Examination of Conscience

Before You Begin Come, Holy Spirit, enlighten my heart to see myself as God sees me. Give me the grace of true sorrow for my sins, a firm purpose of amendment, and the courage to make a good Confession.

Take a few slow breaths. You are in God's presence.

0 of 10 commandments reviewed 0 items marked

I You shall have no other gods before Me

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Have I put anything—work, comfort, reputation, money, a relationship—above God in my daily life?

Have I neglected prayer, going days or weeks without speaking to God?

Have I doubted or denied my faith out of fear of others' opinions?

Have I dabbled in superstition, horoscopes, tarot, or the occult?

Have I trusted more in my own abilities than in God's providence?

Have I been indifferent to God—neither hot nor cold, just going through the motions?

II You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain

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Have I used God's name, Jesus' name, or the names of saints as a curse word or in anger?

Have I made promises or oaths in God's name and then broken them?

Have I spoken about sacred things carelessly or mockingly?

Have I blasphemed—spoken disrespectfully of God, the Church, or holy things?

III Remember to keep holy the Lord's Day

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Have I intentionally missed Mass on Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation without good reason?

Have I attended Mass distracted, late, or without any real effort to participate?

Have I done unnecessary servile work on Sunday, or required others to?

Have I treated Sunday like any other day—no prayer, no rest, no family time?

IV Honor your father and your mother

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Have I been disrespectful, dismissive, or unkind to my parents or elders?

Have I neglected family duties—as a spouse, parent, or child?

Have I been impatient or harsh with my children?

Have I failed to pass on the faith to those in my care?

Have I disobeyed legitimate authority at work, in the Church, or in civil life without just cause?

Have I failed to care for aging parents or relatives when I was able to?

V You shall not kill

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Have I harbored anger, hatred, or resentment toward someone, refusing to forgive?

Have I spoken cruel words intended to wound someone?

Have I endangered my own health through recklessness, addiction, or neglect?

Have I failed to help someone in serious need when I was able to?

Have I destroyed someone's reputation or relationships through gossip or cruelty?

Have I struggled with thoughts of hopelessness or harming myself, and not sought help?

VI & IX You shall not commit adultery · You shall not covet your neighbor's wife

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Have I been unfaithful in thought, word, or action to my spouse or my vow of chastity?

Have I deliberately sought out impure images, videos, or literature?

Have I entertained impure thoughts, dwelling on them instead of turning away?

Have I acted immodestly in dress, speech, or behavior—leading others into temptation?

Have I engaged in sexual activity outside of marriage?

Have I been a fair witness to my own situation—honest with myself about these things?

VII & X You shall not steal · You shall not covet your neighbor's goods

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Have I taken something that wasn't mine, or used another's property without permission?

Have I been dishonest in business, at work, or in financial dealings?

Have I failed to pay a fair wage, or accepted a wage that was unfair?

Have I been enslaved by envy—resentful of what others have?

Have I wasted time or resources that were not mine to waste?

Have I cheated on taxes, expenses, or other obligations?

Have I been stingy in giving, when I had the means to be generous?

VIII You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor

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Have I lied—even small lies told to protect myself or avoid discomfort?

Have I gossiped, shared private information about others, or enjoyed others' failures?

Have I ruined someone's reputation through slander or detraction?

Have I been two-faced—saying one thing to someone's face and another behind their back?

Have I failed to speak up for the truth when I had a duty to do so?

Have I deceived through silence, half-truths, or misleading framing?

+ Duties to the Church

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Have I made a good Confession at least once in the past year?

Have I received Communion while in a state of mortal sin?

Have I contributed to the needs of the Church according to my means?

Have I fasted on required days (Ash Wednesday, Good Friday)?

Have I abstained from meat on Fridays of Lent?

Have I supported the Church's mission through prayer, time, or treasure?

✦ General Examination

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Have I been proud—thinking more highly of myself than I ought, unwilling to be corrected?

Have I been slothful—neglecting my spiritual life, my duties, or the good I could have done?

Have I been gluttonous—overindulging in food, drink, entertainment, or comfort?

Is there a pattern of sin I keep returning to, that I've not truly resolved to change?

Have I accepted God's forgiveness before, yet refused to forgive myself or others?

Is there anything else on my heart that I know I need to bring to God?

For Your Confession

Check items above as you reflect. They'll appear here as a summary you can bring to the confessional.

Act of Contrition O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.