EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE

A Guide

1ST COMMANDMENT: YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BESIDES THE LORD YOUR GOD

1.

Do I love God above all things? Is He number one in my life or do I put myself before God?

2.
3. 4. 5.

Do I pray often? Have I neglected my friendship with God by neglecting prayer?

Have I been involved with occult or superstitious practices, i.e., fortune telling? 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? Do I believe the false idea that one religion is just as good as another? Have I ever pretended I wasnt Catholic? Have I been willing to affirm, defend and practice my faith before others and not just in private?

6. 7.

2ND COMMANDMENT: YOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE LORD YOUR GOD'S NAME IN VAIN.

1. Have I used foul language or jokes? 2. In conversation, have I passively listened to insults and to jokes making fun of the Church or to Gods authority?

3. Have I ever lied after "swearing to God" that I am telling the truth?
4. Have I ever used God's name out of anger, that is, as a curse? 5. Have I shown disrespect for the Blessed Virgin Mary, the saints, the Church and those who have consecrated their lives to God?

3RD COMMANDMENT: KEEP THE SABBATH DAY HOLY.

1. 2. 3. 4.

Have I missed Holy Mass on the Sabbath (Saturday evening through Sunday) on purpose? Have I arrived at Mass late due to carelessness or left early without a serious reason? Have I ever missed Mass on a Holy Day of Obligation or an important holiday in the liturgical calendar (i.e., Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Christmas, Mary the Mother of God, etc.)? Have I used Sunday just as part of the weekend or as a day for acts of love toward God, my family and those in need?

5.

6.
7. 8.

Have I really prayed and paid attention during Holy Mass or have I just gone through the motions?
Do I participate at Mass by singing and praying the responses, or do I simply sit as a spectator wanting to be entertained?

4TH COMMANDMENT: HONOUR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER SO THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG AND FLOURISH.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Do I disobey my parents? Do I listen to my parents reasoning when they say no to me? Do I swear at them? Am I ashamed of them? Do I let them know I love them? Do I lie to them or steal from them? Am I obeying and honouring those in place of my parents, such as teachers and principals? 7. Do I skip class or lie to my teachers? 8. Do I make time to visit my elderly relatives and those in poor health? 9. Do I offer to help out around the house?

5TH COMMANDMENT: YOU SHALL NOT KILL.

1. Have I cursed anyone? 2. Have I physically hurt someone or tried to do so? Have I been violent in my words or actions? 3. Have I cut or harmed my body on purpose, forgetting that it is meant to be a Temple of God? 4. Have I done drugs, allowed myself to become intoxicated or done other things that will damage my health? Have I sold or distributed illegal drugs? 5. Have I put others down to feel better about myself ? 6. Have I caused another to sin ? 7. Have I held grudges or tried to get even with others? Have I hated or failed to forgive someone? 8. Do I get angry easily and lose my temper? Do I act rudely, impolitely or arrogantly toward others? 9. Did I attempt suicide or entertain thoughts of taking my life? 10.Have I harmed animals, littered?

6TH COMMANDMENT: YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.

1. Am I modest in dress? 2. Do I understand and appreciate the gift of my sexuality and desire to save the gift of myself for marriage? 3. Do I have a reverence for the institution of marriage as God made it, a union by God of one man and one woman? 4. Have I treated others, in my deeds or thoughts, as objects? 5. Did I deliberately look at impure TV programs, computer sites, videos, pictures, or movies?

7TH COMMANDMENT: YOU SHALL NOT STEAL.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Do I steal from my parents? Do I steal from friends? Have I ever stolen from a stranger? Have I stolen any property from a store? In other words, have I ever taken what rightfully belongs to another? 6. Do I gamble excessively? 7. Do I seek to share what I have with the poor and needy?

8TH COMMANDMENT: YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOUR.

1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Have I lied? Have I kept my promises? Did I break a secret or a confidence? Have I injured anothers reputation by lying about them (calumny) or have I hurt others by revealing true hidden faults about them (detraction)? Have I gossiped or passed on rumors? Have I judged others? Did I insult or tease? Have I condoned prejudice and hatred toward people of other nationalities, races or religions? Am I "two-faced", that is, have I been a certain kind of person to some people, but a completely different kind of person to others?

9TH AND 10TH COMMANDMENT: YOU SHALL NOT ENVY YOUR NEIGHBOUR'S WIFE AND GOODS.

1. Am I envious of others? 2. Do I wish that others be deprived of the goods or talents that are theirs? 3. Am I jealous of others? 4. Do I harbour unforgiveness and grudges against others? 5. Am I a resentful person? 6. Do I put down others?