Examination of Conscience

For Adults

For Teens/Youth

First Commandment:
I am the LORD your God. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.

	Sin	# Times
	Disobeyed the commandments of God or the Church?	0
	Refused to accept what God has revealed as true, or what the Catholic Church proposes for belief?	0
	Denied the existence of God?	0
	Nourished and protected my faith?	0
	Rejected everything opposed to a sound faith?	0
	Deliberately misled others about doctrine or the faith?	0
	Rejected the Catholic faith, joined another Christian denomination, or joined or practiced another religion?	0
	Joined a group forbidden to Catholics (Masons, communists, etc.)?	0
	Despaired about my salvation or the forgiveness of my sins?	0
	Presumed on God’s mercy? (Committing a sin in expectation of forgiveness, or asking for forgiveness without conversion and practicing virtue.)	0
	Loved someone or something more than God (money, power, sex, ambition, etc.)?	0
	Let someone or something influence my choices more than God?	0
	Engaged in superstitious practices? (Incl. horoscopes, fortune tellers, etc.)	0
	Been involved in the occult? (Seances, ouija board, worship of Satan, etc.)	0
	Formally left the Catholic Church?	0
	Hidden a serious sin or told a lie in confession?	0

Second Commandment:
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

	Sin	# Times
	Used the name of God in cursing or blasphemy?	0
	Failed to keep vows or promises that I have made to God?	0
	Spoken about the Faith, the Church, the saints, or sacred things with irreverence, hatred or defiance?	0
	Watched television or movies, or listened to music that treated God, the Church, the saints, or sacred things irreverently?	0
	Used vulgar, suggestive or obscene speech?	0
	Belittled others in my speech?	0
	Behaved disrespectfully in Church?	0
	Misused places or things set apart for the worship of God?	0
	Committed perjury? (Breaking an oath or lying under oath.)	0
	Blamed God for my failings?	0

Third Commandment:
Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.

	Sin	# Times
	Set time aside each day for personal prayer to God?	0
	Missed Mass on Sunday or Holy Days (through own fault w/o sufficient reason)?	0
	Committed a sacrilege against the Blessed Sacrament?	0
	Received a sacrament while in the state of mortal sin?	0
	Habitually come late to and/or leave early from Mass without a good reason?	0
	Shop, labor, or do business unnecessarily on Sunday or other Holy Days of Obligation?	0
	Not attend to taking my children to Mass?	0
	Knowingly eat meat on a forbidden day (or not fasting on a fast day)?	0
	Eat or drink within one hour of receiving Communion (other than medical need)?	0

Fourth Commandment:
Honor your father and your mother.

	Sin	# Times
	(If still under my parents? care) Obeyed all that my parents reasonably asked of me?	0
	Neglected the needs of my parents in their old age or in their time of need?	0
	(If still in school) Obeyed the reasonable demands of my teachers?	0
	Neglected to give my children proper food, clothing, shelter, education, discipline and care (even after Confirmation)?	0
	Provided for the religious education and formation of my children for as long as they are under my care?	0
	Ensured that my children still under my care regularly frequent the sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion?	0
	Educated my children in a way that corresponds to my religious convictions?	0
	Provided my children with a positive, prudent and personalized education in the Catholic teaching on human sexuality?	0
	Been to my children a good example of how to live the Catholic Faith?	0
	Prayed with and for my children?	0
	Lived in humble obedience to those who legitimately exercise authority over me?	0
	Have I broken the law?	0
	Have I supported or voted for a politician whose positions are opposed to the teachings of Christ and the Catholic Church?	0

Fifth Commandment:
You shall not kill.

	Sin	# Times
	Unjustly and intentionally killed a human being?	0
	Been involved in an abortion, directly or indirectly (through advice, etc.)?	0
	Seriously considered or attempted suicide?	0
	Supported, promoted or encouraged the practice of assisted suicide or mercy killing?	0
	Deliberately desired to kill an innocent human being?	0
	Unjustly inflicted bodily harm an another person?	0
	Unjustly threatened another person with bodily harm?	0
	Verbally or emotionally abused another person?	0
	Hated another person, or wished him evil?	0
	Been prejudiced, or unjustly discriminated against others because of their race, color, nationality, sex or religion?	0
	Joined a hate group?	0
	Purposely provoked another by teasing or nagging?	0
	Recklessly endangered my life or health, or that of another, by my actions?	0
	Driven recklessly or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs?	0
	Abused alcohol or other drugs?	0
	Sold or given drugs to others to use for non-therapeutic purposes?	0
	Used tobacco immoderately?	0
	Over-eaten?	0
	Encouraged others to sin by giving scandal?	0
	Helped another to commit a mortal sin (through advice, driving them somewhere, etc.)?	0
	Caused serious injury or death by criminal neglect?	0
	Indulged in serious anger?	0
	Refused to control my temper?	0
	Been mean to, quarreled with, or willfully hurt someone?	0
	Been unforgiving to others, when mercy or pardon was requested?	0
	Sought revenge or hoped something bad would happen to someone?	0
	Delighted to see someone else get hurt or suffer?	0
	Treated animals cruelly, causing them to suffer or die needlessly?	0

Sixth and Ninth Commandments:
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.

	Sin	# Times
	Practiced the virtue of chastity?	0
	Given in to lust? (The desire for sexual pleasure unrelated to spousal love in marriage.)	0
	Used an artificial means of birth control?	0
	Refused to be open to conception, without just cause? (Catechism, 2368)	0
	Participated in immoral techniques for in vitro fertilization or artificial insemination?	0
	Sterilized my sex organs for contraceptive purposes?	0
	Deprived my spouse of the marital right, without just cause?	0
	Claimed my own marital right without concern for my spouse?	0
	Deliberately caused male climax outside of normal sexual intercourse? (Catechism, 2366)	0
	Willfully entertained impure thoughts?	0
	Purchased, viewed, or made use of pornography?	0
	Watched movies and television that involve sex and nudity?	0
	Listened to music or jokes that are harmful to purity?	0
	Committed adultery? (Sexual relations with someone who is married, or with someone other than my spouse.)	0
	Committed incest? (Sexual relations with a relative or in-law.)	0
	Committed fornication? (Sexual relations with someone of the opposite sex when neither of us is married.)	0
	Engaged in homosexual activity? (Sexual activity with someone of the same sex.)	0
	Committed rape?	0
	Masturbated? (Deliberate stimulation of one’s own sexual organs for sexual pleasure.)	0
	Engaged in sexual foreplay (petting) reserved for marriage?	0
	Preyed upon children or youth for my sexual pleasure?	0
	Engaged in unnatural sexual activities?	0
	Engaged in prostitution, or paid for the services of a prostitute?	0
	Seduced someone, or allowed myself to be seduced?	0
	Made uninvited and unwelcome sexual advances toward another?	0
	Purposely dressed immodestly?	0

Seventh and Tenth Commandments:
You shall not steal.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

	Sin	# Times
	Stolen? (Take something that doesn’t belong to me against the reasonable will of the owner.)	0
	Envied others on account of their possessions?	0
	Tried to live in a spirit of Gospel poverty and simplicity?	0
	Given generously to others in need?	0
	Considered that God has provided me with money so that I might use it to benefit others, as well as for my own legitimate needs?	0
	Freed myself from a consumer mentality?	0
	Practiced the works of mercy?	0
	Deliberately defaced, destroyed or lost another?s property?	0
	Cheated on a test, taxes, sports, games, or in business?	0
	Squandered money in compulsive gambling?	0
	Make a false claim to an insurance company?	0
	Paid my employees a living wage, or failed to give a full day’s work for a full day’s pay?	0
	Failed to honor my part of a contract?	0
	Failed to make good on a debt?	0
	Overcharge someone, especially to take advantage of another?s hardship or ignorance?	0
	Misused natural resources?	0

Eighth Commandment:
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

	Sin	# Times
	Lied?	0
	Knowingly and willfully deceived another?	0
	Perjured myself under oath?	0
	Gossiped?	0
	Committed detraction? (Destroying a person’s reputation by telling others about his faults for no good reason.)	0
	Committed slander or calumny? (Telling lies about another person in order to destroy his reputation.)	0
	Committed libel? (Writing lies about another person in order to destroy his reputation.)	0
	Been guilty of rash judgment? (Assuming the worst of another person based on circumstantial evidence.)	0
	Failed to make reparation for a lie I told, or for harm done to a person’s reputation?	0
	Failed to speak out in defense of the Catholic Faith, the Church, or of another person?	0
	Betrayed another’s confidence through speech?	0

First Precept of the Church:
You shall attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.

	Sin	# Times
	(see examination under the Third Commandment)	0

Second Precept of the Church:
You shall confess your sins at least once a year.

	Sin	# Times
	Made a good Confession of my mortal sins least once a year?	0
	Purposely omitted telling my mortal sins in my last Confession?	0
	Performed the penance I was given?	0
	Made reparation for any harm I have done to others?	0

Third Precept of the Church:
You shall humbly receive your Creator in Holy Communion at least during the Easter season.

	Sin	# Times
	Fulfilled my Easter duty to receive Holy Communion at least once between the First Sunday of Lent and Trinity Sunday?	0
	Received Holy Communion while in the state of mortal sin?	0
	Fasted an hour before receiving Holy Communion?	0
	Received Holy Communion more than twice in one day?	0

Fourth Precept of the Church:
You shall keep holy the Holy days of Obligation.

	Sin	# Times
	(see examination under the Third Commandment)	0

Fifth Precept of the Church:
You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence.

	Sin	# Times
	Done penance every Friday, if not abstaining from meat, then some other form of penance?	0
	Abstained from meat on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent (if I am 14 years of age or older)?	0
	Fasted on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (if I am between the ages of 18 and 59)?	0
	Spent time in prayer, doing spiritual and corporal works of mercy, and practicing self-denial?	0

Sixth Precept of the Church:
You shall contribute to the support of the Church.

	Sin	# Times
	Contributed a just amount of my time, talents and money to support my parish and the work of the Church?	0

Seventh Precept of the Church:
You shall observe the laws of the Church concerning marriage.

	Sin	# Times
	Been living in a valid and licit marriage according to the laws of the Catholic Church?	0
	Abandoned my spouse and family by separation or divorce?	0
	Kept company with someone whom I cannot marry in the Catholic Church?	0
	Given scandal by living with a member of the opposite sex without the benefit of a marriage blessed by the Catholic Church?	0
	Entered into marriage with more than one person at the same time?	0

Confession:

Forgive me Father for I have sinned. It's been XX days/weeks/months since my last confession and in that time I have ...

... for these and all sins that I'm not currently able to recall I am truly sorry.

Act of Contrition:

O MY GOD, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell; but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.