EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE

What is my attitude to the sacrament of penance ? Do I sincerely want to be set free from sin, to turn again to God, to begin a new life, and to enter into a deeper friendship with God ? Or do I look on it as a burden, to be undertaken as seldom as possible ?

Did I forget to mention, or deliberately conceal, any grave sins in past confessions ?

Did I perform the penance I was given ? Did I make reparation for any injury to others ? Have I tried to put into practice my resolution to lead a better life in keeping with the gospel ?

Is my heart set on God, so that I really love him above all things and am faithful to his commandments, as a child loves his/her father ?

God spoke to us in his Son. Is my faith in God firm and secure ? Am I wholehearted in accepting the Church’s teaching ? Have I been always strong and fearless in professing my faith in God and the Church ? Have I been willing to be known as a Christian in private and public life ?

Have I prayed morning and evening ? Do I offer God my difficulties, my joys and my sorrows ? Do I turn to God in time of temptation ?

Have I love and reverence for God’s name ? Have I offended him in blasphemy, swearing falsely, or taking his name in vain ?

Do I keep Sundays and feast days holy by taking a full part, with attention and devotion, in the liturgy, and especially in the Mass ?

Are there false gods that I worship : money, superstition, spiritism, or other occult practices ?

Have a genuine love for my neighbors ? Have I given grave scandal by my words and actions ?

In my family life, have I contributed to the well-being and happiness of the rest of the fammily by patience and genuine love ? Have I been obedient to my parents ? Have I been careful to give a Christian upbringing to my children, and to help them by good example ? Have I been faithful to my husband or wife ?

Do I share my possessions with the less fortunate ?

Do I share in the apostolic and charitable works of the Church and in the life of my parish ? Have I helped to meet the needs of the Church and of the world and prayed for them : for unity in the Church, for the spread of the Gospel among the nations, for peace and justice, etc. ?

Have I done my duty as a citizen ? Have I paid my taxes ?

In my work and profession am I just, honest ?

Have I injured others by deceit, calumny, detraction, rash judgment ? Have I done violence to others ?

Have I been responsible for advising an abortion or procuring one ?

Have I kept up hatred for others ? Have I stolen the property of others ? Have I damaged it ? Do I harbor hatred and the desire to revenge ?

Where is my life really leading me ? Is the hope of eternal life my inspiration ? Have I tried to grow in the life of the Spirit through prayer, reading the Word of God and meditating on it, receiving the sacraments ? Have I been anxious to control my bad inclinations and passions, e.g., envy, love of food and drink ? Have I been proud and boastful ?

What use have I made of the gifts God has given me ?

Have I kept the precept of fasting and abstinence ?

Have I kept my senses and my whole body pure and chaste as a temple of the Holy Spirit ? Have I dishonored my body by fornication, impurity, unworthy conversation or thoughts, evil desires or actions ? Have I indulged in reading, T.V. programs, the internet, entertainments that offend against Christian and human decency ? Have I encouraged others to sin by my own failure ? Have I been faithful to the moral law in my married life ?

Have I always tried to act in the true freedom of the children of God, or am I the slave of forces within me ?

THE ACT OF CONTRITION

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you. I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but, most of all, because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen.

TO MARY

Dear Virgin Mary, I need your maternal assistance. Help me get closer to the Lord and be confident, since he is a God of love and mercy.

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