[Question:]{.underline} Why is the second Confiteor omitted from the missal published by Angelus Press?
[Answer:]{.underline} The Roman Catholic Daily Missal published by Angelus Press in January 2005 is essentially a reprint of the Ideal Missal of 1962, with the addition of certain commentaries and prayers. The publishers thought it best not to make any modification at all to the rubrics of the Mass, as published on July 25, 1960.
In these rubrics of 1960 the Second Confiteor, that immediately precedes Holy Communion of the faithful, was abolished. The reason for this abolition was that it was a late introduction into the Mass (16^th^ century), from the ceremony of administration of Holy Communion. It is certainly true that the Second Confiteor is not necessary to the integrity of the Mass, being simply a repetition of what the altar boy recited at the beginning of the Mass.
In the first years of the Society of Saint Pius X, the second Confiteor was not recited, in accordance with the rubrics. However, the universal custom beforehand was to recite the Second Confiteor. This universal custom was maintained even after the introduction of the rubrical changes of 1960. The reason for this can easily be understood. It is a perfect preparation for Holy Communion, and it helps the faithful to examine their conscience to determine if their soul is in the state of grace, in order to receive worthily the Most Blessed Sacrament, and if it is to renew their sorry for the deliberate venial sins that could be an obstacle to the reception of grace from Holy Communion.
In the Church, custom has force of law, unless it is expressly reproved (Cf. Canons 5, 28 & 30 of the 1917 Code). Archbishop Lefebvre, then Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X, acknowledged the universality of this custom of reciting the second Confiteor before Holy Communion, and in 1978 determined that the priests of the Society of Saint Pius X would follow this universal custom amongst traditional Catholics.
However, this being said, the Society of Saint Pius X has no authority to modify the Church’s liturgical books, nor does it pretend to do so. Hence the decision by the Angelus Press not to modify this rubric in the publication of the Roman Catholic Daily Missal.
Answered by Father Peter Scott, SSPX.