Examination of Conscience [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]

CatholicCulture.org ^ | 1954 | Rev. Joseph A. Fischer

[Salvation]

Examination of Conscience

Here is a helpful examination of conscience, based on the Ten Commandments. Perform a brief examination every night, but go through a more thorough examination before confessing your sins to the priest.

Directions

The Commandments of God

1. Have I doubted in matters of faith? murmured against God because of adversity? despaired of His mercy? Have I believed in or consulted fortune tellers? Have I taken part in non-Catholic worship?

   Have I recommended myself regularly to God? Neglected my morning or evening prayers? Omitted my religious obligations because of human respect? Presumed upon God's mercy in committing sin?

   Have I read books or papers opposed to the Church and her teachings? Did I make use of superstitious practices; such as believing in dreams, and charms, and the like? Have I spoken irreverently of persons (priests or religious), places (e.g, the Church), or things (the sacred vessels) which especially represent God?

2. Have I used the name of God or the saints with irreverence? Have I sworn (which means calling upon God to witness the truth of what I say) without a good reason, or falsely? Have I cursed (the calling down of some evil on a person, place, or thing)? Blasphemed (used insulting language to express contempt for God), the saints, or holy things?

3. Did I miss Mass on Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation? Have I done unnecessary servile work or been responsible for others doing it on these days?

4. Have I been obedient to my parents and lawful superiors? Have I shown disrespect toward their God-given authority? Have I deceived them? Have I been a good citizen by voting? Have I shown respect toward aged parents?

   Have I used my authority over inferiors properly? As a parent, by good example in the home and by sending the children to a Catholic school? As a person in public office, by promoting the common welfare? As an employer, by being considerate of the employees?

5. Have I been the occasion of another's sin through my bad example in word or deed? Have I been guilty of fighting, anger, hatred, revenge, or drunkenness? Did I refuse to speak to others? to forgive them? Did I use provoking language?

6. and 9. Did I take pleasure in impure thoughts or desires? Say impure things? Listen to impure conversations? Did I touch others or let others touch me in an impure manner? Commit an impure act alone or with others? Want to look at impure things or pictures? Go to bad places? movies that were bad? Read bad books? Go with impure companions? Teach others to commit sins of impurity?

7. and 10. Have I stolen anything? If so, of what value, and did I return the stolen goods? Have I been unjust in buying or selling? Have I damaged the property of others? accepted or kept stolen goods? paid my just debts as soon as possible? Has my daily work merited its pay check? Have I desired to steal anything or to damage my neighbor's property?

8. Did I tell lies? Have I been guilty of rash judgment (believing something harmful to another's character without sufficient reason)? detraction (without a good reason, making known the hidden faults of another)? calumny (by lying, injuring the good name of another)?

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The Precepts of the Church

• Have I confessed my sins once a year? If not, how long is it since my last worthy confession? Have I received Holy Communion during Easter time?
• Have I fasted according to my ability when obliged to do so by the Church?

• Have I abstained from flesh-meat on the appointed days?

• Have I contributed as well as I can to the support of the Church?

• Have I attempted to contract marriage without the presence of a priest?

• If there anything else of which my conscience feels guilty?

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Sins Against the Holy Spirit

1. Presuming to gain salvation without meriting it.

2. Despair of salvation.

3. Resisting truths which have been made known to us.

4. Envy of another's spiritual good.

5. Stubbornness in sin.

6. Final obstinacy in one's sins.

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Seven Deadly Sins

1. Pride: An unrestrained appreciation of our own worth.

2. Avarice or Greed: An immoderate desire for earthly goods.

3. Lust: A hankering after impure pleasures.

4. Anger: An inordinate desire for revenge.

5. Gluttony: An unrestrained use of food and drink.

6. Envy: Sorrow over the good fortune of our neighbor.

7. Sloth: Laziness to do right, or carelessness to do right and to practice virtue because of the trouble attached to it.

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Sins Crying to Heaven for Vengeance

• Wilful murder
• Sodomy
• Oppression of the poor
• Cheating laborers of their just wages

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Nine Ways of Aiding Another in Sin

1. Counseling or advising another to sin.

2. Commanding another to sin.

3. Provoking another to sin.

4. Consenting to another's sin.

5. Showing another how to sin.

6. Praising another's sin.

7. Concealing, remaining silent about, doing nothing to prevent another's sin.

8. Taking part in, or enjoying the results of another's sin.

9. Defending another's sin.

Activity Source: Our Christian Home by Rev. Joseph A. Fischer, Seraphic Press, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1954

[Salvation]

Many communities will have Penance Services during Lent throughout these final weeks of Lent. I found this to be an excellent Examination of Conscience.

Highlighting the Sins of the Holy Spirit is mine.

[Salvation]

This is a Catholic/Orthodox Caucus thread.

Guidelines for Catholic/Orthodox Caucus Threads

[Salvation]

That should have read

Highlighting the Sins AGAINST the Holy Spirit is mine.

Very important to note these sins.

[Salvation]

An excellent Examination of Conscience Ping!

[Salvation]

Examination of Conscience [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
Examination of Conscience
Examination of Conscience
A Guide for Confession

Why Go to Confession? (Part 1) - Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Bruno Forte
Why Go to Confession? (Part 2) - Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Bruno Forte
How To Make a Good Confession (especially if you haven't gone in years)
Why Go to Confession? (Part 3) - Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Bruno Forte
Pulling Sin up by the Roots: The Need for Mortification
Reasons for Confession [Sacrament of Reconciliation]
Cardinal Stafford's Homily at Penitential Liturgy With an Examination of Conscience
How to Go to Confession
Fr. Z’s 20 Tips For Making A Good Confession
Learning to Confess

[Tax-chick]

All my goofball Offspring and I have been to Confession in the last three weeks. Now only their dad needs to go. Our parish has a service on Tuesday, or he can get in line before the Spanish Mass next Sunday. Father hears confessions in Spnnish and gives absolution in English!

I could stand to go again, though. Maybe I can get a Spanish-speaking priest and confuse him ;-).

[Salvation]

We’ll have eight priests at my parish on Tuesday.

I think that two of them will speak Spanish.

[ottbmare]

Uh-oh. I went to my best girlfriend’s funeral at an Episcopal church. Was that wrong? (I was, by the way, very aware during the entire thing of the hollowness of the service.)

[LetMarch]

Do you love the 39 commands of Christ? Or even know them?

And we all should know the rewards of keeping our Lord Jesus’commands!
Here are two verses we all should camp on:

“If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

[the invisib1e hand]

I didn’t get past 1.

[Salvation]

No way is attending a funeral wrong.

One of the corporal works of mercy is burying the dead. We fulfill that by attending funerals.

[Salvation]

I think I’ll keep it simple.

Love the Lord, your God.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

[Salvation]

Talk with the priest about it. It would be different, in my opinion, if you were checking out that church and leaving the Catholic Church for another.

But you were honoring your friend by attending her funeral. I don’t think that is wrong at all. But then I’m not your confessor.

[aimee5291]

Thanks for posting...very helpful

[LetMarch]

Good for you! But no man has lived and kept those two commandments but our Lord Jesus Himself.

Remember the rich young ruler answered the Lord and said I have kept all these since my youth! The Lord told him, thou lacketh one thing, go and sell all you have and give it to the poor. He went away sorrowing because he was rich.

Jesus said: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”(John 14:15)

We could never get it any more simple than if we left all of man’s additions to God’s word and kept the “simplicity that is in Christ Jesus.”

[Biggirl]

Thank-you for this excellent presentation. God Bless.

[surroundedbyblue]

Thanks for this! I’ve been going every two weeks & I can see God’s graces working in my life. My love of the Lord is deeper, as is my Faith & desire to serve him, all without really trying! It’s amazing. What a gift!! Moves me to tears every time.