Confiteor is a Latin word that means "I confess," the first words of the prayer that we now say together. This is a public confession. There are only sinners present in the church today. Everyone—priest, deacon, and all gathered—says the words together.

This prayer is directed not only to God but also to everyone present, including the people around us. We acknowledge our act of separation has occurred through our fault, emphasizing this by striking our breasts. We have sinned in our minds, in our hearts, in our actions, and, worst of all, in what we have done. Our confession is an admission that we are in desperate need of a savior. We open our hearts with this generation confession to all gathered that we, like them, are in need of someone to excuse us from our plight. The wages of sin, or sin, is death.

Our sins have other consequences than those felt in the here and now. Our sins create discord, sow fear, and cause great pain. They create a living hell for those around us and even in us. Not only do we need a savior who can recuse us, but we also need a savior who can empower us to live differently.