Editing Catholic Mass (section)

====Penitential Act====
*the purpose is for the faithful recall their sins and place their trust in God's mercy
*starts with the "Invitation to Repent" by the priest
<blockquote>Brethren, let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries</blockquote>
*the Penitential Act has four parts:
*#invitation to the faithful by the Priest
*#a pause for silence
*# the prayer
*#absolution by the Priest.
*the prayer may be led by the Priest ("God have mercy") or recited in full by the faithful
called the ''Confiteor:''<blockquote>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,

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, my brothers and sisters,

to pray for me to the Lord our God</blockquote>
* the Penitential Act prepares us to received the Eucharist
*''Confiteor'' it is a prayer for and act of turning our focus from our sins (repent) to God
*"striking the breast" three times is a gesture of sorrow, humility and responsibility for our sins
*the repentance is done in communion with the entire congregation (coming together)
*it absolves venial and not mortal sins, and also reminds us to avoid future sin