Forgiveness

Issue 2

Examination of Conscience
by Father Frederick L. Miller

1. I am the Lord your God. You shall not have strange gods before Me.

Do I seek to love God with my whole heart and soul? Does He truly hold the first place in my life?

Have I been involved with the occult or superstitious practices?

Have I ever received Holy Communion in the state of mortal sin?

Have I told a lie in confession or deliberately withheld confessing a mortal sin?

2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

Have I insulted GodÍs holy name or used it lightly or carelessly?

Have I wished evil on anyone?

3. Remember to keep holy the LordÍs Day.

Have I missed Mass deliberately on Sunday, the LordÍs Day, or on Holy Days of obligation?

Do I try to keep Sundays as a day of rest?

4. Honor your father and mother.

Do I honor and obey my parents? Do I care for them in their old age?

Have I neglected my family responsibilities to spouse and children?

Is my family life centered around Christ and His teachings?

5. You shall not kill.

Have I murdered or physically harmed someone?

Have I had an abortion? Have I encouraged an abortion?

Have I abused drugs or alcohol?

Have I mutilated myself through any form of sterilization?

Have I encouraged others to have themselves sterilized?

Have I harbored hatred, anger, or resentment in my heart towards anyone?

Have I given scandal to anyone by my sins, thereby leading them to sin?

6. You shall not commit adultery.

Have I been unfaithful to my marriage vows in action or thought?

Have I practiced any form of artificial contraception in my marriage?

Have I engaged in sexual activity with a member of the opposite sex or the same sex?

Have I masturbated?

Have I indulged in pornographic material?

Am I pure in my thoughts, words, and actions? Am I modest in dress?

Am I engaged in any inappropriate relationships?

7. You shall not steal.

Have I taken what is not mine?

Am I honest with my employer/employees?

Do I gamble excessively thereby robbing my family of their needs?

Do I seek to share what I have with the poor and needy?

8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Have I lied, gossiped, or spoken behind anyoneÍs back?

Have I ruined anyoneÍs good name?

Do I reveal information that should be confidential?

Am I sincere in my dealings with others or am I "two-faced?"

9. You shall not desire your neighborÍs wife.

Am I envious of anotherÍs spouse or family?

Have I consented to impure thoughts? Do I try to control my imagination?

Am I reckless and irresponsible in the books I read and the movies I watch?

10. You shall not desire your neighborÍs goods.

Am I jealous of the possessions of others?

Am I resentful and bitter over my position in life?

A Primer for Confession written by Father Frederick L. Miller, STD is available from: The Faith Guild, Saint Martin de Porres Lay Dominican Community, New Hope, KY 40052.

Ask for pamphlet #4005. Suggested donation is $9.00 per 100.

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