How to's

Preliminary
Besides telling the nature of our sins, we must also recollect, as far as possible, the NUMBER of times we have committed them, telling also (and only) those CIRCUMSTANCES which at times may make a venial sin mortal.

1. Have I ever failed to confess a serious sin or disguised it?

2. Have I been guilty of irreverence for this sacrament by failing to examine my conscience carefully?

3. Have I failed to perform the penance given me by the confessor or disobeyed any of his directions?

4. Have I neglected the Easter duty of receiving Holy Communion or failed to confess my sins within a year?

5. Have I any HABITS of serious sin to confess first (impurity, drunkenness, etc.)?

God's Two Great Commandments [Catechism - 2055, 2083]

"You shall love the Lord, Your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

The Ten Commandments [Catechism - 2084-2557]

• You shall honor no other god but me
• You shall not misuse the name of the Lord Your God
• Remember to keep holy the Sabbath
• Honor your father and mother
• You shall not kill
• You shall not commit adultery
• You shall not steal
• You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
• You shall not covet your neighbor's wife
• You shall not covet your neighbor's goods

 

First Commandment

1. Am I ignorant of my catechism (Act of Contrition, Apostle's Creed, Ten Commandments, Seven Sacraments, the Our Father)?

2. Have I willfully doubted or denied any of the teachings of the Church (heresy)?

3. Have I taken active part in any non-Catholic worship?

4. Am I a member of any anti-Catholic or any secret society?

5. Have I knowingly read any anti-Catholic literature?

6. Have I practiced any superstitions (horoscopes, fortune tellers, etc.)?

Second Commandment

1. Have I used God's name in vain by way of profanity?

2. Have I murmured or complained against God (blasphemy)?

3. Have I maligned priests or others consecrated to God?

4. Have I sworn by God's name (oath) either falsely or rashly?

5. Have I broken any private vow?

Third Commandment

1. Have I missed Mass on Sundays or holydays through my own fault?

2. Have I been late for Mass through my own negligence?

3. Have I been inattentive at Mass or otherwise failed in reverence for the Most Blessed Sacrament?

4. Have I done unnecessary servile work (physical labor) or shopping on Sunday?

5. Have I eaten flesh meat on Friday (especially on Good Friday) or on Ash Wednesday?

Fourth Commandment

1. Have I been disrespectful to my parents or neglected them?

2. Have I failed in obedience or reverence to others in authority?

3. Have I mistreated my wife or children?

4. Have I been disobedient or disrespectful to my husband?

5. Regarding my children:

-Have I neglected their material needs?

-Have I failed to care for their early Baptism or their proper religious instruction?

-Have I allowed them to neglect their religious duties?

-Have I tolerated their keeping questionable company or go steady dating?

-Have I otherwise failed to discipline them?

-Have I given bad them example?

-Have I let boys and girls sleep together or with their parents?

-Have I interfered with their freedom to marry or follow a religious vocation?

Fifth & Eighth Commandments

1. Have I quarreled with any one?

2. Have I cursed anyone or otherwise wished evil on him?

3. Have I taken pleasure in anyone's misfortune?

4. Is there anyone to whom I refuse to speak or be reconciled?

5. Have I lied about anyone (calumny)?

6. Have I rash judged anyone of a serious sin?

7. Have I engaged in gossip (detraction) or spread scandal?

8. Have I lent an ear to scandal about my neighbor?

9. Have I been jealous or envious of anyone?

Sixth & Ninth

1. Have I denied my spouse his or her marriage rights?

2. Have I practiced birth control?

3. Have I abused my marriage rights in any other way?

4. Have I committed adultery or fornication?

5. Have I touched or embraced another impurely?

6. Have I sinned with others of the same sex?

7. Have I committed masturbation or otherwise sinned impurely with myself?

8. Have I harbored lustful desires for anyone?

9. Have I indulged in other impure thoughts?

10. Have I failed to dress modestly?

11. Have I done anything to provoke or occasion impure thoughts in others?

12. Have I read indecent literature or looked at indecent pictures?

13. Have I watched suggestive films or programs?

14. Have I permitted my children or others under my charge to do these things?

15. Have I used indecent language or told indecent stories?

16. Have I willingly listened to such stories?

17. Have I boasted of my sins?

18. Have I sinned against chastity in any other way?

Seventh & Tenth Commandments

1. Have I stolen anything?

2. Have I damaged anyone's property through my own fault?

3. Have I cheated or defrauded other?

4. Have I refused or neglected to pay any debts?

5. Have I neglected my duties or been slothful in my work?

6. Have I refused or neglected to help anyone in urgent necessity?

7. Have I failed to make restitution?

OTHER SINS

1. Have I knowingly caused others to sin?

2. Have I cooperated in the sins of others?

3. Have I sinned by gluttony?

4. Have I become intoxicated?

5. Have I used narcotics?

6. Have I been motivated by avarice?

7. Have I indulged in boasting or vain glory?

8. Have I received Holy Communion or another sacrament in the state of mortal sin?

9. Is there any other sin I need to confess?