The following is a guide to how to go to confession and an examination of conscience.
How to Go to Confession
Prepare to go to confession by examining your conscience for sins that you have committed since your last confession. Make a firm commitment and ask God's help not to sin again.
Prayer before Confession
Come, Holy Spirit, into my soul. Enlighten my mind that I may know the sins I ought to confess, and grant me your grace to confess them fully, humbly and with a contrite hear. Help me to firmly resolve not to commit them a gain. O, Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of My Redeemer, intercede for me through the Passion of your Son, that I may obtain the grace to make a good confession. All you blessed angels and saints of God pray for me, a sinner, that I may repent from my sins, and that my heart may be forever united with you in eternal love. Amen.
Rite of Reconciliation
Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Penitent: Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been (how long?) since my last confession, and these are my sins: (confess sins). All mortal sins since your last confession must be confessed by both type and kind.
Priest: (gives you a penance)
Penitent: (Pray the Act of Contrition)
Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you. 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 avoid the near occasion of sin.
Priest: (give absolution)
Priest: Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.
Penitent: For His mercy endures forever.
Penitent: (Do penance as soon as possible)
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Examination of Conscience
1. I am the Lord your God, you shall not have strange gods before Me. Did I fail to love God, to make God first in my life, to thank Him, trust Him, love Him as he deserves? Do I fail to pray? Have I denied my faith? Was I carless in saying prayers? Do I give God time every day in prayer? Have I been involved in magic, Ouija boards, Tarot card, the occult? Have I failed to seek or learn the teachings of the Church?
2. You shall not take the Name of the Lord your God in vain. Did I curse or swear? Did I use God's Name in vain, lightly, carelessly, by blasphemy? Have I used foul language and jokes?
3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath. Have I deliberately missed Mass on Sundays or Holy Days of obligation? Did I come late or leave Mass early without a good reason? Have I been to Communion at least once a year? Did I receive Communion in the state of serious sin? In any of my previous confessions did I lie or deliberately conceal something from the priest? Did I do unnecessary work on Sunday?
4. Honor your father and mother. Did I honor and obey my parents? Respect my brothers and sisters? Respect others with lawful authority? Have I talked back? Did I fail to help at home or spend time with my family? Have I taken my spouse for granted? Have I spoken badly about my spouse, children, parents?
5. You shall not kill. Did I give into feeling of anger, jealousy? Did I keep hatred in my heart? Did I fight, give a bad example or cause scandal? Have I abused alcohol or drugs? Have I had or in any way permitted or encouraged abortion? Have I thought about suicide? Do I avoid gluttony?
6. You shall not commit adultery. Did I consent to impure glances? Passionate kisses? Sinful touches? Was I immodest in dress or behavior? Did I look at pornography, impure books, magazines or DVDs? Am I guilty of masturbation (impurity with self)? Fornication (premarital sex), adultery (sex with someone who is not your spouse or someone who is married)? Do I live chastely according to my station in life (married, single, ordained)? Do I avoid occasions of impurity? Do I use artificial contraception or have I been sterilized?
7. You shall not steal. Have I stolen what is not mine? What or how much? Did I return it or make up for what I have stolen? Have I cheated on tests or homework? Did I waste time at work? Have I written graffiti (this steals nature's beauty)? Do I avoid laziness or idleness? Have I padded expense or per diem accounts? Do I give a full days work for a full days pay? Have I pirated computer software? Have I downloaded music or movies from the internet without paying for it?
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Have I lied, gossiped? Talked about another behind his back? Do I always tell the truth? Am I sincere? Did I reveal secrets that should have been kept confidential? Am I critical, negative or uncharitable in my talk? Have I committed the sin of detraction (revealing faults of another without serious reason) or calumny (harming the reputation of another by falsities)? Have I bragged or boasted about my accomplishments?
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. Have I consented to impure thoughts? Have I encouraged them by stares, curiosity or impure conversation? Did I neglect to control my imagination or desire of other people?
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods. Is my heart greedy? Am I jealous of what another has? Am I envious of others because I can't have what they have? Am I moody or gloomy? Do I work, study and keep busy to counter idle thoughts? Am I critical, negative or uncharitable in my thought of others? Is my heart set on earthly possessions or on the treasure of heaven?
