Preparing for Confession

In order to make a good confession, ask yourself the following questions found in the examination of conscience. when asking yourself these questions, truly ponder them, one by one. take your time! allow the holy spirit to guide your examination.

Worried you’ll forget a sin? that’s okay, we touched on that in how go to go confession on the reconciliation page.

  • Did i deny or doubt god’s existence?

  • did i refuse to believe god’s revelation?

  • did i believe in (or use) horoscopes, fortune telling, good luck charms, tarot cards, ouija boards, or reincarnation?

  • did i deny that i was a catholic?

  • did i abandon the catholic faith for any period of time?

  • Did i despair of or presume on god’s mercy?

  • did i neglect prayer for a long time?

  • did i fail to pray daily?

  • did i blaspheme god or take god’s name in vain, curse or break an oath or vow?

  • did i miss mass on a sunday or on a holy day of obligation through my own fault?

  • have i been reverent in the presence of the most blessed sacrament?

  • was i inattentive at Mass?

  • did i leave Mass early?

  • did i do unnecessary servile work on sunday?

  • did i disobey or disrespect my parents or legitimate superiors?

  • did i neglect my duties to my husband, wife, children, or parents?

  • did i fail to actively take an interest in the religious education and formation of my children?

  • have i failed to educate myself concerning the teachings of the church?

  • Did i give a full day’s work in return for a full day’s pay?

  • did i give a fair wage to my employee(s)?

  • did i give scandal by what i said or did, especially to the young?

Ask yourself the following questions:

  • did i contribute to anyone’s abandoning the catholic faith?

  • was i impatient, angry, envious, unkind, proud, jealous, revengeful, hateful toward others, or lazy?

  • did i give bad example, abuse drugs, drink alcohol to excess, fight or quarrel?

  • did i physically injure or kill anyone?

  • have i had an abortion, or advised or supported an abortion?

  • did i participate in or approve of the grave evil known as “mercy killing” or euthanasia?

  • did i attempt suicide or physically harm myself?

  • did i willfully entertain impure thoughts and desires?

  • did i dress immodestly or provocatively?

  • did i use impure or suggestive words?

  • did i tell impure stories or listen to them?

  • did i Deliberately look at impure television, internet, plays, pictures, or movies?

  • did i deliberately read impure material?

  • did i perform impure acts by myself (masturbation_ or with another (adultery, fornication or sodomy)?

  • Did i marry or advise another to marry outside of the church?

  • did i abuse my marriage rights?

  • was i unfaithful to my marriage vows?

  • have i kept company with someone else’s spouse?

  • did i practice artificial birth control or was i or my spouse permanently sterilized (tubal ligation or vasectomy)?

  • did i steal, cheat, help or encourage others to steal, cheat, or keep stolen goods?

  • Have i made restitution for stolen goods?

  • did i deliberately fail to fulfill my contracts or pay my bills?

  • did i give or accept bribes?

  • did i rashly gamble or speculate or deprive my family of the necessities of life?

  • did i tell lies? deliberately in order to deceive or injure others?

  • did i commit perjury?

  • did i vote in accordance with a properly informed conscience, in a way consistent with the teachings of the church, in regard to the sanctity of marriage and of human life issues?

  • was i uncharitable in thought, word or deed?

  • did i gossip or reveal the faults or sins of others?

  • did i fail to keep secrets that i should have kept?

  • did i eat meat knowingly on the fridays during lent or on ash wednesday?

  • did i fast as required on ash wednesday and good friday?

  • did i fail to receive holy communion during the easter season?

  • did i fail to confess my sins at least once a year?

  • did i receive holy communion in the state of mortal sin?

  • did i receive holy communion without fasting for one hour or more from food and drink? (water and medicine are permitted)

  • Did i make a bad confession by deliberately not telling all the mortal sins i committed?

  • did i fail to contribute to the support of the church?

  • have i forgiven those who have hurt or harmed me or my loved ones?

want to download the examination of conscience to save to your phone or to print later? click the button below!