Examination of Conscience

Before entering the confessional, it is essential to look into our hearts and recall our sins. An examination of conscience brings our hidden faults to light so we can offer them to God for healing. This guide is based on the Ten Commandments and the Precepts of the Church.

Note: Mortal sins (grave matter, full knowledge, deliberate consent) must be confessed in number and kind.

1. I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before Me.

• Have I treated people, things, or money as more important than God?
• Have I denied my faith or been ashamed of it?
• Have I engaged in superstition, occult practices, ouija boards, or fortune telling?

2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

• Have I used God's name carelessly, in anger, or as a curse?
• Have I broken a promise or vow made to God?
• Have I spoken disrespectfully of the Church, the Saints, or sacred things?

3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.

• Have I missed Mass on Sundays or Holy Days of Obligation through my own fault?
• Have I arrived late to Mass or left early without reason?
• Have I done unnecessary work on Sunday that prevented me from resting or worshipping God?

4. Honor your father and your mother.

• Have I been disobedient or disrespectful to my parents?
• Have I neglected my duties to my spouse or children?
• Do I respect legitimate authority (teachers, bosses, government)?

5. You shall not kill.

• Have I intentionally harmed myself or others?
• Have I had an abortion or encouraged one?
• Have I harbored hatred, anger, or unforgiveness?
• Have I abused alcohol or drugs?
• Have I supported euthanasia or unjust war?

6. You shall not commit adultery.

• Have I been unfaithful to my spouse in thought or deed?
• Have I viewed pornography or entertained impure thoughts?
• (For unmarried) Have I engaged in premarital sexual activity?
• Have I used contraception?

7. You shall not steal.

• Have I taken what is not mine?
• Have I destroyed or misused another's property?
• Have I cheated on taxes, tests, or in business?
• Have I failed to pay a just wage or return what I borrowed?

8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

• Have I lied?
• Have I gossiped or revealed others' faults (detraction)?
• Have I damaged someone's reputation (calumny)?
• Have I been critical, judgmental, or uncharitable in my speech?

9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.

• Have I deliberately fostered lustful thoughts or desires for someone else?
• Do I guard my eyes and imagination?

10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.

• Am I envious of others' possessions, talents, or success?
• Am I greedy or overly attached to material things?
• Do I fail to trust in God's providence?

Precepts of the Church

• Have I confessed my sins at least once a year?
• Have I received Holy Communion during the Easter season?
• Do I fast and abstain from meat on appointed days (Ash Wednesday, Good Friday)?
• Do I contribute to the support of the Church?

Prayer Before Confession

"Come, Holy Spirit, enlighten my mind that I may clearly see my sins. Move my heart that I may be sincerely sorry for them, and grant me the grace to confess them with true humility and a firm purpose of amendment. Amen."