Examination of Conscience for Adults +

IN MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

• Have I faithfully attended Mass on Sundays and on Holy Days of Obligation?
• Have I made a decent effort to live the Lord's Day (Sunday) with special attention, resting and rejoicing, and avoiding unnecessary work?
• Have I used the Lord's name respectfully and reverently?
• Have I made a decent effort to pray every day, thanking God for His blessings, seeking to know His will, and opening my heart to Him?
• Have I made a decent effort to find God's love and presence in the beauties of nature, the circumstances of my life, and the depths of my soul?
• Have I asked God every day to give me the grace I need to live my life to the full, as He wants me to?

IN MY RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS

• Have I avoided lies, gossip, calumny, and slander?
• Have I avoided judging others and purposely thinking evil thoughts about them?
• Have I avoided doing things that bother, insult, or harm other people, especially those closest to me?
• Have I avoided causing scandal through my bad example?
• Have I avoided stealing?
• Have I shown special respect towards my parents, my elders, and those in positions of legitimate authority of me?
• Have I made a decent effort to help others in need, to encourage the downhearted, to find and bring the best out of others?
• Have I forgiven those who have offended or hurt me?
• Have I made a decent effort to be fair and to promote fairness and justice in my relationships, in my community, and in my society?
• Have I been especially attentive to help, support, and respect those people closest to me (spouse, family members, friends, colleagues)?
• Have I lived my sexuality with Godly joy and dignity, avoiding sexual intimacy outside of marriage and avoiding immodesty in dress and language?
• Have I thought of and treated members of the opposite sex with respect and dignity that all children of God deserve?
• Have I courageously defended and shared my Catholic faith when I felt God was asking me to?

IN HOW I TREAT MYSELF

• Have I made a decent effort to be responsible in all my duties and obligations, avoiding laziness and procrastination?
• Have I made a decent effort to do everything I do out of love for God and for others, and not just for self-centered motives?
• Have I respected my own life and person, taking reasonable care of my physical, emotional, and spiritual needs?
• Have I avoided abusing alcohol and other intoxicating or mind-altering substances?
• Have I made a decent effort to continue developing my natural talents and to put them to the service of God and others?
• Have I paid attention to my thoughts, accepting good and useful ones, but resisting and rejecting evil ones?
• Have I made a decent effort to govern my feelings and my imagination, instead of being governed by them?
• Have I made a good use of my time and my money, avoiding irresponsibility and waste?
• Have I respected my God-given sexuality, avoiding pornography, masturbation, and the acceptance of lustful fantasies?
• Have I used the entertainment media wisely and responsibly?
• Have I made a decent effort to stay informed about important issues affecting my family, community, and society?

Examination of Conscience for Young Adult +

RESPONSIBILITIES TO GOD

• Have I gone to Mass on Sunday or have I rebelled and been stubborn about going to Mass?
• Have I participated in the Mass or have I daydreamed?
• Have I prayed every day?
• Have I read the Bible?
• Have I avoided to be rebellion toward God and His commands?
• Have I avoided to misusing the name of God by swearing and cursing?
• Have I told the Father that I love him for creating me and making me his son/daughter?
• Have I thanked Jesus for becoming man, dying for my sin and rising to give me eternal life?
• Have I asked the Holy Spirit to help me conquer sin and temptation and to be obedient to God’s commands

RESPONSIBILITIES TO OTHERS AND MYSELF

• Have I avoided being rebellious, disobedient or disrespectful to my parents, teachers and those in authority over me?
• Have I avoided lying to or deceiving my parents or others?
• Have I avoided being arrogant and stubborn?
• Have I avoided talking back to my parents or those in authority
• Have I avoided getting angry, nurturing and holding grudges and resentments?
• Have I avoided forgiving others?
• Have I avoided cultivating hatred?
• Have I avoided looking at others lustfully?
• Have I avoided engaging in sexual fantasies?
• Have I avoided reading pornographic literature or looking at pornographic pictures, shows or movies?
• Have I avoided masturbating?
• Have I avoided lustfully kissing or sexually touching someone?
• Have I avoided having sexual intercourse?
• Have I avoided having an abortion or encouraged another to have one?
• Have I avoided gossiping about others?
• Have I avoided slandering anyone?
• Have I avoided to telling lies about others?
• Have I avoided mocking or making fun of others?
• Have I avoided lies or cheating?
• Have I avoided stealing anything?
• Have I avoided paying back for stolen property?
• Have I avoided being jealous?
• Have I avoided getting drunk, or taking drugs?
• Have I avoided participating in anything that is of the occult: ouija boards, fortune tellers, séances, channeling, astrology?
• Have I been patient, kind, gentle and self-controlled?
• Have I avoided doing something good when my conscience told me to do it?

Examination of Conscience for Children +

RESPONSIBILITIES TO GOD

• Have I prayed every day?
• Have I prayed my morning prayers and night prayers?
• Have I prayed with my parents and family?
• Have I avoided being moody and rebellious about praying and going to church on Sunday?
• Have I asked the Holy Spirit to help me whenever I have been tempted to sin?
• Have I asked the Holy Spirit to help me do what is right?

RESPONSIBILITIES TO OTHERS

• Have I been obedient and respectful to my parents?
• Have I avoided lying or being deceitful to parents or to others?
• Have I avoided being arrogant, stubborn or rebellious?
• Have I avoided talking back to parents, teachers or other adults?
• Have I avoided pouting and being moody?
• Have I avoided being selfish toward my parents, brothers, and sisters, teachers, or my friends and schoolmates?
• Have I avoided being angry at others?
• Have I avoided hitting anyone?
• Have I avoided holding grudges or not forgiving others?
• Have I treated other children with respect, avoided making fun of them or calling them names?
• Have I avoided using bad language?
• Have I avoided stealing anything?
• Have I returned stolen property when I stole?
• Have I performed my responsibilities, such as homework and household chores?
• Have I been helpful and affectionate toward my family?
• Have I been Kind and generous with my friends?

Act of Contrition +

For Children

O My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I have hurt myself and others. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.

Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.

For Adults

O My God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who are All Good and deserving of all my love.

I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.