Examinations of Conscience For Adults, Part 2
compiled by Catherine Fournier
Examination based on the Commandments
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 holy
days 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?
5. Have I eaten flesh meat on Friday
(especially on Good Friday) or on Ash Wednesday?
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 tolerated their keeping
questionable company or go steady dating?
Have I
otherwise failed to discipline them?
Have I given
bad them example?
Have I let boys and girls sleep
together or with their parents?
Have I interfered
with their freedom to marry or follow a religious
vocation?
Fifth and 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 and 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 and 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?
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