A Guide To Confession

Greet the priest Confess your sins

Make the sign of the cross. Say Tell the priest about your sins. If
"Bless me father, for I have you get stuck, ask for help. He is
sinned. My last confession there to guide you.
was....

Receive your "I'm Sorry" Trust in God!

penance After you have Be honest, do not hide
The priest will offer advice confessed your sins, say " anything from Him.
and a penance to help For these and for all my Remember that He
you renew your life with sins, I am truly sorry" wants to shower His
God. grace & mercy on you.

Act of contrition Be absolved Go in peace

Say an act of contrition to The priest will absolve That's it! You are
express sorrow for your sins you of your sins. forgiven!

© SeedsMY 2022
 Prayers Before Confession
Source: Catholic online.

Receive my confession, O most loving and gracious Lord Jesus Christ, only hope for the
salvation of my soul. Grant to me true contrition of soul, so that day and night I may by
penance make satisfaction for my many sins. Savior of the world, O good Jesus, Who gave
Yourself to the death of the Cross to save sinners, look upon me, most wretched of all sinners;
have pity on me, and give me the light to know my sins, true sorrow for them, and a firm
purpose of never committing them again.

O gracious Virgin Mary, Immaculate Mother of Jesus, I implore you to obtain for me by your
powerful intercession these graces from your Divine Son.

St. Joseph, pray for me.

Source: Our Catholic Prayers

O Holy Spirit. Source of all light, Spirit of wisdom, of understanding, and of knowledge, come
to my assistance and enable me to make a good confession. Enlighten me, and help me now
to know my sins as one day I shall be force to recognize them before Thy judgment seat.
Bring to my mind the evil which I have done and the good which I have neglected. Permit me
not to be blinded by self-love. Grant me, moreover, heartfelt sorrow for my transgressions,
and the grace of a sincere confession, so that I may be forgiven and admitted into Thy
friendship.

Source: Catholic Tradition

O loving and merciful God! help me to make a good Confession. Help me to examine my
conscience, that I shall be able to tell the priest what sins I have committed and how often.
Let me feel a deep sorrow for all my sins and give me the grace to firmly resolve not to sin
again.

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, my dear Guardian Angel, and all ye blessed Angels and
Saints in Heaven, pray for me, that I shall make a good Confession, and from now on lead a
good life, so that I shall join thee in Heaven to praise our dear Lord, forever and ever.

1 Our Father;
1 Hail Mary.

© SeedsMY 2022
 Examination of Conscience with The Ten Commandments
First commandment: I am the Lord, thy God, thou shalt not have strange gods before Me.
Have I...
Intentionally 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.?
Disobeyed the commandments of God or the Church?
Doubted or refused to accept what God has revealed as true, or what the Catholic Church
proposes for belief?
Denied the existence of God?
Hated God?
Rejected everything opposed to a sound faith?
Intentionally misled others about doctrine or the faith?
Rejected the Catholic faith, joined another forbidden non-Catholic religious organization,
secret society or anti-Catholic group (Masons, communists, etc.)?
Practiced any superstitions (such as horoscopes, fortune telling, Ouija board, etc.)?
Been involved in the occult? (Seances, ouija board, worship of Satan, etc.)
Made fun of God, Our Lady, the Saints, the Church, the Sacraments, other holy things?
Been indifferent with regard to my Catholic Faith — believing one can be saved in any
religion, that all religions are equal?
Despaired about my salvation or the forgiveness of my sins?
Presumed on God's mercy? (Committing a sin in expectation of forgiveness, or asking for
forgiveness without conversion and practicing virtue.)
Loved someone or something more than God (money, power, sex, ambition, etc.)?
Let someone or something influence my choices more than God?
Formally left the Catholic Church?
Hidden a serious sin or told a lie in confession?

Second commandment: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
Have I...

Used the name of God in cursing or blasphemy?

Broken vows or promises that I have made to God?
Spoken about the Faith, the Church, the saints, or sacred things offensively?
Watched movies, or listened to music that treated God, the Church, the saints, or sacred
things irreverently?
Used foul language?
Cursed myself or others, or any creature?
Behaved disrespectfully in Church?
Intentionally misused places or things set apart for the worship of God?
Committed perjury? (Breaking an oath or lying under oath.)
Blamed God for my failings?

© SeedsMY 2022
 Examination of Conscience with The Ten Commandments

Third commandment: Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.
Have I...
Set time aside everyday for personal prayer to God?
Missed Mass on Sunday or Holy Days (through own fault w/o sufficient reason)?
Made others miss Mass on Sundays or Holy Days of obligation, leave early or be late for
Mass?
Habitually come late to and/or leave early from Mass without a good reason?
Been willfully distracted or distract others during Mass?
Committed a sacrilege against the Blessed Sacrament?
Received a sacrament while in the state of mortal sin?
Shop, work, or do business unnecessarily on Sunday or other Holy Days of Obligation?
Not attend to taking my children to Mass?
Knowingly eat meat on a forbidden day (or not fasting on a fast day)?
Eat or drink within one hour of receiving Communion (other than medical need)?

Fourth commandment: Honour thy father and thy mother.

Have I...
(If still under my parents' care) Been disobedient or disrespectful to my parents?
Neglected the needs of my parents in their old age or in their time of need?
(If still in school) Been disobedient or disrespectful to my teachers?
Lived in humble obedience to those who legitimately exercise authority over me?
Broken the law?
Have I supported or voted for a politician whose positions are opposed to the teachings of
Christ and the Catholic Church?
Mistreated my spouse or my children.

If I have child/children,
Failed to care for their baptism and proper religious education?
Scandalized them by setting a bad example? (Quarrel with my spouse/ cursing in front of
them etc.)
Failed to supervise or discipline them when they need it?

© SeedsMY 2022
 Examination of Conscience with The Ten Commandments

Fifth commandment: Thou shalt not kill.

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

© SeedsMY 2022
 Examination of Conscience with The Ten Commandments

Sixth & ninth commandment: Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not covet thy
neighbour´s wife.
Have I...
Practiced the virtue of chastity?
Given in to lust? (The desire for sexual pleasure unrelated to spousal love in marriage.)
Used an artificial means of birth control (by pills, devices, withdrawal)?
Refused to be open to conception, without just cause? (Catechism, 2368)
Participated in immoral techniques for in vitro fertilization or artificial insemination?
Sterilized my sex organs for contraceptive purposes?
Deprived my spouse of the marital right, without just cause?
Claimed my own marital right without concern for my spouse?
Deliberately caused male climax outside of normal sexual intercourse? (Catechism, 2366)
Willfully entertained or taken pleasure in impure thoughts?
Indulged in lustful desires for anyone, or willfully desired to see or do anything impure?
Purchased, viewed, or made use of pornography?
Watched movies and television that involve sex and nudity?
Listened to music or jokes that are harmful to purity?
Read or look at indecent literature, comics etc.?
Committed adultery? (Sexual relations with someone who is married, or with someone other
than my spouse.)
Committed incest? (Sexual relations with a relative or in-law.)
Committed fornication? (Sexual relations with someone of the opposite sex when neither of
us is married.)
Engaged in homosexual activity? (Sexual activity with the same sex.)
Committed rape?
Masturbated?(Deliberate stimulation of own sexual organs for sexual pleasure.)
Engaged in sexual foreplay (petting) reserved for marriage?
Engaged in prolonged or passionate kissing?
Preyed upon children or youth for my sexual pleasure?
Engaged in unnatural sexual activities?
Engaged in prostitution, or paid for the services of a prostitute?
Touched or embraced another impurely?
Seduced someone, or allowed myself to be seduced?
Made uninvited and unwelcome sexual advances toward another?
Purposely dressed immodestly?

© SeedsMY 2022
 Examination of Conscience with The Ten Commandments

Seventh & tenth commandment: Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour´s
goods
Have I...
Stolen? (Take something that doesn't belong to me against the reasonable will of the
owner.)
Envied others on account of their possessions?
Tried to live in a spirit of Gospel poverty and simplicity?
Given generously to others in need?
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?
Freed myself from a consumer mentality?
Practiced the works of mercy?
Intentionally defaced, destroyed or lost another's property?
Cheated on a test, taxes, sports, games, or in business?
Squandered money in compulsive gambling?
Make a false claim to an insurance company?
Paid my employees a living wage, or failed to give a full day's work for a full day's pay?
Cheated my employer of an honest day’s work?
Cheated my employees of their wages?
Failed to honor my part of a contract?
Failed to make good on a debt?
Been stingy?
Overcharge someone, especially to take advantage of another's hardship or ignorance?
Been grasping and avaricious, placing too great importance upon material goods and
comforts?
Misused natural resources?

© SeedsMY 2022
 Examination of Conscience with The Ten Commandments

Eighth commandment: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Have I...
Lied?
Knowingly and willfully deceived another?
Perjured myself under oath?
Rashly judged anyone (i.e. believed firmly, without sufficient evidence, that they are guilty
of some moral defect or crime)?
Gossiped?
Committed detraction? (Destroying a person's reputation by telling others about his faults
for no good reason.)
Been guilty of talebearing, (i.e. reporting something unfavorable said of someone by
another so as to create enmity between them)?
Committed slander or calumny? (Telling lies about another person in order to destroy his
reputation.)
Committed libel? (Writing lies about another person in order to destroy his reputation.)
Been guilty of rash judgment? (Assuming the worst of another person based on
circumstantial evidence.)
Failed to make reparation for a lie I told, or for harm done to a person's reputation?
Failed to speak out in defense of the Catholic Faith, the Church or of another person?
Betrayed another's confidence through speech?
Have I flattered others?

© SeedsMY 2022
 Act Of Contrition Prayers
Source: USCCB
Lord Jesus, Son of God,
have mercy on me, a sinner.

Source: Vatican News.va

Lord God, in your goodness have mercy on me: do not look
on my sins, but take away all my guilt. Create in me a clean
heart and renew within me an upright spirit.

Source: Catholic.org
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee,
and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments,
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 sin no more and to avoid the near
occasions of sin.

Source: Catholic.org
O my God, I am sorry for my sins because I have offended
you. I know I should love you above all things. Help me to
do penance, to do better, and to avoid anything that might
lead me to sin. Amen.

© SeedsMY 2022