Examination of Conscience for Children
based on the Ten Commandments
1. I am the Lord your God; you shall not have strange gods before me.
- Is God the most important thing in my life, or have I made other things in my life more
important than God?
- Do I remember to talk to God every day?
- Do I choose what God wants for me over what I want for myself?
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
- Do I speak God’s name or Jesus’ name respectfully?
- Have I spoken God’s name or Jesus’ name inappropriately when I was angry or to impress
my friends?
3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
- Have I tried my best to worship God at Mass by singing, praying the prayers with the
community, and listening?
- Have I misbehaved during Mass?
4. Honor your father and your mother.
- Have I obeyed my parents—even when they are not looking?
- Have I talked back to my parents?
5. You shall not kill.
- How have I been kind or unkind to others?
- Do I share what I have with others?
- Have I solved disagreements in a peaceful way? Have I fought with anyone?
6. You shall not commit adultery.
- Do I show respect for others in what I do and say?
- Do I show respect for and cooperate with my teachers? Do
- I care for my health and follow safety rules?
7. You shall not steal.
- How have I respected other people’s things?
- Have I taken something that doesn’t belong to me?
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
- Do I tell the truth?
- Have I told a lie or things that were only partly true?
9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
- Have I thought good thoughts and said good words?
- Have I told or listened to any mean jokes?
- Have I watched any movies or shows that I shouldn’t have seen?
- Do I try to keep my mind on good things?
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.
- Am I happy with what I have or do I always want more? Have
- I been jealous of what other people have?
A GUIDE TO CONFESSION
How to go to Confession
1. You always have the option to go to confession anonymously, that is, behind a screen or
face to face, if you so desire.
2. After the priest greets you in the name of Christ, make the sign of the cross. He may
choose to recite a reading from Scripture, after which you say:
"Bless me Father for I have sinned. It has been (state how long) since my last confession.
These are my sins.”
3. Tell your sins simply and honestly to the priest. You might even want to discuss the
circumstances and the root causes of your sins and ask the priest for advice or direction.
4. Listen to the advice the priest gives you and accept the penance from him. Then make an
Act of Contrition for your sins.
5. The priest will then dismiss you with the words of praise. The priest will then conclude
with: "The Lord has freed you from your sins. Go in peace." And you respond by saying:
"Thanks be to God."
6. Spend some time with Our Lord thanking and praising Him for the gift of His mercy. Try
to perform your penance as soon as possible.
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you. And I detest all my sins because of your
just punishment. But most of all because they offend you my God, who are all good and
deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of your grace to sin no more and to avoid
the near occasion of sin.
Amen.
