An Examination of Conscience. Based on the Ten Commandments

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Roxanne Barrett
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1 An Examination of Conscience Based on the Ten Commandments

2 First Commandment I am the LORD your God. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve. Refused to accept what God has revealed as true, or what the Catholic Church proposes for belief? Denied the existence of God? Nourished and protected my faith? Rejected that which is opposed to the faith? Deliberately misled others about the teachings of the Church? Rejected the Catholic faith, joined another Christian denomination, or practiced another religion? Joined a group forbidden to Catholics (Masons, communists, etc.)? Despaired of my salvation or the forgiveness of my sins? Presumed upon God's mercy? (expected forgiveness without a change of heart or behavior). Presumed upon my own capacities (that I can save myself without God s help). Loved someone or something more than God (money, job, sex, possessions etc.)? Allowed someone or something influence my choices more than God? Engaged in superstitious practices? (Incl. horoscopes, fortune tellers, etc.) Been involved in the occult? (Seances, ouija board, worship of Satan, etc.) Left the Catholic Church? Hidden a serious sin or told a lie in confession?

3 Second Commandment You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Used the name of God or Jesus Christ disrespectfully in any way? Used bad language or indulged in vulgar or obscene speech? Failed to keep vows or promises that I have made to God? Spoken about the faith, the Church, the saints, or holy things with irreverence, hatred or defiance? Indulged in T.V. movies or music that treated God, the Church, the saints, or sacred things dishonestly or irreverently? Belittled others? Behaved disrespectfully in Church? Misused things set apart for the worship of God? Committed perjury? (lying under oath or breaking a promise) Blamed God for my failings? Third Commandment Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. Set aside time each day for prayer? Missed Mass on Sunday or Holy Days through my own choice for selfish reasons? Committed sacrilege against the Blessed Sacrament? Received a sacrament while in the state of mortal sin? Arrived late to Mass and/or left early (before the dis-

4 missal) without good reason? Shopped, worked or did business unnecessarily on Sunday or other Holy Days of Obligation? Failed to take my children to Mass? Eaten meat on a day of abstinence or neglected to fast on prescribed days? Eaten in the hour before receiving Communion? Fourth Commandment Honor your father and your mother. Committed slander, libel or calumny? (Lied about another person in order to damage his reputation.) Committed rash judgment? (Assumed the worst of someone without evidence.) Failed to make reparation for a lie or for harm done to someone s reputation? Failed to speak out on behalf of the Church or defend the faith? Betrayed a confidence? (If still under my parents' care) Obeyed all that my parents reasonably asked of me? Neglected the needs of my parents in their old age or in their time of need? (If still in school) Obeyed the reasonable demands of my teachers? Neglected to give my children proper food, clothing, shelter, education, discipline and care? Neglected the religious education and spiritual formation of my children under my care? Ensured that my children went to confession and attended Mass regularly? Faithfully communicated the Church s teaching on sexuality to my children? Set a good example of living the Catholic Faith? Prayed with and for my children? Humbly accepted legitimate authority over me? Have I broken the law? Have I supported or voted for a politician whose positions violate the teachings of Christ and His Church?

5 wealth? Been wasteful or self-indulgent in my expenditures? Given into a consumer mentality? Defaced or destroyed some else s property? Neglected to return or lost something loaned to me? Cheated on a test, taxes, sports, games or in business? Squandered money gambling? Made a false claim to an insurance company? Paid my employees a fair wage for their labor? Wasted time or failed to give a full day's work for a full day's pay? Failed to honor my part of a contract? Failed to make good on a debt? Overcharged or taken advantage of another's misfortune or ignorance? Wasted or misused natural resources? Eighth Commandment You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Lied in any way? Withheld information so as to mislead someone? Knowingly and willfully deceived another? Perjured myself under oath? Indulged in gossip or spread rumors? Committed detraction? (Damaged someone s reputation by telling others about his faults) Fifth Commandment You shall not kill. Unjustly and intentionally killed someone? Been involved in an abortion, directly or indirectly (advice, transportation, etc)? Seriously considered or attempted suicide? Supported or encouraged the practice of assisted suicide or mercy killing? Desired to hurt or even kill someone? Unjustly inflicted bodily harm an another person? Unjustly threatened another person with bodily harm? Verbally or emotionally abused another person? Harbored hatred for someone or wished him evil? Discriminated against others because of their race, color, nationality, sex or religion? Purposely provoked another by teasing, nagging or bullying? Recklessly endangered my life or health, or that of another, by my actions? Driven under the influence of alcohol or drugs? Abused alcohol or other drugs? Sold or given drugs to others to use for nontherapeutic purposes? Used tobacco immoderately? Over-eaten or eaten gluttonously? Encouraged others to sin by giving scandal? Helped another commit a mortal sin Caused serious injury or death through neglect? Lost my temper?

6 Been mean to someone? Been unforgiving to others, when mercy or pardon was requested? Sought revenge or hoped something bad would happen to someone? Delighted to see someone suffer misfortune or get hurt? Treated animals cruelly, causing them to suffer or die needlessly? Sixth & Ninth Commandments You shall not commit adultery. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. Sinned against chastity in any way? Harbored lust in my heart? Used artificial contraception? Participated in vitro fertilization or artificial insemination? Sterilized myself for contraceptive purposes? Deprived my spouse of his/her conjugal rights without just cause? Demanded sex without concern for my spouse? Deliberately caused male climax outside of normal sexual intercourse? (Catechism, 2366) Willfully entertained impure thoughts? Indulged in pornography of any kind? Listened to music or jokes harmful to purity? Committed adultery? Committed incest? (Sexual relations with a relative or in-law.) Committed fornication? (sexual relations between unmarried people) Engaged in homosexual activity? Committed rape? Masturbated? (Self-stimulation for sexual pleasure.) Engaged in sexual foreplay (petting) reserved for marriage? Preyed upon children or youth for my sexual pleasure? Engaged in unnatural sexual activities? Engaged in prostitution, or acquired the services of a prostitute? Seduced someone, or allowed myself to be seduced? Made uninvited and unwelcome sexual advances toward another? Purposely dressed immodestly? Seventh & Tenth Commandments You shall not steal. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods. Taken anything from my employer? Shoplifted? Envied others because of their wealth or possessions? Been greedy or ungrateful? Failed to live modestly in a spirit of Gospel simplicity? Ignored or been stingy toward others in need? Refused to acknowledge God as the source of my

A Catholic examination of conscience traditionally follows the outline of the Ten Commandments and the Precepts of the Catholic Church.

Examination of Conscience A Catholic examination of conscience traditionally follows the outline of the Ten Commandments and the Precepts of the Catholic Church. The Ten Commandments First Commandment