Then follows the Penitential Act, to which the Priest invites the faithful, saying:Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
A brief pause for silence follows. Then all recite together the formula of general confession: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,
And, striking their breast, they say:through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault;
Then they continue: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.
The absolution by the Priest follows:
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
The people reply:
Amen.
The Kyrie, eleison (Lord, have mercy) invocations follow:
V. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy.
V. Christ, have mercy. R. Christ, have mercy.
V. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy.
There are two other options for the Penitential Act.
