Catholic Collaborative Connection

Sacrament of Confession

Have you ever thought about what confession is? Imagine you hurt someone you love, but you never say to them "I am sorry". Do you feel any sense of humility if you say I'm sorry in your thoughts? Probably not. But when you actually have to say "I am sorry" directly to that person, that is where it becomes more difficult with real emotion, and real contrition can take place.

The same is true for Confession. When we sin, we hurt God and true healing for our souls begins with a contrite and humble heart. By participating in the sacrament of confession we are displaying visibly to the spiritual and material world, that we are respectful of Gods will for our life and wish only to cooperate with Him. We seek Him and allow Him, through the absolution given by the priest, In Persona Christi, to heal our souls through the sacrament. We express sorrow and humility and ask for God's forgiveness and grace.

An Examination of Conscience

The Ten Commandments

I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not kill.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

Responsibilities to God:

· Have I gone to Mass on Sunday, or have I rebelled and been stubborn about going to Mass?

· Did I participate in the Mass, or did I daydream?

· Have I prayed every day?

· Have I read the Bible consistently?

· Have I been rebellious toward God and his commands?

· Have I misused the name of God by swearing and cursing?

· Have I told the Father that I love him for creating me and making me his son/daughter?

· Have I thanked Jesus for becoming man, dying for my sins, and rising from the dead?

· Have I asked the Holy Spirit to help me to be obedient to God’s commands?

Responsibilities to others and myself:

· Have I been disrespectful to others?

· Have I lied or been deceptive to others?

· Have I failed to reach out with love to my family and friends in their needs?

· Have I been arrogant and stubborn?

· Have I become angry or nurtured grudges and resentments?

· Have I refused to forgive others?

· Have I cultivated hatred?

· Have I engaged in sexual fantasies?

· Have I looked at others lustfully?

· Have I looked at improper literature or watched pornographic pictures, videos, or movies?

· Have I lustfully kissed? or sexually aroused myself?

· Have I had sexual intercourse outside of marriage?

· Have I had an abortion or encouraged another to have one?

· Have I practiced birth control?

· Have I gossiped about others?

· Have I slandered anyone?

· Have I mocked or made fun of others?

· Have I stolen anything? Have I paid it back?

· Have I cheated others?

· Have I been jealous?

· Have I abused drugs or alcohol?

· Have I used others for my own selfish desires: occult, ouija boards, fortune tellers, horoscopes, cult organizations?

· Have I been selfish, vain, and proud, and full of self-centeredness?

· When my conscience told me to do something good, did I do it—or did I ignore it?

Examination of conscience originally published in "The Sacrament of Mercy - A Practical Guide to Confession," by Fr. Thomas Weinandy, OFM Cap.