What was the origin of repeated confession of fault during the Act of Contrition?

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The number 3 has many meanings in the Christian/Catholic tradition, and some orthodox faiths repeat many parts of the liturgy three times. It is often honoring the three persons of the Trinity, but here it is more likely harkening back to scripture, as the liturgy does often. It also worth noting that the Confeitor prayer is also simply part of Tradition (since about the 11th century in its modern form).

This blog post sums it up nicely:

In the revised 2011 English translation of the Mass, the threefold refrain reappeared, and we are once again encouraged to symbolically strike our breasts each time we acknowledge our fault.

Why was this restored? And why do we, at the beginning of the prayer, not only admit that we have sinned, but that we have greatly sinned?

The first reason is that the Catholic Mass is thoroughly biblical. So let’s start by noting what a threefold repetition means in the Jewish mentality. In Hebrew, you can’t add endings to words to express superlatives or emphasis. There is no “big, bigger, biggest” in the language of the Old Testament. So how do you get the idea across that something is the best, worst, or extremely important? By repeating it three times. When Isaiah had a vision of the Lord attended by angels, they cried out, “Holy, Holy, Holy!” which we repeat at every Mass. Peter’s denied Jesus three times. The Lord later asked Peter, “Do you love me?” (John 21:15–17) not once, but three times.

Therefore, a threefold admission of our fault is a biblical way to emphasize what is said at the start of the prayer—that we have “greatly” sinned. Sin is not just a casual affair, an inconsequential blunder like failing to dot an i or cross a t. Sin is a most serious matter. God has given us everything, even sacrificing his only Son for us. He deserves all our love, as we say in the act of contrition.

We are commanded to love him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. When we fail to do so by neglecting our duty or by doing something that hurts others, ourselves, and God’s honor, it is grievous. As we become aware of what we’ve done or failed to do, the proper response is contrition, the kind of sorrow that leads not to despair but to change.

But why the striking of our breasts as we recall our fault? Is being Catholic all about beating ourselves up? For the answer, we again need to turn to the Scriptures. In Luke 18:9-14, we meet a very pious Pharisee who congratulates God on being so fortunate as to have such a worthy servant as himself. There is also a publican, a tax collector, who strikes his breast as he comes before the Lord saying, “Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

By striking our breast, we distance ourselves from the Pharisee and stand, or rather bow, with the publican, acknowledging our unworthiness before the awesome majesty and perfect holiness of the living God. It is not about self-hatred but about humility. And humility means getting in touch with reality. As we begin the liturgy, we pause to recall that we don’t deserve to be there. We are all publicans and prodigals whom a loving Father embraces and welcomes not because of our virtues but in spite of our sins.

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