examination-of-conscience

What Is an Examination of Conscience?

An examination of conscience is a prayerful review of our thoughts, words, actions, omissions, and habits before God.

It helps us recognize sin, prepare well for Confession, grow in virtue, and return to the mercy of Jesus Christ with humility and trust.

Before beginning, ask the Holy Ghost for light, honesty, sorrow for sin, and confidence in God’s mercy.

Have I deliberately concealed a mortal sin in a previous confession?
Have I received Holy Communion unworthily while aware of mortal sin?
Have I put wealth, honor, pleasure, comfort, or anything else ahead of God?
Have I rejected Catholic teaching or chosen beliefs contrary to the faith?
Have I embraced non-Christian doctrines such as reincarnation or karma?
Have I endangered my faith through questionable books, media, or influences?
Have I failed to show proper respect for the Church and her lawful shepherds?
Have I practiced superstition, witchcraft, occultism, horoscopes, crystals, charms, Ouija boards, or similar things?
Have I neglected daily prayer?

Have I missed Mass on Sunday or a holy day of obligation without a serious reason?
Have I arrived late to Mass or left early on purpose?
Have I failed to observe the one-hour fast before receiving Holy Communion?
Have I shown proper reverence during Mass?
Have I dressed immodestly or carelessly for Mass?
Have I chewed gum or behaved irreverently during Mass?
Have I failed to fast or abstain when the Church requires it?
Have I allowed unnecessary work, entertainment, or distractions to interfere with Sunday worship, rest, and family life?

Have I disrespected, neglected, or failed to care for my parents, especially in old age?
Have I disobeyed lawful authority or broken just laws?
Have I treated my children harshly, unfairly, or neglectfully?
Have I been too lax or too severe in discipline?
Have I failed to educate my children in the Catholic faith?
Have I delayed Baptism for my children without serious reason?
Have I failed to protect my children from moral or spiritual harm?
Have I allowed unrestricted internet access, harmful entertainment, or bad company to endanger my children?

Have I deliberately harmed anyone?
Have I wished death, evil, or damnation upon another person?
Have I had, assisted in, encouraged, or supported abortion?
Have I supported euthanasia or treated human life as disposable?
Have I pursued in vitro fertilization or supported practices that destroy human embryos?
Have I lost my temper unjustly?
Have I nurtured hatred, resentment, bitterness, or revenge?
Have I been racist or prejudiced in thoughts, words, or actions?
Have I refused forgiveness to someone?
Have I recklessly endangered my life or the lives of others?
Have I gotten drunk or used illicit drugs?
Have I enabled another person’s addiction?
Have I mistreated my body through gluttony, excessive tobacco, or neglect of health?
Have I attempted suicide or seriously entertained thoughts of it?
Have I scandalized another person’s faith by my words or actions?

Have I been unfaithful to my spouse?
Have I had sexual relations outside of marriage?
Have I cohabited outside of marriage?
Have I viewed pornography or read impure material?
Have I sought prostitution or adult entertainment?
Have I dressed immodestly or intentionally to provoke lust?
Have I sexually harassed, pressured, or abused another person?
Have I used lewd, vulgar, or impure language?
Have I committed impure actions with myself?
Have I engaged in sexual activity contrary to chastity and natural law?
Have I used artificial contraception or been sterilized for contraceptive purposes?
Have I married outside the Catholic Church without proper dispensation?
Have I failed to guard my eyes, imagination, and heart?

Have I stolen or damaged another person’s property?
Have I pirated copyrighted material?
Have I cheated workers of their wages?
Have I wasted my employer’s time or money?
Have I lived wastefully or in excessive luxury?
Have I gambled rashly or taken on irresponsible debts?
Have I failed to pay taxes honestly?
Have I squandered time through excessive television, internet, news, or entertainment?
Have I neglected responsible stewardship of creation and its resources?
Have I failed to care for the poor?
Have I failed to contribute to the needs and mission of the Church according to my ability?

Have I lied, cheated, or committed perjury?
Have I wrongfully broken confidentiality?
Have I judged another rashly?
Have I insulted another person?
Have I engaged in gossip?
Have I harmed another’s reputation by lies, also called calumny?
Have I revealed another person’s faults without a serious reason, also called detraction?
Have I cooperated in another’s sin through silence, flattery, approval, or cover-up?

Have I fostered envy toward another person’s gifts, success, status, home, family, or possessions?
Have I given in to greed?
Have I been ungrateful for what God has given me?
Have I resented another person’s blessings?
Have I placed my peace in possessions, money, or comfort rather than God?

Do not end in fear or despair. The purpose of this examination is to bring your sins into the light of Christ, who is rich in mercy.

Make a sincere Act of Contrition, resolve to avoid sin, and go to Confession. God’s mercy is greater than your sins.

Next: Growth in Holiness