PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION

Traditional Examination of Conscience

A traditional examination helps prepare for a sincere confession. Ask the Holy Ghost for light, examine yourself calmly, and remember that the purpose is repentance and conversion, not scrupulous fear.

Before beginning

O Holy Ghost, source of all light, help me to know my sins, to be truly sorry for them, and to make a good confession. Give me the grace to amend my life. Amen.

The Ten Commandments

1. First: Have I neglected prayer, doubted revealed truth wilfully, practised superstition, or failed in worship owed to God?
2. Second: Have I used God’s name irreverently, blasphemed, sworn falsely or broken a serious promise?
3. Third: Have I deliberately missed Sunday or holy day Mass without a serious reason, or treated the Lord’s Day without due reverence?
4. Fourth: Have I failed in duties toward parents, children, family or legitimate authority?
5. Fifth: Have I harmed another, cultivated hatred, endangered life, or failed to help someone in serious need when I could?
6. Sixth and Ninth: Have I sinned against chastity in thought, word or deed, or been unfaithful to duties of my state in life?
7. Seventh and Tenth: Have I stolen, cheated, defrauded, damaged property unjustly, or refused restitution?
8. Eighth: Have I lied, slandered, spread unjust gossip, or damaged another’s reputation?

Duties of one’s state in life

Consider duties as a spouse, parent, child, employer, employee, neighbour or member of the community. Have I neglected responsibilities I was bound to fulfil? Have I given scandal or failed to practise justice and charity?

Acts before confession

Make a sincere act of contrition, resolve to avoid sin and the near occasions of sin, and confess mortal sins in kind and number as best you can remember. If uncertain about a serious matter, ask the priest for guidance rather than guessing.

Important: This is a general devotional aid, not a complete moral theology manual. Examinations differ by age, state in life and approved manuals. Those troubled by scruples should follow the steady guidance of one prudent confessor and avoid repeatedly re-examining confessed sins.