QUESTIONS BASED ON THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

1. You shall have no false gods before me.

· Is God the most important reality in my life?

· Did I entertain doubts about my Catholic faith?

· Did read books or watch shows/movies against my Catholic faith?

· Am I superstitious? · Do I believe in fortune telling, astrology, palm reading, witchcraft?

· Have I always trusted in the Lord, especially in the midst of adversities and trials?

· Are there any "minor gods" in my life; money, pleasure, success, popularity, power? ...

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

· Did I use the name of God disrespectfully?

· Did I curse?

· Did I lie under oath?

· Did I keep the promises I mad to God?

· Did I speak disrespectfully of Jesus, Mary and the other Saints?

3. Remember to keep holy Lord's day.

· Did I participate faithfully and punctually in the Sunday Mass?

· How attentive and devout was my participation?

· Did I pray regularly every day, a least in the morning and in the evening?

· Did I read some passage from the Sacred Scripture every day?

· How interested am I in knowing my faith better and helping others (including my friends, officemates/classmates and relatives) do so?

4. Honor you father and mother.

For children

· Did I fail to show love to my parents and other relatives?

· Was I disrespectful or disobedient to them?

· Did I help them when I could?

· Did I disappoint them? How?

· Did I respect my teachers, my parish priest and other persons in authority?

· Did I respect the rules of my school?

For parents

· Did I raise my children with selfless love and real concern?

· Was I too soft or too hard with them?

· Did I give them bad example in the way I spoke or acted?

· Did I fail to lead them with my good example in the fulfillment of my religious and civic duties?

· Did I see to it that my children get the proper religious instruction and are actively involved in our Christian community and organizations?

· Did I motivate them for a committed life in the Church and society?

5. You shall not kill

· Did I hurt anybody with my words or actions?

· Did I refuse to help people in need when I had the opportunity and the means to do so?

· Did I spread negative rumors about others?

· Did I give bad examples?

· Did I do my best to make up for it?

· Did I keep grudges?

· Did I apologize promptly and sincerely?

· Was I instrumental in leading others to sin through my words, or actions?

· Was I respectful of others people's opinions and beliefs?

· Did I cause any physical injury, moral or financial loss of others?

· Did I do my best to make up for it?

· Did I enrol in any violent organization?

· Did I approve or consent, recommend, seek or actively take part in abortion?

· Did I contribute to the pollution of the environment and / or the selfish use of natural resources?

· Did I take care of my physical and mental health?

· Did I take harmful drugs, smoke, drink immoderately or do anyhing that harms my health of others?

6 & 9 You shall not commit impure actions. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.

For all

· Did I look at immodest pictures, shows, films…or read books and other publications that arouse my sexual fantasies and may lead me to sin against chastity?

· Did I entertain immodest thoughts or consent to impure desires?

· Did I commit impure actions by myself or with others?

· Was I prudent and reserved in dealing with people of the opposite sex, whether married or not?

· Did I engage in conversations or jokes that could lead myself and others commit sins against purity?

· Did I engage in premarital sex or any sexual activity that is reserved for married people? For married people

· Was I faithful to my wife/husband, both in my thoughts and behavior? · Did I take pills or use artificial means to avoid pregnancies?

· Did I encourage others to do so?

· Did I use marriage to express my selfless love did I use my wife/husband, or just to satisfy my sexual urges?

7 & 10. You shall not steal. You shall not covet your neighbor's property.

· Was I respectful to others people property?

· Did I damage public property?

· Did I steal anything? Did I return what I stole, or pay back the corresponding amount?

· Did I cheat in school or in business? Was I honest in my work, performing my duty in the best possible way?

· Was I fair in paying my employees, my taxes and others dues?

· Was I envious of other people material means, or success ?

· Did I waste time and opportunities?

· Was I greedy?

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

· Did I tell lies to defend my pride or to cause damage to others?

· Did I give false witness in court?

· Did I spread rumors that could damage the good reputation of my neighbor?

· Did I reveal secrets which had been confided to me?

· Did I reveal secret faults of others?

· Did I accuse someone falsely?

· Did I judge others rashly?

· Am I a biased person?

· Am I able to balance truth and charity?

IMMEDIATELY BEFORE CONFESSION

Having finished your examination of conscience and having realized how often and in how many ways you have offended God and caused damage to others and yourself.

a. humbly and sincerely ask he Lord's forgiveness and the grace you need to avoid sin in the future.

b. Try to identify the internal root causes of your sins; wrong inclinations, personal weaknesses, bad habits… and see what you can do to eliminate at least one of these "root causes." This means: resolve to work seriously at becoming a better person by either getting rid of one serious moral defect, or by strengthening one good moral quality (virtue);

c. Ask the Lord for the grace to make a sincere and thorough confession.

AFTER CONFESSION

Kneel down in front of the altar or of an image of Our Lord, and thank Him for the gift of this confession. Renew your resolutions and ask His help to overcome future temptation. With St. Dominic Savio repeat the prayer/commitment synthesized in the motto: Death , rather than sin.

If the penance given by the confessor consist in some prayers to be recited, say them quietly and devoutly.

Then smile at Jesus with gratitude. Rise joyful and confident; the Lord has been merciful to you. He celebrates your return tot Him, and wants you to feel at home with Him and all His Saints. Live for Him every minute of your life, and let everybody see how wonderful it is to serve the Lord.