Examination of Conscience

Use these questions to prepare for Reconciliation.

My Relationship with God

Do I make time for prayer, to speak with God and listen to him on a regular basis?
Do I try to get to Mass every Sunday?
Am I ashamed to behave like Jesus in my life?
At home? At school? With my friends?
Do I get impatient and rebellious if things do not go my way?

Do I turn to God only when I need something?

My Relationship with others

Do I really love my neighbour?
Do I forgive those people who hurt me, or make me angry? Do I complain about my family, my friends, others? Am I jealous of others ?
Do I say unkind things about other people?
Do I try to help others ?
Do I say things or behave in ways that put other people down?
Do I stick up for people who are bullied?
Am I sincere and honest with other people, or am I a bit fake sometimes?
In my family life do I do things to help out and make things easier for my parents and other members of my family ? Do I try to get on with them all the time ?
Do I respect the bodies of others?
Do I treat my parents with respect?
Do I make too many demands of my parents?
Am I generous in my time with my family, or am I always going out to avoid them?

Myself

Do I think I am better than everyone else?
Do I truly live as a Christian and give good example to others?
Do I gossip?
Do I lie?
Do I steal?
Am I hateful or bad tempered?
Do I treat my body with respect?
Do I misuse the gifts that God has given me ?
Do I misuse the gift my sexuality: alone or with others ?
Am I a show off?
Am I a bully at school or at home ?
Do I eat too much food when others in the world are hungry?
Do I misuse drugs or drink alcohol?
Do I use bad or immoral language or tell dirty jokes ?
Do I look at immoral magazines, videos or immoral use of the internet ?
Am I always thinking of myself?
Do I use my time properly: doing my work on time?
Am I lazy?
Have I failed to do the work or study that I was meant to do?

Now prepare for a good reconciliation and ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Remember that God always forgives our sins and that the priest is here to help you and whatever you say is totally confidential and will never be repeated to anyone.

5 steps towards a good Reconciliation

Examine my conscience. Think about the things that I want to say I am sorry for. Be sorry for my sins. Confess all my sins, and be honest with the priest. Resolve to make changes in my life, and to try harder to avoid sin in the future. After confessing my sins, I do my penance.

Procedure during Reconciliation

After making the Sign of the Cross, begin by saying:

"Bless me Father for I have sinned …"

Tell Father how long it has been since your last confession. Tell your sins and feel free to ask about any matter that worries you. Finish with:

"For these and all my sins I am very sorry."

Father will give you some help and advice and ask you to do some penance: to say a prayer or do an act of kindness for someone. Then make an Act of Contrition, telling God you are sorry for your sins:

"O my God I am very sorry that I have sinned against you because you are so good and with your help I will not sin again. Amen."

The priest says:

"….I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

You answer: "Amen."
Father finishes with: "The Lord has freed you from your sins." You say thank you to Father and perform your penance.