An Explanation of the Holy Mass

by Fr. Dan Vollmer

The Penetential Right

Because we our sinners, the next thing we do is call to mind our sins. We are given a few moments to call to mind what we done wrong since the last time we were at mass. Use those few moments to call to mind those sins. The next thing we do is ask God to have mercy on us.

One option for asking God to have mercy on us is a prayer that is called the Confiteor. We say,”…I have greatly sinned…,” rather than, “…I have sinned…” The closer we draw to God, the more keenly aware we are of our sins. Many of the saints often said that they were great sinners. That seems strange to us since they are holier than we are. Why do saints think that they are great sinners? Imagine you are driving, turn a corner, and now find yourself driving into the sun. Suddenly the glare from the dirt and pit marks on the windshield can become blinding. We didn’t notice all the dirt and pit marks when we weren’t driving into the sun. They don’t show up. When our lives are focused and centered on Jesus we are more keenly aware of our sins. They are obvious to us. The saints, since their lives are focused on Jesus, know they are sinners and they know how far they fall short of the ideal. When our lives aren’t focused on Jesus, it is easy to believe that I’m okay, and there is nothing wrong with me. In fact, that is what our culture wants us to believe, that I’m okay and your okay. However, if we are honest, we know that we are not okay. We know that we need a Savior. We know that we can’t save ourselves. We know that we are great sinners and our sins cost our Lord dearly.

Continuing with the Confiteor we say, “…through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault…” Why do we need to say it three times? Well, first of all three is a popular number. It symbolizes completeness (beginning, middle, and end). We are also attuned to things in threes. Think of jokes, “there was a priest, minister, and a rabbi”; think of stories like the three bears, the three little pigs; think of parables like the Good Samaritan where first a priest, second a Levite, and finally third the Samaritan walked by; think of our Holy Trinity. Things appear in threes quite frequently. Taking responsibility three times for our sins recognizes that we have sinned against God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and also allows us, in a way, to say a sufficient amount of times that I’m sorry.

Also notice that when we do something wrong to someone who is close to us, we will say I’m sorry more than once. We may say, “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry for doing that, I didn’t know it would turn out that way, I’m so sorry.” When we have wronged someone who is close to us, we will say I’m sorry more than once. It should be the same with us and God.