Examination Of Conscience

This resource has been created as a spiritual guide for adults, high school students, educators, chaplains, priests, those preparing to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and those teaching about it. 1. Prerequisites for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. 2. Confidentiality of the Sacrament. 3. Making amends. 4. Receiving the Holy Eucharist while in a state of serious sin. 5. How sin alienates us from God. 6. Various forms of sin. 7. Serious sin. 8. Sharing in the guilt of others’ sins. 9. Possible sins outlined. __________ 1. Prerequisites for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. To validly receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, one should: 1. Consciously examine one's conscience. (This can include reflecting on the Ten Commandments and the Church's commands.) 2. Possess genuine sorrow for offending God, accompanied by abhorrence of one's sins. 3. Make a resolute commitment to refrain from sin in the future and avoid situations that lead to sin. 4. Confess one's sins to a priest. 5. Be prepared to perform penance for past sins to satisfy Divine Justice. Return to Table of Contents 2. Confidentiality of the Sacrament. Regarding the confidentiality of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "Given the sensitivity and significance of this ministry, as well as the respect owed to individuals, the Church insists that every priest hearing confessions is strictly bound by severe penalties to maintain complete confidentiality regarding the sins revealed to him. He cannot exploit the insights gained from confession concerning the lives of his penitents. This confidentiality, which allows for no exceptions, is termed the 'sacramental seal,' as the information shared by the penitent remains inviolately 'sealed' by the sacrament." [C. C. C. # 1467] "The confidentiality of the sacrament of reconciliation is sacred and cannot be breached under any circumstances. 'The sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore, it is a crime for a confessor to betray a penitent in any way, whether verbally or by any other means, or for any reason.'" [C. C. C. # 2490] Return to Table of Contents 3. Making amends. In instances of theft, the penitent is reminded of their obligation to: 1. Return the stolen item, or 2. Donating its equivalent value to charity. In the case of deliberate damage or destruction of someone else's property, the penitent is reminded to: 1. Compensate for the repair or replacement of the property, or 2. Contribute its equivalent value to charity. Return to Table of Contents 4. Receiving the Holy Eucharist while in a state of serious sin. To partake in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist while in a state of serious sin is sacrilegious. One must prepare themselves by receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation prior to receiving the Holy Eucharist to be in a state of grace. On this matter, St. Paul declares: "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine themselves, and then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For all who eat and drink without recognizing the body eat and drink judgment upon themselves. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died." [1 Cor. 11:27-30] Return to Table of Contents 5. How sin alienates us from God. The Sacrament of Reconciliation offers the penitent several benefits: 1. Reconciliation with God, restoring one to a state of grace. 2. Reconciliation with the Church. 3. Remission of the eternal punishment borne out of serious sins. 4. Mitigation, at least partially, of the temporal punishments due to sin. 5. Inner peace and tranquility of conscience, along with spiritual comfort. 6. An increase in spiritual fortitude for the Christian struggle. By approaching the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the penitent receives pardon from God's mercy for their transgressions against Him, thereby reuniting with the Holy Catholic Church, which has been wounded by the fall of one of its members. (C.C.C. # 1422, 1496) Return to Table of Contents 6. Various forms of sin. A sin can occur through thought, desire, spoken word, action, or neglect. Return to Table of Contents 7. Serious sin. To qualify as grave or mortal, a sin must fulfill the following criteria: 1. The thought, desire, word, action, or omission must be gravely wrong or perceived as such. It must involve serious matter. 2. The individual committing the sin must be aware of its serious nature. They must have reflected adequately before committing the act. 3. The individual must fully consent to the sin, exercising their free will in the decision. Return to Table of Contents 8. Sharing in the guilt of others’ sins. One can be culpable by assisting others in sin through these actions: 1. By advising another to sin. 2. By commanding another to sin. 3. By enticing another to sin. 4. By consenting to another’s sin. 5. By showing someone how to sin. 6. By glorifying someone’s sin. 7. By remaining silent or doing nothing to deter someone’s sin. 8. By participating in or taking pleasure in the fruits of someone’s sin. 9. By defending someone’s sinful actions. Return to Table of Contents 9. Possible sins outlined. Abortion Adultery Anger Animal abuse (such as chasing with vehicles) Animal neglect Assault Avarice (making wealth an idol) Faulty confession (not disclosing truth to the priest) Belief in fortune telling (fate vs. faith) Bestiality Use of artificial birth control Dishonesty in business Calumny (falsely attributing one's faults to others) Neglecting to support the Church Neglected debts Not obeying parents Disregarding authority Immodest dress Substance abuse (harming personal health) Intoxication Failing to perform an honest day's work as an employee Inadequate wages paid by an employer Envy (coveting a neighbor’s possessions) Conflict with family members Premarital sexual relations Excessive gambling and neglecting family obligations Overindulgence (excessive eating) Gossiping about others Causing distress to parents through ungratefulness or harm Hatred Missing Mass on Holy Days of Obligation Receiving the Holy Eucharist in a state of mortal sin. Participating in homosexual acts Idolatry Reading impure literature Watching inappropriate films Harboring impure thoughts and desires Engaging in impure behavior online Laziness Lying (to parents, legal authorities, in court) Masturbation Murder Neglecting the physical well-being of spouse/family Neglecting the spiritual well-being of spouse/family Failing to exemplify faith in life Neglecting faith education for children Forgetting to pray before meals Forgetting morning and evening prayers Prejudice Pride Promoting immoral practices in society Damage to another's property Being racist Seeking revenge Sacrilege against sacred persons or things, including damaging the Church or striking a priest Slander Theft (identify specific item) Missing Sunday Mass Superstitious beliefs Cursing Violating traffic laws Using the names of God and Jesus in a disrespectful manner Disrespecting sacred items Telling white lies (only partial truths) You may also wish to review the following Bible passages: [Gal. 5:19-21; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Rev. 21:7-8, 22:15] Return to Table of Contents