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First examine your conscience well, then tell the priest the specific kind of sins you have commit ted and, to the best of your ability, how many times you have committed them since your last good confession. You are obliged to confess only mortal sins. If you are in doubt about whether a sin is mortal or venial, mention your doubt to the confessor. Remember also, confession of venial sins is very helpful for avoid-ing sin and advancing toward Heaven.
Necessary conditions for a sin to be mortal: 1. Serious Matter 2. Sufficient Reflection 3. Full Consent of the Will Prelimi nary
Considerations:
1. Have I ever deliberately failed to confess a past serious sin, or have I willfully disguised or hidden such a sin? Note: The deliberate concealing of a mortal sin invali-dates one´s confession and makes the person guilty of an other mortal sin. Remember that the confession is private under the Seal of Confession.
2. Have I been guilty of irreverence for this sacrament by fail ing to examine my conscience carefully?
3. Have I failed to do the penance given to me by the priest? 4. Have I any habits of serious sin to confess first (e.g. impu rity, drunk en ness, etc.)?
First Com mand ment: I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not have strange gods be fore Me. (Including sins against Faith, Hope and Charity)
1. Have I neglected the knowledge of my Faith as taught in the catechism, such as the Apostles’ Creed, the Ten Commandments, the Seven Sacraments, the Our Father, etc.?
2. Have I deliberately doubted or denied any of the teach ings of the Church?
3. Have I taken part in any non-Catholic worship?
4. Am I a mem er of any non-Catholic religious organiza tion, secret society or anti-Catholic group?
5. Have I knowingly read any heretical, blasphemous or anti-Catholic literature?
6. Have I practiced any superstitions (such as horoscopes, fortune telling, Ouija board, etc.)?
7. Have I omitted religious duties or practices through mo tives of human respect?
8. Have I recommended my self daily to God?
9. Have I been faith ful to my daily prayers?
10. Have I abused the Sacraments in any way? Received them irrever ently, e.g. Communion in the Hand without obeying the principles and the 7 rules promulgated by Paul VI as binding in this matter?
11. Have I made fun of God, Our Lady, the Saints, the Church, the Sacra ments, other holy things?
12. Have I been guilty of great irreverence in church, e.g., conver sa tion, behavior, or dress?
13. Have I been in different with regard to my Catholic Faith — believing one can be saved in any religion, that all reli gions are equal?
14. Have I presumed on God´s mercy at any time?
15. Have I despaired of God´s mercy?
16. Have I hated God?
17. Have I given too much importance to any creature, activ ity, object or opinion?
Second Commandment: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
1. Have I sworn by God’s name falsely, rashly or in slight and trivial matters?
2. Have I murmured or complained against God (blasphemy)?
3. Have I cursed my self or others, or any creature?
4. Have I angered others so as to make them swear or blas pheme God?
5. Have I broken a vow made to God?
Third Commandment: Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.
1. Have I missed Mass on Sundays or Holy Days of obliga tion?
2. Have I been late for Mass on Sundays or Holy Days of obligation or left early through my own fault?
3. Have I made others miss Mass on Sundays or Holy Days of obligation, leave early or be late for Mass?
4. Have I been will fully distracted during Mass?
5. Have I done or commanded unnecessary servile work on Sunday or Holy Days of Obligation?
6. Have I bought or sold things not of necessity on Sunday and Holy Days of obligation?
Fourth Commandment: Honor thy father and thy mother.
1. Have I been disobedient or disrespect ful to my parents, or have neglected or refused to aid them in their wants or to do their last will?
2. Have I shown irreverence to others in pos tions of author ity?
3. Have I maligned or insulted priests or others consecrated to God?
4. Have I failed in due rever nce to aged persons?
5. Have I mis treated my spouse or my children?
6. Have I been disobedient or disr spect ful to my hus band?
7. Regarding my children: Have I ne glected their material needs? Have I failed to care for their early baptism?* Have I failed to care for their proper religious education? Have I al lowed them to neglect their religious duties?
Have I allowed them to date/go steady without the prospect of marriage within the near future? (St. Alphonsus says 1 year max i mum) Have I failed to supervise the company they keep? Have I failed to discipline them when they need it? Have I given them a bad example? Have I scandalized them by arguing with my spouse in front of my children? Have I scandalized them by cursing or swearing in front of them?
Have I guarded modesty in the home? Have I permitted them to wear immodest clothing (mini skirts; tight pants, dresses, or sweaters; see-through blouses, short-shorts, reveal ing swim suits, etc.)?
Have I denied their freedom to marry or follow a religious vo cation?
*In fants should be baptized as soon as possible. Apart from particular diocesan prescriptions, it appears to be the general view … that an in fant should be baptized within about a week or ten days after birth. St. Alphonsus, following common opinion, thought that a delay, with out reason, beyond ten or eleven days would be a grievous sin. In view of modern custom, which is known and not corrected by lo cal Ordinaries, a delay beyond a month without reason would be a serious sin. If there is no prob a ble danger to the child, parents cannot be convicted of serious sin if they defer Bap tism a little beyond three weeks at the outside
Fifth Commandment: Thou shalt not kill.
1. Have I procured, desired, or hastened the death or bodily injury of anyone?
2. Have I borne hatred?
3. Have I oppressed anyone?
4. Have I desired revenge?
5. Have I caused enmity between others?
6. Have I quarreled or fought with anyone? 7. Have I wished evil on anyone?
8. Have I intended or attempted to injure or mistreat others? 9. Is there anyone with whom I refuse to speak, or against whom I bear a grudge?
10. Have I taken pleasure in anyone’s misfortunes?
11. Have I been jealous or envious of anyone? 1
2. Have I had or attempted to have an abortion or counseled anyone else to do so?
13. Have I mutilated my body unnecessarily in any way?
14. Have I entertained thoughts of suicide, desired to commit suicide or attempted suicide?
15. Have I become drunk, used illicit drugs?
16. Have I overeaten or do I neglect to eat properly, i.e., nutritious foods?
17. Have I failed to correct in Charity?
18. Have I harmed anyone’s soul, especially children, by giving scandal through bad example?
19. Have I harmed my own soul by intentionally and without necessity exposing it to temptations, e.g.: bad TV, bad music, beaches, etc.?
Sixth and Ninth Commandments: Thou shalt not com mit adul tery. Thou shalt not covet thy neigh bor´s wife.
1. Have I denied my spouse his or her marriage rights?
2. Have I prac ticed birth control (by pills, devices, with drawal)?
3. Have I abused my marriage rights in any other way?
4. Have I committed adultery or fornication (premarital sex)? 5. Have I committed any unnatural sin against purity (homo sexuality or lesbianism, etc.)?
6. Have I touched or embraced an other impurely?
7. Have I engaged in prolonged or passionate kissing?
8. Have I engaged in petting?
9. Have I sinned im purely by myself (masturbation)?
10. Have I entertained or taken pleasure in impure thoughts? 11. Have I indulged in lustful desires for any one, or will fully desired to see or do any thing impure?
12. Have I will fully indulged in any sexual pleasure whether complete or in complete?
13. Have I been an occasion of sin for others by wearing tight or otherwise revealing and immod est clothing?
14. Have I done any thing to provoke or occasion impure thoughts or desires in others deliberately or through careless ness?
15. Have I read indecent literature or looked at bad pictures? 16. Have I watched suggestive movies, TV programs, or Internet pornography or permit ted my children to do so?
17. Have I used indecent language or told indecent stories? 18. Have I willingly listened to such stories?
19. Have I boasted of my sins or taken delight in past sins? 20. Have I been inlewd company?
21. Have I consented to impure glances?
22. Have I neglected to control my imagination?
23. Have I prayed at once to banish such bad thoughts and temptations?
24. Have I avoided laziness, gluttony, idleness, and the occa sions of impurity?
25. Have I attended immodest dances or indecent plays?
26. Have I unnecessarily remained alone in the company of some one of the opposite sex?
Note Well: Do not be afraid to tell the priest any impure sin you may have committed. Do not hide or try to disguise any such sin. The priest is there to help you and forgive you. Noth ing you say will shock him, so do not be afraid, no matter how ashamed you might be.
Seventh and Tenth Commandments: Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not covet thy neigh bor’s goods.
1. Have I stolen any thing? What or how much?
2. Have I damaged any one’s property?
3. Have I negligently spoiled any one´s property?
4. Have I been negligent in the stewardship of other peo ple’s money or goods?
5. Have I cheated or defrauded others?
6. Have I gambled excessively?
7. Have I refused or neglected to pay any debts?
8. Have I acquired anything known to be stolen?
9. Have I failed to return things borrowed?
10. Have I cheated my employer of an hon est day’s work? 11. Have I cheated my employ ees of their wages?
12. Have I refused or neglected to help any one in urgent need?
13. Have I failed to make restitution for my stealing, cheating and frauds? (Ask the priest how to go about making restitution, that is, returning to the owner what you unjustly took from him/her.)
14. Have I been envious of an other because I don´t have what he has?
15. Have I been jealous of what another has?
16. Have I been stingy?
17. Have I been grasping and avari ious, placing too great im portance upon material goods and comforts? Is my heart set on earthly posses sions or on the true treasures of Heaven?
Eighth Com mandment: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
1. Have I lied about any one (calumny)?
2. Have my lies caused them any material or spiritual harm? 3. Have I rashly judged any one (i.e. be lieved firmly, with out sufficient evidence, that they are guilty of some moral defect or crime)?
4. Have I injured the good name of an other by revealing true but hidden faults (detraction)?
5. Have I disclosed an other´s sins?
6. Have I been guilty of talebearing, (i.e. re porting some thing unfavor able said of some one by an other so as to cre ate enmity between them)?
7. Have I lent an ear to or encouraged the spreading of scan dal about my neighbor?
8. Have I taken false oaths or signed false documents?
9. Am I, without necessity, critical, negative or ever uncharitable in my talk?
10. Have I flattered others?
The Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy
Have I neglected to do the following when circumstances obliged me?
1. To admonish sinners. 2. To instruct the ignorant. 3. To counsel the doubtful. 4. To comfort the sorrowful. 5. To bear wrongs patiently. 6. To forgive all injuries. 7. To pray for the living and the dead.
The Seven Corporal Works of Mercy
1. To feed the hungry. 2. To give drink to the thirsty. 3. To clothe the naked. 4. To visit and ransom the captives. 5. To harbor the harborless. 6. To visit the sick. 7. To bury the dead.
The Six Com mand ments of the Church
1. Have I heard Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of obliga tion? 2. Have I fasted and abstained on the days a pointed and have I kept the Eucharistic fast? 3. Have I confessed at least once a year? 4. Have I received the Holy Eucharist at least once in the year? 5. Have I contributed as far as I must to the support of the Church? 6. Have I observed the laws of the Church con cerning Marriage, i.e.: Mar riage with out a priest present, or marrying a close relative or non-Catholic?
The Five Blasphemies Against the Im mac u late Heart of Mary
1. Have I blas phemed against the Immaculate Conception? 2. Have I blasphemed against Our Lady´s Perpetual Virginity? 3. Have I blasphemed against Our Lady´s Divine Maternity? Have I refused to recognize Our Lady as the Mother of all men? 4. Have I publicly sought to sow in the hearts of chil dren in difference or scorn, or even hatred, of this Immaculate Mother? 5. Have I outraged Her directly in Her Holy im ages?
Finally: Have I received Holy Communion in the state of mor tal sin? (This is a very grave sacrilege.)
First examine your conscience well, then tell the priest the specific kind of sins you have commit ted and, to the best of your ability, how many times you have committed them since your last good confession. You are obliged to confess only mortal sins. If you are in doubt about whether a sin is mortal or venial, mention your doubt to the confessor. Remember also, confession of venial sins is very helpful for avoid-ing sin and advancing toward Heaven.
Necessary conditions for a sin to be mortal: 1. Serious Matter 2. Sufficient Reflection 3. Full Consent of the Will Prelimi nary
Considerations:
1. Have I ever deliberately failed to confess a past serious sin, or have I willfully disguised or hidden such a sin? Note: The deliberate concealing of a mortal sin invali-dates one´s confession and makes the person guilty of an other mortal sin. Remember that the confession is private under the Seal of Confession.
2. Have I been guilty of irreverence for this sacrament by fail ing to examine my conscience carefully?
3. Have I failed to do the penance given to me by the priest? 4. Have I any habits of serious sin to confess first (e.g. impu rity, drunk en ness, etc.)?
First Com mand ment: I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not have strange gods be fore Me. (Including sins against Faith, Hope and Charity)
1. Have I neglected the knowledge of my Faith as taught in the catechism, such as the Apostles’ Creed, the Ten Commandments, the Seven Sacraments, the Our Father, etc.?
2. Have I deliberately doubted or denied any of the teach ings of the Church?
3. Have I taken part in any non-Catholic worship?
4. Am I a mem er of any non-Catholic religious organiza tion, secret society or anti-Catholic group?
5. Have I knowingly read any heretical, blasphemous or anti-Catholic literature?
6. Have I practiced any superstitions (such as horoscopes, fortune telling, Ouija board, etc.)?
7. Have I omitted religious duties or practices through mo tives of human respect?
8. Have I recommended my self daily to God?
9. Have I been faith ful to my daily prayers?
10. Have I abused the Sacraments in any way? Received them irrever ently, e.g. Communion in the Hand without obeying the principles and the 7 rules promulgated by Paul VI as binding in this matter?
11. Have I made fun of God, Our Lady, the Saints, the Church, the Sacra ments, other holy things?
12. Have I been guilty of great irreverence in church, e.g., conver sa tion, behavior, or dress?
13. Have I been in different with regard to my Catholic Faith — believing one can be saved in any religion, that all reli gions are equal?
14. Have I presumed on God´s mercy at any time?
15. Have I despaired of God´s mercy?
16. Have I hated God?
17. Have I given too much importance to any creature, activ ity, object or opinion?
Second Commandment: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
1. Have I sworn by God’s name falsely, rashly or in slight and trivial matters?
2. Have I murmured or complained against God (blasphemy)?
3. Have I cursed my self or others, or any creature?
4. Have I angered others so as to make them swear or blas pheme God?
5. Have I broken a vow made to God?
Third Commandment: Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.
1. Have I missed Mass on Sundays or Holy Days of obliga tion?
2. Have I been late for Mass on Sundays or Holy Days of obligation or left early through my own fault?
3. Have I made others miss Mass on Sundays or Holy Days of obligation, leave early or be late for Mass?
4. Have I been will fully distracted during Mass?
5. Have I done or commanded unnecessary servile work on Sunday or Holy Days of Obligation?
6. Have I bought or sold things not of necessity on Sunday and Holy Days of obligation?
Fourth Commandment: Honor thy father and thy mother.
1. Have I been disobedient or disrespect ful to my parents, or have neglected or refused to aid them in their wants or to do their last will?
2. Have I shown irreverence to others in pos tions of author ity?
3. Have I maligned or insulted priests or others consecrated to God?
4. Have I failed in due rever nce to aged persons?
5. Have I mis treated my spouse or my children?
6. Have I been disobedient or disr spect ful to my hus band?
7. Regarding my children: Have I ne glected their material needs? Have I failed to care for their early baptism?* Have I failed to care for their proper religious education? Have I al lowed them to neglect their religious duties?
Have I allowed them to date/go steady without the prospect of marriage within the near future? (St. Alphonsus says 1 year max i mum) Have I failed to supervise the company they keep? Have I failed to discipline them when they need it? Have I given them a bad example? Have I scandalized them by arguing with my spouse in front of my children? Have I scandalized them by cursing or swearing in front of them?
Have I guarded modesty in the home? Have I permitted them to wear immodest clothing (mini skirts; tight pants, dresses, or sweaters; see-through blouses, short-shorts, reveal ing swim suits, etc.)?
Have I denied their freedom to marry or follow a religious vo cation?
*In fants should be baptized as soon as possible. Apart from particular diocesan prescriptions, it appears to be the general view … that an in fant should be baptized within about a week or ten days after birth. St. Alphonsus, following common opinion, thought that a delay, with out reason, beyond ten or eleven days would be a grievous sin. In view of modern custom, which is known and not corrected by lo cal Ordinaries, a delay beyond a month without reason would be a serious sin. If there is no prob a ble danger to the child, parents cannot be convicted of serious sin if they defer Bap tism a little beyond three weeks at the outside
Fifth Commandment: Thou shalt not kill.
1. Have I procured, desired, or hastened the death or bodily injury of anyone?
2. Have I borne hatred?
3. Have I oppressed anyone?
4. Have I desired revenge?
5. Have I caused enmity between others?
6. Have I quarreled or fought with anyone? 7. Have I wished evil on anyone?
8. Have I intended or attempted to injure or mistreat others? 9. Is there anyone with whom I refuse to speak, or against whom I bear a grudge?
10. Have I taken pleasure in anyone’s misfortunes?
11. Have I been jealous or envious of anyone? 1
2. Have I had or attempted to have an abortion or counseled anyone else to do so?
13. Have I mutilated my body unnecessarily in any way?
14. Have I entertained thoughts of suicide, desired to commit suicide or attempted suicide?
15. Have I become drunk, used illicit drugs?
16. Have I overeaten or do I neglect to eat properly, i.e., nutritious foods?
17. Have I failed to correct in Charity?
18. Have I harmed anyone’s soul, especially children, by giving scandal through bad example?
19. Have I harmed my own soul by intentionally and without necessity exposing it to temptations, e.g.: bad TV, bad music, beaches, etc.?
Sixth and Ninth Commandments: Thou shalt not com mit adul tery. Thou shalt not covet thy neigh bor´s wife.
1. Have I denied my spouse his or her marriage rights?
2. Have I prac ticed birth control (by pills, devices, with drawal)?
3. Have I abused my marriage rights in any other way?
4. Have I committed adultery or fornication (premarital sex)? 5. Have I committed any unnatural sin against purity (homo sexuality or lesbianism, etc.)?
6. Have I touched or embraced an other impurely?
7. Have I engaged in prolonged or passionate kissing?
8. Have I engaged in petting?
9. Have I sinned im purely by myself (masturbation)?
10. Have I entertained or taken pleasure in impure thoughts? 11. Have I indulged in lustful desires for any one, or will fully desired to see or do any thing impure?
12. Have I will fully indulged in any sexual pleasure whether complete or in complete?
13. Have I been an occasion of sin for others by wearing tight or otherwise revealing and immod est clothing?
14. Have I done any thing to provoke or occasion impure thoughts or desires in others deliberately or through careless ness?
15. Have I read indecent literature or looked at bad pictures? 16. Have I watched suggestive movies, TV programs, or Internet pornography or permit ted my children to do so?
17. Have I used indecent language or told indecent stories? 18. Have I willingly listened to such stories?
19. Have I boasted of my sins or taken delight in past sins? 20. Have I been inlewd company?
21. Have I consented to impure glances?
22. Have I neglected to control my imagination?
23. Have I prayed at once to banish such bad thoughts and temptations?
24. Have I avoided laziness, gluttony, idleness, and the occa sions of impurity?
25. Have I attended immodest dances or indecent plays?
26. Have I unnecessarily remained alone in the company of some one of the opposite sex?
Note Well: Do not be afraid to tell the priest any impure sin you may have committed. Do not hide or try to disguise any such sin. The priest is there to help you and forgive you. Noth ing you say will shock him, so do not be afraid, no matter how ashamed you might be.
Seventh and Tenth Commandments: Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not covet thy neigh bor’s goods.
1. Have I stolen any thing? What or how much?
2. Have I damaged any one’s property?
3. Have I negligently spoiled any one´s property?
4. Have I been negligent in the stewardship of other peo ple’s money or goods?
5. Have I cheated or defrauded others?
6. Have I gambled excessively?
7. Have I refused or neglected to pay any debts?
8. Have I acquired anything known to be stolen?
9. Have I failed to return things borrowed?
10. Have I cheated my employer of an hon est day’s work? 11. Have I cheated my employ ees of their wages?
12. Have I refused or neglected to help any one in urgent need?
13. Have I failed to make restitution for my stealing, cheating and frauds? (Ask the priest how to go about making restitution, that is, returning to the owner what you unjustly took from him/her.)
14. Have I been envious of an other because I don´t have what he has?
15. Have I been jealous of what another has?
16. Have I been stingy?
17. Have I been grasping and avari ious, placing too great im portance upon material goods and comforts? Is my heart set on earthly posses sions or on the true treasures of Heaven?
Eighth Com mandment: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
1. Have I lied about any one (calumny)?
2. Have my lies caused them any material or spiritual harm? 3. Have I rashly judged any one (i.e. be lieved firmly, with out sufficient evidence, that they are guilty of some moral defect or crime)?
4. Have I injured the good name of an other by revealing true but hidden faults (detraction)?
5. Have I disclosed an other´s sins?
6. Have I been guilty of talebearing, (i.e. re porting some thing unfavor able said of some one by an other so as to cre ate enmity between them)?
7. Have I lent an ear to or encouraged the spreading of scan dal about my neighbor?
8. Have I taken false oaths or signed false documents?
9. Am I, without necessity, critical, negative or ever uncharitable in my talk?
10. Have I flattered others?
The Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy
Have I neglected to do the following when circumstances obliged me?
1. To admonish sinners. 2. To instruct the ignorant. 3. To counsel the doubtful. 4. To comfort the sorrowful. 5. To bear wrongs patiently. 6. To forgive all injuries. 7. To pray for the living and the dead.
The Seven Corporal Works of Mercy
1. To feed the hungry. 2. To give drink to the thirsty. 3. To clothe the naked. 4. To visit and ransom the captives. 5. To harbor the harborless. 6. To visit the sick. 7. To bury the dead.
The Six Com mand ments of the Church
1. Have I heard Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of obliga tion? 2. Have I fasted and abstained on the days a pointed and have I kept the Eucharistic fast? 3. Have I confessed at least once a year? 4. Have I received the Holy Eucharist at least once in the year? 5. Have I contributed as far as I must to the support of the Church? 6. Have I observed the laws of the Church con cerning Marriage, i.e.: Mar riage with out a priest present, or marrying a close relative or non-Catholic?
The Five Blasphemies Against the Im mac u late Heart of Mary
1. Have I blas phemed against the Immaculate Conception? 2. Have I blasphemed against Our Lady´s Perpetual Virginity? 3. Have I blasphemed against Our Lady´s Divine Maternity? Have I refused to recognize Our Lady as the Mother of all men? 4. Have I publicly sought to sow in the hearts of chil dren in difference or scorn, or even hatred, of this Immaculate Mother? 5. Have I outraged Her directly in Her Holy im ages?
Finally: Have I received Holy Communion in the state of mor tal sin? (This is a very grave sacrilege.)