Examination of Conscience

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)?

---

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?

---

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.

---

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

---

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]

I thought this list was quite thorough. Opinions, anyone?

[Salvation]

A supplement and some prayers for Reconciliation [Confession]:

An Examination of Conscience

Prayer Before Confession

O Lord, grant me light to see myself as Thou dost see me and the grace to be truly and efficaciously contrite for my sins. O Mary, help me to make a good confession.

Preliminary

Besides telling the nature of our sins, we must also recollect, as far as possible, the number of times we have committed them, telling also (and only) those circumstances which at times may either make a venial sin mortal or a mortal sin notably worse.

1. Have I ever failed to confess a serious sin or disguised it?
2. Have I been guilty of irreverence for this sacrament by failing to examine my conscience carefully?
3. Have I failed to perform the penance given me by the confessor or disobeyed any of his directions?
4. Have I neglected the Easter duty of receiving Holy Communion or failed to confess my sins within a year?
5. Have I any HABITS of serious sin to confess first (impurity, drunkenness, etc.)?

First Commandment

1. Am I ignorant of my catechism (Act of Contrition, Apostle's Creed, Ten Commandments, Seven Sacraments, the Our Father)?
2. Have I willfully doubted or denied any of the teachings of the Church (heresy)?
3. Have I taken active part in any non-Catholic worship?
4. Am I a member of any anti-Catholic or any secret society?
5. Have I knowingly read any anti-Catholic literature?
6. Have I practiced any superstitions (horoscopes, fortune tellers, etc.)?

Second Commandment

1. Have I used God's name in vain by way of profanity?
2. Have I murmured or complained against God (blasphemy)?
3. Have I maligned priests or others consecrated to God?
4. Have I sworn by God's name (oath) either falsely or rashly?
5. Have I broken any private vow?

Third Commandment

1. Have I missed Mass on Sundays or holydays through my own fault?
2. Have I been late for Mass through my own negligence?
3. Have I been inattentive at Mass or otherwise failed in reverence for the Most Blessed Sacrament?
4. Have I done unnecessary servile work (physical labor) or shopping on Sunday?

Fourth Commandment

1. Have I been disrespectful to my parents or neglected them?
2. Have I failed in obedience or reverence to others in authority?
3. Have I mistreated my wife or children?
4. Have I been disobedient or disrespectful to my husband?
5. Regarding my children:
   • Have I neglected their material needs?
   • Have I failed to care for their early Baptism or their proper religious instruction?
   • Have I allowed them to neglect their religious duties?
   • Have I otherwise failed to discipline them?
   • Have I given bad them example?
   • Have I interfered with their freedom to marry or follow a religious vocation?

Fifth & Eighth Commandments

1. Have I quarreled with any one?
2. Have I cursed anyone or otherwise wished evil on him?
3. Have I taken pleasure in anyone's misfortune?
4. Is there anyone to whom I refuse to speak or be reconciled?
5. Have I lied about anyone (calumny)?
6. Have I rash judged anyone of a serious sin?
7. Have I engaged in gossip (detraction) or spread scandal?
8. Have I lent an ear to scandal about my neighbor?
9. Have I been jealous or envious of anyone?

Sixth & Ninth

1. Have I denied my spouse his or her marriage rights?
2. Have I practiced birth control?
3. Have I abused my marriage rights in any other way?
4. Have I committed adultery or fornication?
5. Have I touched or embraced another impurely?
6. Have I sinned with others of the same sex?
7. Have I committed masturbation or otherwise sinned impurely with myself?
8. Have I harbored lustful desires for anyone?
9. Have I indulged in other impure thoughts?
10. Have I failed to dress modestly?
11. Have I done anything to provoke or occasion impure thoughts in others?
12. Have I read indecent literature or looked at indecent pictures?
13. Have I watched suggestive films or programs?
14. Have I permitted my children or others under my charge to do these things?
15. Have I used indecent language or told indecent stories?
16. Have I willingly listened to such stories?
17. Have I boasted of my sins?
18. Have I sinned against chastity in any other way?

Seventh & Tenth Commandments

1. Have I stolen anything?
2. Have I damaged anyone's property through my own fault?
3. Have I cheated or defrauded other?
4. Have I refused or neglected to pay any debts?
5. Have I neglected my duties or been slothful in my work?
6. Have I refused or neglected to help anyone in urgent necessity?
7. Have I failed to make restitution?

OTHER SINS

1. Have I knowingly caused others to sin?
2. Have I cooperated in the sins of others?
3. Have I sinned by gluttony?
4. Have I become intoxicated?
5. Have I used narcotics?
6. Have I been motivated by avarice?
7. Have I indulged in boasting or vainglory?
8. Have I received Holy Communion or another sacrament in the state of mortal sin?
9. Is there any other sin I need to confess?

Prayer for a Good Confession

O my God, by my grievous sins I have re-crucified Thy divine Son to myself and have deserved Thy everlasting wrath in the fires of hell. Even more, I have been most ungrateful by my sins to Thee, my Heavenly Father, Who have created me out of nothing, redeemed me by Thy Son, and sanctified me in the sacraments by Thy Holy Spirit. But Thou hast spared me to make this confession. Receive me back as Thy prodigal son and grant me to confess myself well, that I may begin anew to love Thee with my whole heart and soul, henceforth keeping Thy Commandments and suffering patiently whatever temporal punishment for my sins may remain. I hope by Thy goodness and power to obtain everlasting life in paradise. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

This item 6320 digitally provided courtesy of CatholicCulture.org

[Salvation]

Catholic Discussion Ping!

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[Smartass]

Seven Heresies

Saint Athanasius Said: "Heresy Is Developed Untruth"

1. Pentecostalism
(Claims of this movement) Ability of Interpretation of the Bible, Baptism of the Spirit, Gift of Prophecy, Gift of Tongues, Healing Power, Involvement in Sensitivity, Experiences, Power of Discernment

2. Homosexuality, Lesbianism, Abortion
Abuse of Others, Against Procreation, Egoism, Idolatry, Impurity, Lack of Self-Discipline, Murder, Possessiveness, Pride, Selfishness, Stealing, (Dignity, Life, Will of Others)

3. Promiscuity
Alcoholism, Drugs, Gluttony, Greed, Immodest Dress, Impurity, Indiscriminate Action, Lust, Nudity, Permissiveness, Pornography, Possessiveness, Self-Obsession.

4. Communism
Atheism, Deception, Dictatorship, Enslavement, Idolatry, Materialism, Monopoly, Pride, Socialism, Total Power.

5. Organized Crime
Abortion, Corporate Espionage, Corruption, Drugs, Extortion, Mafia, Monopoly, Murder, Political Espionage, Pornography, Prostitution, Secret Organizations, Slavery, Stealing, Violence.

6. Satanic Movement "Motivating force behind all heresies"
Black Mass Cults, Desecration of Holy Eucharist, and Sacramentals Idolatry, Secret Organizations, Witchcraft.

7. Hypocrisy
Deceit, Double Standards, Ecclesiastical, and Political Injustices, Ecclesiastical Infiltration of Insubordinate, (Unruly Behavior) Factions.

 

[Desdemona]

Bump & saved to the hard drive to be printed out.

[NYer]

The information you printed has been granted an Imprimatur .... can't get much better than that. Here is another excellent resource, compliments of Sandyeggo's parish of St. Ephrem.

* * * * *

"On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you !"... And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." (John 20:19-24)

In those words, Jesus Christ ordains the sacrament of Repentance meaning that he bestows on the disciples and their descendants who are the bishops who committed to the priests the power of: "forgiveness of the sins of the repentant confessors intending the loyalty who lost by the sin what they got from the goodness because of God and his grace in the baptism", and each believer has to confess his sins to the priest in order to get the forgiveness. The power of deliverance and holding which by its power "whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loosen on earth will be loosed in heaven", (Matthew 18:18) overpass the power of humanity because no one "can forgive sins but God alone". (Mark 2:7). And the disciples and their descendants couldn't have it without the one who "has authority on earth to forgive sins..." (Mark 2:10).

Because the priest cannot forgive the sins except in the name of God and his power, so the christian who confesses to him doesn't confess to a human; he might be a sinner and he is not allowed to ascend the secret thoughts of the conscious but he confesses to God through his representative and to him open his heart and entreat forgiveness.

Condition of his Acceptance

The supports of the sacrament of repentance are deliverance of the priest and the acts of the repentant that are three:

1. The first one is the contrition which requires that the repentant feels heartily sorry from a disobedience he committed intending not to do it again in the future.

2. The second one is the tongue's confession which requires that the confessor has to avow to the priest a total confession in every preserved sin.

3. The third one is the atonement of the offense according to the priest's belief and supported especially by prayer, fasting and the truth.

 

So, the christian sinner has to examine his conscience:

• First, to remember the nature of his sins, by asking the Holy Spirit "To Lighten his Darkness." (Psalm 17:29)
• Second, to regret his sins because the sin is an insult to God which caused the death of his son on the cross, or at least it forbids the soul from Heaven and makes it deserving Hell.
• Third, to intend from his heart and by trusting God's aid, not to sin again in the future, and to compensate for every sin that can be compensated for, like stealing, and to prevent any chance to sin again.
• Fourth, to confess to the priest his sins in detail - kind, number and facts which might change their types, without concealing anyone of them, because intended concealment makes the sacrament false (or useless), while forgetting does not forbid the influence of the sacrament; and sinner's duty is to compensate for it after all that the confessor will be able to judge in the case of the soul and to guide her to the best way to prevent the bad and to grow up in perfection.
• Fifth, to pay back what the confessor asks the sinner to compensate for his sins (The Law).

And obviously, the real repentance including all the sins is important to get the pardon because God does not forgive whose heart is still far from him and attached to the sin.

Testimony of the Repentance

After becoming mature, every believer, man or woman, has to confess to a confirmed priest, even if he was the server of the mission or not, will all his sins, at least once a year, during the forty days of Lent. And he has to pay back the expiation he owed as much as he can and to take with respect the Eucharist at least during Easter... or he will be forbidden to go into the church during his life, and will be denied the christian burial when he is deceased.

(The Lebanese Council: Sacrament of Repentance)

This is a testimony, that every christian if he failed in the deadly sin, has to move in his heart the feeling of regret and to hasten to accept the forgiveness, in order not to be forbidden God's love and deserve his works, and not risk himself to die in the sin.

• Abortion.
• Adultery.
• All use of illegal drugs.
• Any dealing with occult, IE. Ouija boards.
• Artificial Birth Control.
• Blasphemy: disrespect toward God or toward his Holy Name.
• Breaking promises deliberately.
• Bringing dishonor to family, school, community, or the church.
• Calumny: telling lies about another.
• Despair: To believe that God will refuse to forgive you.
• Destruction of other people's property.
• Detraction: Telling an unkind truth about another.
• Disobedience toward parents / teachers.
• Drunkenness, including any drinking under the age of 21.
• Excessive materialism.
• Gluttony: eating or drinking to excess.
• Gossip: talking about others.
• Hatred.
• Homosexual actions.
• Impure thoughts.
• Indifference to good or evil.
• Ingratitude.
• Intentional violation of school rules.
• Jealousy.
• Laziness.
• Lying.
• Malice: The deliberate choice of evil.
• Masturbation: impure actions with yourself.
• Missing Mass on any Sunday or Holyday.
• Murder.
• Not praying everyday.
• Premarital sex, including oral sex, intercourse, impure touching of another.
• Presumption: sinning and saying God MUST forgive me.
• Pride.
• Prostitution.
• Reckless driving that endangers you, passengers, or others.
• Rudeness.
• Selfishness.
• Stealing.
• Superstition.
• Unjustified anger.
• Using others for your own personal gain.
• Watching or looking at pornographic material.

[NYer]

Have I maligned priests or others consecrated to God?

This one bears repeating ;-D (just thought the Mod might find that interesting).

[narses]

Penitential Ping!

[Coleus]

Thanks, great post, very useful...Just came back from Confession.

I wonder if any priest ever reminded people in the bingo hall about the first commandment.

...Did I make use of superstitious practices; such as believing in dreams, and charms, and the like?

[NYer]

I wonder if any priest ever reminded people in the bingo hall about the first commandment.

Lol! Haven't seen a Bingo Hall at a Catholic Church in years. Bingo Halls and Bazaars have now been replaced with Garage Sales, Craft Fairs and, as was the case last year in my parish, 'Cow Patty Bingo' .... can you say "moooooo"?

[Coleus]

'Cow Patty Bingo' .... can you say "moooooo"? >>

Mooo...

We still have them here, I used to call bingo, these people were so superstitious you wouldn't believe it...Many had their good luck charms lined up on the tables and would curse out the priests when they didn't call the right numbers and some were parishioners!

[Salvation]

Thank you for those. I had not seen them before!

[Salvation]

Thanks, Desdemona. I thought it was worth putting out here too. Glad you liked it. Things are a little stirred up in St. Louis over the St. Stanislaus thing aren't they?

[Salvation]

wonderful!

[Salvation]

**find that interesting**

VVEERRYY!

[no more apples]

Nice job!

Another way to examine your conscience is to look at your life in terms of the Virtues.

Theological Virtues:

Infused by God into our souls to enable us to live in a relationship with Him. He is their origin, motive and object.

Faith

Believing and accepting God’s truths even those we don’t understand.

Hope

Trusting in God and His promises, thereby possessing the motive for living our supernatural life and persevering in prayer and virtue.

Charity

Loving God above all things for His own sake and loving our neighbor as ourselves for love of God; sacrificing of ourselves for God and mankind – the queen of all virtues.

Human Virtues:

Acquired by education and human effort; the fruit and seed of morally good acts, purified and elevated by divine grace. They guide us in leading a morally good life.

Cardinal virtues:

Virtues around which all others are grouped.

Prudence

Disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it. It guides other virtues; guides judgment of conscience and guides us to do what we must to save souls.

Justice

Constant and firm will to give what’s due to God and our neighbor.

Fortitude

Ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good.

Temperance

Moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods.

Prudence

Astuteness, Caution, Circumspection, Common Sense, Deliberation, Discernment, Industriousness, Initiative, Integrity, Pure Intention, Pure Thought, Responsibility, Right Reason, Sagacity, Wisdom.

Justice

Affability, Authenticity, Care, Compassion, Cooperation, Courtesy, Devotion to Duty, Fairness, Forgiveness, Friendliness, Friendship, Generosity, Goodness, Graciousness, Gratitude, Honesty, Kindness, Love of Neighbor, Loyalty, Mercy, Obedience, Patriotism, Piety, Respect, Reverence, Sincerity, Social Justice, Sympathy, Truthfulness, Understanding, Veracity.

Fortitude

Constancy, Conviction, Courage, Diligence, Faithfulness, Fidelity, Magnanimity, Nobility, Patience, Perseverance, Persistence, Tenacity, Vigilance.

Temperance

Abandonment, Balance, Chastity, Cheerfulness, Detachment, Docility, Flexibility, Humility, Joy, Long Suffering, Meekness, Moderation, Modesty, Optimism, Poverty of Spirit, Purity, Sacrifice, Self-control, Self-denial, Self-discipline, Simplicity, Sobriety.

[Desdemona]

Things are a little stirred up in St. Louis over the St. Stanislaus thing aren't they?

Not really. Think mountains and molehills.

[Salvation]

Exciting list! I totally agree!

[SaltyJoe]

That's a good question. I've often had to ignore my anger for those priest who've told me that what I wanted to confess wasn't a sin. It use to cause my blood to boil. Why would they purposely ignore obvious Church teachings? Were they just lazy? Did they think that they could change the Church from the inside? These weren't "potty words" that I said only after I slammed my finger in a door. These were sins in every biblical definition of the word sin.

To think that I actually have survived their neglect is miraculous when I consider my bad behavior. So, I pray for those priests that would have left my soul weak to plundering vice, rage, and possession.

[NYer]

To think that I actually have survived their neglect is miraculous when I consider my bad behavior. So, I pray for those priests that would have left my soul weak to plundering vice, rage, and possession.

In a similar manner, I had not been to confession in many years. After being asked to teach a Confirmation class, I realized that it was time to bite the bullet, serve as role model and lead the group into church for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Many refused to get on the line so, once again, I lead the way. Suddenly, it was my turn.

Things had changed a lot since the last time I had gone. The pastor brought in several priests to assist and set things up so that some were in confessionals while others sat on chairs in the Sanctuary. I went up to the pastor and began by telling him it had been x years since my last confession. You KNOW how much courage I had summoned up to do this - AND - in front of so many youth. The pastor looked me squarely in the face, grimaced and said "I hope you aren't going to confess x years worth of sins". I glanced over my shoulder expecting that perhaps there was a long line behind me. As it turns out, I was the last person on line.