices as an act of contrition, even without a specific promise to sin no more. If it didn’t, the Rite of Penance wouldn’t include it as an example of an act of contrition.

Besides, my basic presumption is that if someone is in the confessional and confessing his sins, provided there is no condition existing which would prevent the validity of absolution (namely a manifest state of grave sin the penitent indicates he has no intention of changing, like continuing to use contraception with one’s spouse), then contrition is present. It isn’t a magic formula. With confession, we give the benefit of the doubt as much as possible. The principle of charity is always at work.

-Fr ACEGC
 
Correct me if I’m wrong, but the Confiteor only cleanses us from venial sin or the sins that we commit every now and then like thinking wrong about our neighbor, gossiping, or any other sin outside the category of mortal sin, while the confession, this cleanses us from our mortal sin, or the sins that can lead us to hell. For us to be worthy to recieve Christ through communion, we need to be cleansed from both sins, or if not, during communion, our arms should form an “X” on the chest indicating unworthiness to recieve communion.
 
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In the context of Mass, this is correct. The thread isn’t about that though, it’s about whether it’s acceptable to use the Confiteor in the confessional as an act of contrition, which it is.
 
That would be a great idea! I find saying it very satisfying.
 
Thanks everyone, a good discussion!

Now, with confirmation from Fr Edward George that this is satisfactory act of contrition, I suggest a slight amendment following from @HeDa’s Swedish confession rite.

Just clarify “you”, with “you, Father”

I confess to almighty God
and to you, Father
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, Father
to pray for me to the Lord our God.
 
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