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Why do we ask for the forgiveness of our sins at Mass?

At the very beginning of Mass, Catholics make a type of confession of sins, declaring their faults before the whole congregation.  The priest does not absolve us of any mortal sins at this time but does call upon God's forgiveness and mercy.   We do this public act of contrition to place our heart, mind, and soul in a state of grace in order to receive Holy Communion.

One of the greatest blessings about the Eucharist is that, in the reception of Holy Communion, a person’s venial sins are forgiven.  The Eucharist is one of four sacraments that imparts the forgiveness of sins.  The waters of baptism wash away all prior sins.  And the two sacraments of healing, reconciliation, and anointing, grant forgiveness.  The sacrament of reconciliation grants the absolution of both mortal and venial sins, and it offers God’s pardon and peace.  St. James writes about the sacrament of anointing, “If they have committed any sins, their sins will be forgiven them” (Jas 5:15).

When we attend Mass, even if we have not committed a mortal sin, we still have blemishes on our souls which are the venial sins that we have committed.  Some of these sins may be small, others may be large, but they offend God and alienate us from his son Jesus and the body of Christ, the Church. A person with venial sins is still in the state of grace and is encouraged to receive Holy Communion.
 
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that “Holy Communion separates us from sin … the Eucharist cannot unite us to Christ without at the same time cleansing us from past sins” (CCC 1393). When Jesus comes to us in the Eucharist, he wipes away our venial sins (see CCC 1394).

It is also important to make a distinction when it comes to the forgiveness granted through the reception of the Eucharist: venial sins are forgiven, but mortal sins are not. The Catechism states, “The Eucharist is not ordered to the forgiveness of mortal sins — that is proper to the sacrament of reconciliation” (CCC 1395). St. Paul explained the danger of receiving Holy Communion when a person is separated from God and neighbor: “Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord (1 Cor 11:27).

A person with a mortal sin is not in the state of grace, and the path to Holy Communion is to approach the sacrament of reconciliation first, receive sacramental absolution, be restored to the state of grace, reestablish full communion with the Church, and then receive Holy Communion.

When we receive the Eucharist, Jesus extends to us his love, compassion, mercy, healing grace, pardon, and peace. He offers us a new beginning, strengthens us in the battle against future sin, and nourishes us to live a virtuous and holy life.