A Catholic Examination of Conscience

For a thorough explanation of how to go to confession, read this post. For a ready-to-print PDF, click here.

The First Commandment: I am the LORD your God. You shall have no other gods before me.

• Have I loved God above all else?
• Have I prayed morning, noon, and night? Have I been attentive at prayer?
• Have I educated myself and my children about God and his Church?
• Have I valued the things of this world above God, such as wealth, fame, or popularity?
• Have I worshipped other gods?
• Have I denied my Catholic faith or left the Church?
• Have I refused to accept any infallible teaching of the Church?
• Have I visited fortune-tellers or trusted in horoscopes?
• Have I been proud or selfish?
• Have I despaired or been presumptuous?
• Have I lied in confession or received communion in a state of mortal sin?

The Second Commandment: You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

• Have I used the name of God or sacred things irreverently?
• Have I spoken disrespectfully about the Church or her ministers?
• Have I used profane language?
• Have I broken a vow or lied under oath?

The Third Commandment: Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.

• Have I attended Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation?
• Have I been habitually late to Mass? Have I left early without serious reason?
• Have I been inattentive at Mass?
• Have I engaged in unnecessary work on Sundays?
• Have I spent Sundays resting and enjoying time with my family?

The Fourth Commandment: Honor your father and your mother.

• Have I been obedient and respectful to my parents?
• Have I spoken uncharitable to or about my parents?
• Have I respected legitimate authority?
• Have I obeyed all just laws?
• Have I respected and obeyed my superiors?
• Have I loved and provided for my children materially, emotionally, and spiritually?
• Have I been a cause of scandal or set a bad example?

The Fifth Commandment: You shall not kill.

• Have I murdered anyone or desired to do so?
• Have I had an abortion or encouraged another to have an abortion?
• Have I hurt another person intentionally or through reckless behavior?
• Have I abused alcohol or other drugs?
• Have I injured another person’s reputation?
• Have I spoken uncharitably to or about another?
• Have I engaged in verbal or emotional abuse of another?
• Have I hurt myself intentionally?
• Have I hated another person or been prejudiced?
• Have I engaged in gluttony?
• Have I been angry or impatient? Have I been vengeful or unforgiving?
• Have I hurt animals unnecessarily?

The Sixth Commandment: You shall not commit adultery.

• Have I engaged in sexual acts with someone I am not married to?
• Have I used contraception or sterilization? Have I engaged in sexual actions that are not open to life?
• Have I abused another sexually or allowed another to do so?
• Have I watched pornography or engaged in masturbation?
• Have I willingly entertained impure thoughts?
• Have I told or listened to inappropriate comments or jokes?
• Have I kissed someone for the pleasure of the act and not as an expression of emotion and commitment?

The Seventh Commandment: You shall not steal.

• Have I taken anything that does not belong to me?
• Have I destroyed the property of others?
• Have I been idle or dishonest about my time at work?
• Have I been generous to the poor and needy?
• Have I paid fair wages to my employees and treated them with dignity?
• Have I cheated at school, on my taxes, or in competition?
• Have I gambled excessively?
• Have I been a good steward of my resources and of the environment?

The Eighth Commandment: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

• Have I been dishonest by word or omission? Have I willingly deceived another person?
• Have I gossiped or committed libel?
• Have I been judgmental or hypercritical in my thoughts about others?
• Do I keep confidences that are entrusted to me?

The Ninth Commandment: You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.

• Have I lusted after another person?
• Have I dressed immodestly? Have I encouraged impurity in others?

The Tenth Commandment: You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

• Have I been envious of other people’s gifts?
• Have I been grateful for the good things in my life?
• Have I been greedy or stingy?
• Do I trust that God will provide all I need? Am I grateful for all the spiritual and material gifts he has blessed me with?

The Precepts of the Church:

• Attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.
• Confess mortal sins at least once a year.
• Receive the Eucharist at least once a year at Eastertime.
• Fast and abstain according to the rules of the Church:
  • Fast (one large meal, two small meals) on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
  • Abstain (no meat) on Ash Wednesday and Fridays in Lent.
• Marry according to the laws of the Church.
• Contribute to the support of the Church (tithe 10%).

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 do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.