Examination of Conscience

This is an examination of conscience that I found on this website: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwillingshepherds.com%2FExamination.html&h=2514c8f4fb201faa8577cc5ad9966dbd



How are you to make an examination of conscience? THINK ABOUT YOUR SINS.



Examine your conscience:



1. On the Ten Commandments of God.

2. On the Commandments of the Church.

3. On the particular duties of your state of life.

4. On the Seven Deadly Sins.



And consider where in and how often you have offended God by thought, word, deed, or omission. REMEMBER ALWAYS TO COUNT YOUR SINS. There are certain words never to be used in the confessional. Never say sometimes, a good many times, not often, very often. Never use such expressions, because they are all vague, indefinite terms; they do not give the priest any idea of the exact number of one’s sins. Tell what you said, and how many times you said it. Tell what you did, and the number of times you did it. If you cannot give the exact number, give it as nearly as you can. Tell about how often. God does not require impossibilities. Doing the best you can, you need have no fear of telling a lie. To come as nearly as you can to the number is not lying. It is all you can do. But if you find this too difficult, because you have been absent from Confession a long time, then give an average number of the sins you have committed daily or weekly or monthly. Put one day or one week or one month with another, and see about how often in a day or in the week or in the month you have been in the habit of committing each sin. Moreover, have some system in examining yourself and in telling your sins. Follow the order of the commandments. Separate your different sins, one kind from another, and count how many you have of each. Act like a man who has a quantity of money of different denominations. He separates the different pieces according to their value, and, counting each kind, soon knows the value of the whole.



If a person cannot read let some one read the Examine of Conscience for him. Remember you must COUNT YOUR SINS before going to confession.



EXAMINE OF CONSCIENCE



First Commandment



I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not have strange gods before me.



I denied, or doubted my faith _____ Times a week, or month.

I murmured against God _____ Times a week, or month.

I despaired of His mercy _____ Times a week, or month.

I missed my daily prayers _____ Times a week, or month.

I went to places of false worship _____ Times a week, or month.

I talked against the Church, priests, or faith _____ Times a week, or month.

I went to fortune tellers _____ Times a week, or month.

I was dealing with the occult-i.e. Ouija Board _____ Times a week, or month

I was guilty of superstitious practices _____ Times a week, or month.

I was guilty of excessive materialism _____ Times a week, or month.

I was guilty of malice (deliberate choice of evil) _____ Times a week, or month

I read books contrary to faith _____ Times a week, or month.



In counting your sins, if you cannot give the exact number, average, tell as nearly as you can, about how often you have committed each.



Second Commandment



Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.



I swore by name of God (Blasphemy) _____ Times a week, or month.

I swore by name of Jesus (Blasphemy) _____ Times a week, or month.

I cursed others by saying: God damn you _____ Times a week, or month.

I cursed my children and wife _____ Times a week, or month.

I cursed in the hearing of the young _____ Times a week, or month.

I perjured myself by swearing falsely in court _____ Times a week, or month.

I took rash and unnecessary oaths _____ Times a week, or month.

I provoked others to curse _____ Times a week, or month.

I did not prevent cursing when I could and should _____ Times a week, or month.

I spoke against saints, holy things and pious practices. _____ Times a week, or month.



Third Commandment



Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath Day.



I missed Mass on Sunday & Holydays through my fault _____ Times a week, or month.

I spent a great part of these days in sinful occupations _____ Times a week, or month.

I was late for Mass by my own fault _____ Times a week, or month.

I kept my wife, children or employees from Mass _____ Times a week, or month.

I assisted at Mass with willful distractions _____ Times a week, or month.

I engaged in servile works on Sunday and Holydays without necessity _____ Times a week, or month.



Fourth Commandment



Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother.



1. Duty of Children



I disobeyed my parents/teachers/leaders in important matters _____ Times a day, or week.

I caused them to be angry: I grieved them _____ Times a day, or week.

I used insulting language to them _____ Times a day, or week.

I kept or wasted my wages I should have given to them _____ Times.

I did not support them _____ Times.

I incited my brothers and sisters against them _____ Times.

I neglected to write them, or send them help _____ Months _____ years.

I neglected them in sickness, in death _____ Months _____ years



2. Duties of Husbands and Fathers



I grieved, abused, struck my wife _____ Times

I accused her wrongfully _____ Times

I neglected to provide for my family _____ Times

I gave my children bad example _____ Times

I failed to correct their faults _____ Times

I neglected to instruct them in religion _____ Times

I interfered with their religious vocation _____ Times



3. Duties of Wives and Mothers



I disobeyed my husband _____ Times.

I caused my children to disobey and dishonor him _____ Times.

I talked of his faults to my children or neighbors _____ Times.

I neglected to correct my children _____ Times.

I gave them bad example _____ Times.

I did not instruct them in their religion _____ Times.

I interfered with their religious vocation _____ Times.



Under this commandment masters and mistresses, employers and employees should examine themselves on their respective duties.



Fifth Commandment



Thou shalt not kill.



I was angry _____ Times.

I caused others to become angry _____ Times.

I was quarreling or fighting _____ Times.

I desired the death of others _____ Times.

I cherished hatred to others _____ Times.

I've used or approved of artificial birth control _____ Times.

I refused to speak or to be reconciled to others _____ Times.

I caused the death of another by negligence _____ Times.

I brought dishonor to family, school, community, or the Church _____ Times.

I have been guilty of detraction (telling an unkind truth about another) _____ Times.

I led others to commit sin, by word or example _____ Times.

I Used illegal drugs _____ Times.



For physicians, parents, others, - caused, counseled, consented to abortion. Abortion is a case reserved by the Holy See to Bishops.



Sixth Commandment and Ninth Commandment



Thou shalt not commit adultery.



Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.



Here the penitent must seriously consider past thoughts, words, and actions against these commandments. If one had the misfortune to break them, one must tell whether one is single or married; whether thoughts, words, desires, or acts referred to single or married persons or relatives.



I had premarital sex, including oral sex, intercourse, impure touching of another _____ Persons_____ Times.

I took pleasure in impure thoughts _____ Times a day.

I had impure desires _____ Times a day

I spoke immodestly in the hearing of _____ Persons_____ Times a day.

I boasted of sins of impurity _____ Times a day_____ a week.

I sang or listened to immodest songs _____ Times a day_____ a week.

I read immodest books, papers, or writings _____ Times.

I was guilty of immodest looks _____ Times a week

I kept, showed, looked at immodest pictures/pornographic material _____ Times a week.

I went to immodest places of amusement _____ Times a week.

I was guilty of immodest acts (See note above, and tell what these acts were) _____ Times.

I committed homosexuals actions _____ Persons_____ Times.

I committed immodest acts alone _____ Times.

I was guilty of the sin of Onanism (masturbation, withdrawal method) _____ Times.



In the Book of Genesis Onan was commanded by his father to impregnate the widow of his slain brother and to raise the offspring of the union. In order to avoid raising descendants for his late brother, however, Onan engaged in coitus interruptus.



There are hidden sins known only to God and the sinner. These he must also tell, and the number of times.



Seventh Commandment and Tenth Commandment



Thou shalt not steal.



Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods.



I stole goods to the amount of $ _____, _____ Times.

I destroyed property, defrauded insurance companies $ _____, _____ Times.

I took from my employers $ _____, _____ Times.

I stole $____ worth, but restored, though able to return all, only $______ Worth

I wasted time for which I was paid work, value of $ _____, _____ Times.

I injured others in their employment or goods $ _____, _____ Times.

I neglected to pay my bills, just debts, amounting to $ _____, _____ Times.

I defrauded in weights and measures $ _____, _____ Times.

I defrauded those employed by me $ _____, _____ Times.

I unjustly deferred the payment of their wages $ _____, _____ Times.

I desired to possess unjustly my neighbor’s goods _____ Times.



Eighth Commandment



Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.



I told lies _____ Times.

I seriously injured my neighbor’s character, by publishing his secret faults _____ Times.

I carried stories and caused trouble _____ Times.

I told a deliberate lie to the injury of my neighbor _____ Times.

I spoke without necessity of the known faults of others _____ Times.

I've broken promises deliberately _____ Times.

I am guilty of calumny-telling lies about one another _____ Times.

I failed to defend my neighbor’s character _____ Times.

I encouraged detraction or calumny, or listened to it with complacency _____ Times.

I failed to make reparation for sins of tongue _____ Times.



Commandments of the Church



I neglected my yearly confession and Easter Communion _____ Times.

I attempted marriage contrary to the law of the Church _____ Times.

I neglected, when able, to support the Church _____ Times.

I ate meat on days of abstinence, without permission or necessity. _____ Times.

I caused others to eat meat on days of abstinence _____ Times.

I broke the fasts of the Church _____ Times.

I caused others to break the fasts of the Church _____ Times.



The Seven Deadly Sins



I was guilty of gluttony _____ Times.

I was drunk _____ Times.

I caused others to be drunk _____ Times.

I gave liquor to those drunk _____ Times.

I was slothful in religious exercises _____ Times.

I was lazy and idle _____ Times.

I was envious _____ Times.

I was yearning for impure pleasures _____ Times.

I have had an immoderate desire for earthly goods _____ Times.

I have had an inordinate desire for revenge _____ Times.

I was proud _____ Times



The Four Sins Crying to Heaven for Vengeance



Willful murder (including abortion) _____ Times.

The sin of Sodom. (unnatural sex) _____ Times.

Oppression of the poor. _____ Times.

Defrauding laborers of their wages. _____ Times



The Six Sins against the Holy Ghost



Presumption of God's mercy-sinning and saying God must forgive me _____ Times.

Despair-to believe that god will refuse to forgive you _____ Times.

To attack as false or questioning the known truth. _____ Times.

Envy at another's spiritual good _____ Times.

Obstinacy in sin-refusing to stop known sinful behavior _____ Times.

Final impenitence-refusing to accept God's mercy at moment of death _____ Times.



Nine Ways of being Accessory to Another's Sin

By counsel-talking one into sin _____ Times.

By command-telling one to sin _____ Times.

By consent- agreeing with the sin _____ Times.

By provocation- to pressure one into sin _____ Times.

By praise or flattery- congratulating the sin committed by others _____ Times.

By concealment- covering up the sin for another _____ Times.

By partaking- approving sin by assisting in it _____ Times.

By silence-by not speaking up against the sin _____ Times.

By defense of the ill done- rationalizing the sin done or will be done _____ Times.



Also, don't forget to always confess all Venial sins that you might have committed-i.e., ingratitude, reckless driving, selfishness, rudeness etc.



[for more on sin: http://communityofhopeinc.org/Catholic%20Beliefs/sin.htm#7%20failures ]

On Confession

http://volpiusleonius.blogspot.com/

We are bound to take care of our bodies, if they are out of health, and to do our best to preserve life. To shorten one's existence by want of care, miserliness or weariness of life is a most grievous sin. If then it is so important to provide what is necessary for the body, it must be far more important to attend to the health of the soul. Sin exposes a soul to danger of death, by robbing it of sanctifying grace, and makes it God's enemy, bringing it into a state in which it can never enjoy the contemplation of God. It is therefore a most sacred duty, incumbent upon everyone, who has killed his soul by mortal sin, to revive it by the Sacrament of Penance, called, for that very reason, the Sacrament of the Dead.

This should be done as soon as possible, for otherwise there is danger of yielding to further temptation. "Every sin," says St. Gregory, "has the unhappy result of leading us on to further sin, unless it be immediately wiped out." A soul deprived by sin of God s grace is so weak as to yield to the slightest temptation, and the sinner is like a man on the brink of a precipice; he slips and falls, and soon has no power to save himself; he dashes headlong into the lowest depths.

If anyone, conscious of mortal sin, does not at once confess it, but waits a long time, perhaps a whole year, before doing so, he deprives himself of all merit even for good works performed during this period. His soul, dead in mortal sin, can gain no merit for eternal life. His prayers, works, almsgiving and other good works deserve no eternal reward, and are no more pleasing to God than Cain's sacrifice, which won him no merit, because his soul was already dead in the grievous sin of envy.

St. Arsenius once saw in a vision the pitiable state of souls, defiled with mortal sin that they are unwilling to remove by Confession. An angel appeared to him and said: "Come with me, I will show you how men busy themselves in the world." St. Arsenius was at once transported to a great forest, where there was a man trying to carry a great bundle of wood on his shoulders. The load being too heavy, he went to fetch some more logs, as if having a greater weight to carry he would be better able to lift it.

The angel then led Arsenius to a spring, where were some people engaged in drawing water and pouring it into a barrel full of holes. Whilst the saint gazed in wonder at this strange proceeding, the angel said: "Come with me; I will show you something still more surprising," and they walked on until they met two men, who were trying in vain to pass through a doorway. Each of them was holding the end of an iron bar, and as this was longer than the doorway was wide, the ends always struck the wall, and their efforts to enter were in vain. Arsenius could not help laughing. "Tell me," said he to the angel, "who these fools are and what they want to do." The angel looked grave, however, as he replied: "These men resemble all proud people, who fancy themselves irresistible; they may try very hard to enter heaven, but they will not humble themselves so as to pass through the narrow gate. The man with the bundle of wood is like a sinner who, instead of diminishing his load by Confession and Penance, adds to it by bad Confessions, until at last he is crushed under the ever-increasing burden. The people pouring water into the barrel full of holes are like those who do many good works, but also commit many sins ; and because they do not at once repent of their sins and confess them, all the merit of their good works, performed whilst they are in a state of mortal sin, is lost.

Someone may argue that all this does not concern him, for he never falls into very great sins, and therefore in his case Confession once in the year is sufficient. This argument is suggested by the evil one, and unhappily he succeeds in inducing many to act upon it; but if anyone wishes to lead a happy life, he must go to Confession several times in the year, even if he has not any great sin upon his conscience.

If we are conscious only of venial sins, we ought to go frequently to Confession;

(1) in order to keep our souls in a state of purity;

(2) in order to guard ourselves from falling into grievous sin;

(3) in order to confess our sins better.

Our souls are the dwelling-places of God. St. Paul says: "Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the .Spirit of God dwelleth in you? But if any man violate the temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy : which you are." (I. Cor. iii, 16, 17).

1. God dwells, sometimes personally, always by grace, in our souls, but mortal sin drives Him out and destroys the beauty of His dwelling. God cannot remain in a soul disfigured by impurity; but venial sin does not so utterly ruin its beauty, though it tarnishes and dims it. Nothing unclean can come to God, and therefore a soul, clouded by venial sin, cannot be admitted to His presence until it has been cleaned either by Penance or in purgatory. Venial sins are like dust in a room; they require to be cleared away frequently, for they accumulate day by day. We are told that even the just man sins seven times each day, and we are constantly committing small sins; we say our prayers carelessly, we eat and drink too much, we tell little lies, and indulge in vanity, in dress and foolish conversations.

Unless these things are confessed from time to time, at the end of a year they have accumulated until there seems no end to them. Whoever desires to keep his soul pure and clean in God's sight should go often to Confession, for thus its full beauty is maintained.

2. Frequent Confession guards us from falling into grievous sin. When St. Louis of France was on his deathbed, he gave much good advice to his son, and urged him to go often to Confession and to choose a prudent confessor. His great desire was for his son to live and die a good Christian, and he knew that the devil is sure to tempt those who abandon the practice of frequent Confession because they have no very great sins on their conscience.

As long as we are not in a state of mortal sin, we have the help of God s grace and our will is free, so that we can resist temptation; but each sin committed weakens our powers of resistance and renders the action of grace less effectual. Unless we go often to Confession, whence can we derive the courage, strength and resolution that are necessary to prevent our falling into sin.

If we are not to be overcome, we must not wait until we have actually fallen, but disclose the first attacks and suggestions of the evil one to an experienced confessor. Frequent Confession secures for us great graces, that strengthen us to resist all temptation. Our Lord revealed to St. Bridget that whoever desired to receive and retain the grace and the Holy Spirit, must often confess his sins and disclose even his smallest faults and omissions to the priest, in order to be cleaned from them.

3. Frequent Confession enables us to confess our sins better. What would be the state of a room that was put in order only once in the year? How long it would take to make it clean and neat again! Who finds it easier to pay his debts the man who pays what he owes every week? or the one who settles his accounts only once in the year?

By going often to Confession, we clear away the dirt as it comes, and do not allow great quantities to accumulate; we can be sure that we have confessed everything; whereas one who approaches the Sacrament very seldom finds it almost impossible to detect his sins, and is apt to complain that he can find nothing to say when he goes to Confession at Easter. St. Charles Borromeo, archbishop of Milan, and St. Francis of Sales, bishop of Geneva, used to make their Confession every week; Pope Clement VIII. every evening, and also St. Francis Xavier confessed every day with the greatest contrition and humility, if he had a priest at hand to hear him, and yet he was a great saint, whose whole life was devoted to the service of God and his neighbour.

Let us resolve to overcome our indolence and indifference at least to the extent of going to Confession once a fortnight or once a month, even if we have no grave sins to confess; and if we are so unhappy as to fall into mortal sin, let us hasten at once to confess it, lest delay prove our ruin.

Taken from:"SHORT SERMONS ON CATHOLIC DOCTRINE A PLAIN AND PRACTICAL EXPOSITION OF THE FAITH IN A SERIES OF BRIEF DISCOURSES FOR THE ECCLESIASTICAL YEAR" BY THE REV. P. HEHEL, SJ.

Interesting Article on Women

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15687b.htm