Sacrament of Confession
If you love me, you will keep my commandments (John 14:15)
He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered him, "If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me." (John 14:21-24)
An Examination of Conscience
The Ten Commandments
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I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me.
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You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
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Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
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Honor your father and your mother.
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You shall not kill.
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You shall not commit adultery.
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You shall not steal.
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You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
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You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
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You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.
Responsibilities to God:
· Have I gone to Mass on Sunday, or have I rebelled and been stubborn about going to Mass?
· Did I participate in the Mass, or did I daydream?
· Have I prayed every day?
· Have I read the Bible consistently?
· Have I been rebellious toward God and his commands?
· Have I misused the name of God by swearing and cursing?
· Have I told the Father that I love him for creating me and making me his son/daughter?
· Have I thanked Jesus for becoming man, dying for my sins, and rising from the dead?
· Have I asked the Holy Spirit to help me to be obedient to God’s commands?
Responsibilities to others and myself:
· Have I been disrespectful to others?
· Have I lied or been deceptive to others?
· Have I failed to reach out with love to my family and friends in their needs?
· Have I been arrogant and stubborn?
· Have I become angry or nurtured grudges and resentments?
· Have I refused to forgive others?
· Have I cultivated hatred?
· Have I engaged in sexual fantasies?
· Have I looked at others lustfully?
· Have I looked at improper literature or watched pornographic pictures, videos, or movies?
· Have I lustfully kissed? or sexually aroused myself?
· Have I had sexual intercourse outside of marriage?
· Have I had an abortion or encouraged another to have one?
· Have I practiced birth control?
· Have I gossiped about others?
· Have I slandered anyone?
· Have I mocked or made fun of others?
· Have I stolen anything? Have I paid it back?
· Have I cheated others?
· Have I been jealous?
· Have I abused drugs or alcohol?
· Have I used others for my own selfish desires: occult, ouija boards, fortune tellers, horoscopes, cult organizations?
· Have I been selfish, vain, and proud, and full of self-centeredness?
· When my conscience told me to do something good, did I do it—or did I ignore it?
Examination of conscience originally published in "The Sacrament of Mercy - A Practical Guide to Confession," by Fr. Thomas Weinandy, OFM Cap.
