| GUIDE TO CONFESSION |
| BACK TO SACRAMENTS |
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| The First Commandment: I am the Lord your God; you shall not have strange gods before me.
Do we truly love God above all, or do we sometimes give greater importance to things of this world: money, image, looks, clothes, popularity or selfish desires? Do we claim to have good values, but often bend or abandon them in order to fit in and be "part of the group?" Do we turn to God in thankful prayer, or do we pray mostly when we want something? Do we really want to be transformed by the will of God, or do we just use our religion in order to "look" like good Christian people? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Second Commandment: You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain. Do we show disrespect for God's name by misusing it out of frustration or anger or to look "tough" to others? Do we hesitate to mention God's name in appropriate situations, in conversations with friends and family members? Do we continue to learn about God by paying attention in Church, Religion Class and through reading the Times Review and paying attention to Catholic periodicals, articles on religion in the secular press and television programs? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Third Commandment: Remember to keep holy the Lord's day. Do we come to Church to celebrate the Eucharist on Sundays and Holy Days? Do we attend Mass only when it is convenient or when it will make us "feel good?" Do we participate in the Eucharist by praying and singing, or do we simply sit as spectators and wait to be entertained? Do we pay close attention to the Word of God and open ourselves to God's call to allow His word to take effect in our lives? Do we acknowledge the "true presence" of Christ in the Eucharist and receive Holy Communion with respect and reverence? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Fourth Commandment: Honor your father and your mother. Do we help bring peace and happiness to our families, or are we disrespectful of others and a source of hurt and division for those who are closest to us? As parents, are we generous and patient with our children? Do we spend time with them and give them the attention they need? Do we set responsible limits for them and make sure they follow rules that will help them grow into responsible adults? Are we willing to say "no" to our children, or are we more likely to ignore problem behavior and hope it will "go away?" Do we listen to our children carefully and treat them with respect? As children, are we loving, respectful and obedient to our parents? Do we appreciate the many sacrifices they make for us? Do we say "Thank you" and "I love you" often enough? Do we do our chores without being asked, or do we wait for our parents to become upset before we move away from what we are doing? Do we listen to our parents' reasoning when they say "no" to us? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Fifth Commandment: You shall not kill. * Have we injured another person through carelessness or fighting? Have we placed ourselves or others in danger because of reckless use of alcohol or other drugs? Have we caused difficulties for ourselves or others because of their use? Have we risked our lives by driving or riding with someone under the influence alcohol or other drugs? Do we strive to forgive those who have hurt us, or do we hold on to resentment and desire for revenge? Do we use our powers of influence well, especially our voting rights, in order to fight war, oppression, abortion and injustice, or do we allow those evils to continue by our apathy and our silence? Have we been violent or abusive either in action or in speech? Have we been verbally abusive to our children or other family members? Do we share what we have with those in need? Do we support the life and mission of the Church by responsible stewardship - sharing our time, talent and treasure? Do we bring our Christianity to every day situations, or do we stand on the sidelines and complain about every flaw we can detect in others? *Those who have had, procured or assisted in an abortion, see the end of this Examination of Conscience, or Click Here. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Sixth Commandment: You shall not commit adultery. Do we respect the dignity of the human body and the holiness of Christian marriage? Do we show that respect in our speech, or are crude language and jokes often part of our conversations? Do we understand and appreciate the gift of our sexuality as a means of expressing our love [and God's love] in the Sacrament of Marriage? Have we been faithful to our marriage, priestly or religious vows? Do we keep our commitments simply because we said we would, or do we seek to nourish ourselves and others through our lifetime commitments? Have we dishonored our bodies by fornication, impurity or unworthy conversation or thought leading to impure actions? Have we encouraged others to sin by our failure to maintain good moral standards? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Seventh Commandment: You shall not steal. Do we respect the property of other people? Have we stolen, damaged or vandalized the property of others? Have we cheated at work or in school? Have we encouraged others to sin by pressuring them into helping us cheat? Are we honest and hardworking in school and at work? Are we faithful to our promises? Can we be trusted? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Eighth Commandment: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Have we lied to stay out of trouble or to avoid a difficult situation? Do we gossip about others? Have we damaged the reputation of another person by exaggeration or making up stories about them? Can we be trusted with a secret? Do we stand up for those unjustly accused, or are we merely a channel through which rumors pass, whether or not they are true? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Ninth Commandment: You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. Have we weakened or damaged our marriage commitment through our obsession with another person? Do we respect the commitments of others and help them remain faithful to their promises? Do we treat our marriages casually in our conversations and attitudes? Have we said or done anything which made a mockery of our sacred promises? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Tenth Commandment: You shall not covet your neighbor's goods. Are we satisfied with what God has given us, or are we jealous of those who seem to have more? Do we try to prove we are better than others by bragging or buying more things? Do we appreciate our own good qualities, or do we constantly compare ourselves with others and become resentful or bitter? Do we cope well with the problems that confront us and maintain our Christian hope in spite of hard times and difficulties? Do we truly "seek first the Kingdom of God" in our lives and place our trust in Him? Do we reflect the peace, hope and joy of a people redeemed and made holy by the Blood of Christ? |
| EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE |
| What to say.
The priest will greet you in the Reconciliation Room or Confessional. If you choose to meet him face to face, simply exchange a normal greeting ... good morning ... and shake his hand. He'll help you begin. You'll make the Sign of the Cross together. In the name of the father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Don't worry. The priest is there to help you! He may invite you to have trust in God .. by saying these or similar words: "May God, who has enlightened every heart, help you to know your sins and trust in his mercy." You could respond with "Amen," if you'd like. The priest may also read a short passage from Scripture. Simply listen! Confess your sins. It could be that after the Sign of the Cross, the priest will simply be silent. Then you could confess your sins. You might mention how long it has been since your last Confession. Many of us are used to beginning by saying, "Bless me Father for I have sinned. My last Confession was ____ ago. These are my sins." If you're stumped by this time, chances are the priest will simply ask, "What are your sins." Then tell him what your sins are. Remember, it is important to confess all serious sins. Reconciliation means that we're ready to let go of all sins too. It's the ones we hold back that sometimes make things more difficult for us. So, no matter how difficult it seems, mention them all. Penance and Act of Contrition The priest may then speak to you. He may try to help you to see the source of your sinful actions. Usually, we're sinful because we're selfish. He'll also assure you of God's love for you. He will then propose an act of penance which you accept to make satisfaction for sin and to amend your life. He may then ask you to pray an act of contrition ... or of sorrow for your sin. It is just fine to pray a spontaneous prayer ... eg. "God, I'm sorry for my sins. Give me the strength I'll need to leave them behind and live a new kind of life." We may wish to pray the Act of Contrition we learned as a child. An example: My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy. [Another example] O my God, I have sinned through my own fault In choosing to sin and failing to do good I have sinned against you, whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with the help of your son, to make up for my sins and to love as I should. Amen. Absolution The priest will extend his hand toward you, or perhaps lay his hands on your head as he prays the Church's prayer of absolution: God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit. R/. Amen. Dismissal The priest may pray a short closing prayer with you. He may also simply say, Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Your response can be very natural ... a simple Amen, or Thank You ... Have a good day. Then go to spend some time considering your Penance. |
| GO TO CONFESSION HOW ? |