The Dominican Confiteor

This version is found in the older Dominican books, as well as the post-Vatican-II editions.
Confiteor Deo omnipotenti
kohn-FEE-tay-ohr DAY-oh ohm-nee-poh-TEN-tee
I-confess to-God all-powerful

et beatæ Mariæ semper Virgini,
ayt bay-AH-tay mah-REE-ay SAYM-payr VEER-jee-nee
and to-blessed to-Mary always virgin

et beato Dominico Patri nostro,
ayt bay-AH-toh doh-MEE-nee-koh PAH-tree NOHS-troh
and to-blessed to-Dominic to-Father to-ours

et omnibus Sanctis, et vobis, fratres,
ayt OHM-nee-boos SAHNK-tees, ayt VOH-bees, FRAH-trays
and to-all to-Saints, and to-you, brothers

quia peccavi nimis cogitatione,
KWEE-ah payk-KAH-vee NEE-mees koh-jee-taht-see-OH-nay
because I-have-sinned according-to thought,

locutione, opere, et omissione,
loh-koot-see-OH-nay, OH-pay-ray, ayt oh-mee-see-OH-nay,
speach, work, and omission

mea culpa;
MAY-ah KOOL-pah;
by-mine by-fault;

precor vos orare pro me.
PRAY-kohr vohs oh-RAH-ray pro may.
I-beg you to-pray for me.
Remember Pray in Latin — Satan Hates it!
Copyright Louis Pizzuti

On Presenting the Faith

T

here was a time that I relished, absolutely relished, the opportunity to debate my beliefs — political, religious or otherwise. I used to describe myself as a verbal scrapper.

And, in all those arguments, I never made a single convert. Oh, I won arguments, I changed minds. But I never changed a heart.

After many years of being red in the face, I learned a valuable lesson.The Holy Spirit, not man, changes hearts.

St. Paul wrote, "Always be ready to give a defense of your faith". He didn't say, "Always be ready to beat people into spiritual and intellectual submission."

The simple rules that I've learned are few:

1. Live your faith. As St. Paul put it, "Put on love". Even when you don't feel like it, behave like you're a Christian, like you're a Catholic. Not as a phony put on, but as an act of obedience to God. Love is a choice, not a feeling.
2. Know your faith. Study scripture. Study the Fathers and Doctors of the Church. Study the Catechism of the Catholic Church. One excellent guide in understanding what the Church has always taught is A Commonitory, by St. Vincent of Lérins.
3. Be willing to give a defense. Notice, don't attack with your knowledge. That's not defense. Deflect heresies with the truth.

Remember the four pillars of Dominican Life

1. Apostolate
2. Community
3. Contemplation
4. Study

None of them say "Conversion by verbal sword"