Devotions before Confession

This confession may be your last; therefore endeavour to make it as you would wish to make your last.

BEFORE THE EXAMEN OF CONSCIENCE.

I.

“Who can understand sins?” — Ps. xviii. 13.
“By the transgression of the law thou dishonourest God.” — Rom. ii. 23.
“Crucifying again to themselves the Son of God, and making a mockery of him.” — Heb. vi. 6.

O holy and long-enduring God, I prostrate myself before thee in the deepest self-abasement of which I am capable. But O, with what feelings should my soul be penetrated in thy presence! O, I wish I could humble myself before thee as my guilt and ingratitude deserve.

II.

“I desire not the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God; return ye, and live.” — Ezech. xviii. 32.
“Thou wilt pardon my sin, for it is great.” — Ps. xxiv. 11.
“For thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild, and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon thee.” — Ps. lxxxv. 5.

Behold me, then, O God of goodness, mercy, and compassion; behold me prostrate before thee. Behold the prodigal, nay, worse than the prodigal. I have disfigured and defiled my soul, created to thine own image and likeness; I have sinned against Him by whose blood I was redeemed; I have added to the anguish of that heart which endured so much for me; I have, by my sins, renewed the death and sufferings of my Saviour. O my God, what an ungrateful wretch I have been! O that I had never offended thee! O that my heart could break with sentiments of perfect contrition! But do, my Father and my God, do, I beseech thee, grant that I may now be truly converted to thee; make my proud and insensible heart truly humble and contrite; let this be the change of thy almighty power. I beg this favor through all that thy divine Son, my Jesus, has done and suffered for me.

III.

“In that day there shall be a fountain open for the washing of the sinner.” — Zach. xiii. 1.
“Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them.” — St. John xx. 23.

O my Jesus, merciful Author of the life-giving sacrament of penance, confiding in that infinite goodness and loving condescension which detains thee on thy throne of love in the midst of us, I cast myself at thy sacred feet; and I would here thank thee, in the best manner I can, for this saving institution, and for granting me this opportunity of recurring to it. O my blessed Mother, my good angel, angels of our sanctuary and of our altar, and all ye saints and angels, unite with me in thanking and praising my Jesus for his goodness to me and to all poor sinners.

IV.

“Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners.” — 1 Tim. i. 15.
“This is the will of God, your sanctification.” — 1 Thess. iv. 3.
“Behold, God is my Saviour; I will deal confidently, and will not fear.” — Is. xii. 2.

O almighty Redeemer, hope and refuge of sinners, regard with compassion my poor, guilty soul. I have, in the multitude of thy tender mercies, entered thy holy temple to prepare myself for the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation. But, O my God, and my all, without thy assistance all my endeavours to obtain the requisite dispositions will be altogether unavailing. Do, then, I beseech thee, pour forth thy grace into my heart, and preserve me from the misfortune of performing this holy action negligently, or of being deluded with a false sorrow and repentance, as I fear I have too often been. Grant that I may be deeply penetrated with all those feelings and sentiments I should have, in recurring to this sacred institution of thy infinite goodness. Grant, also, that my first desire in approaching the tribunal of reconciliation, and my first motive in desiring to be reconciled to thee, may be to accomplish thy divine will. And, O my all-powerful Saviour, purify, I beseech thee, in the furnace of thy own pure love, my miserable heart from all self-seeking and self-love; and grant that I may, in every part of my preparation for this holy sacrament, be guided by thy divine Spirit. I ask this favour in thy own sweet name — that name to which thou hast promised to grant whatsoever we should ask of thee.

V.

“I will search Jerusalem with lamps.” — Soph. i. 12.
“But if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” — 1 Cor. xi. 31.

Eternal God, my soul is seized with terror when I reflect on these thy own words. O, if even justice is to be judged, what will become of me, a wretch, whose whole life has been a series of sins and infidelities? O my God, I desire now to judge myself in such a manner, that when thou comest to judge me thou mayest pass a favourable sentence. But, my God, I feel that I am incapable of judging myself. O, then, Holy Spirit, eternal source of light, mercifully deign to enlighten thy poor, blind creature, that I may discover the deep, concealed weakness and misery of my perverse heart; that I may know myself as much as it is thy will that I should; and that the enemy and my own self-love may not deceive me in any way whatever. Grant, also, that, enlightened and warned by thee, I may understand and feel, as much as thou willest, what it is to offend thee. O my Jesus, Friend and Advocate of sinners, present thy infinite merits to thy heavenly Father in behalf of the soul thou lovedst so much in Bethlehem, in Gethsemani, and on Calvary.

VI.

“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother.” St. John xix. 25.

O my sweet Mother! Mother of my Jesus, the God of love and compassion, thou hast a clearer knowledge than any other created being of the excess of his love and mercy towards poor sinners; and thou knowest much better the ingratitude and deplorable misfortune of the sinner who offends him. O, do then, I conjure thee, by that sword of sorrow which pierced thy soul at the foot of the cross, and by thy knowledge of his love and mercy, obtain for me such sentiments of contrition, that I may be perfectly restored to his favour and love, and never again do, say, or think any thing in the least offensive to him.

O my dear guardian angel, to whose care I am committed, though I have so often frustrated the efforts of thy kind solicitude, do, I humbly conjure thee, make use of thy influence with God, and obtain for me the favour of making this confession with the most perfect dispositions.

O my holy patrons and patronesses, and all ye blessed inhabitants of heaven, interest yourselves in my behalf, and obtain that my conversion may be entire.

EXAMEN OF CONSCIENCE.

The following examination may serve those who have not been to confession for a long time, or those who are preparing for a general confession or a review. They who approach the sacraments weekly, or even less frequently, especially when they are accustomed to a daily examination of their conscience, have no need of resorting to such a table of sins.

ON THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

1. “I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt not have strange gods before me.”

Consider, whether you gave to any creature, or to any vice, the love of preference which is due to God alone. How far? How often?

Whether you wilfully doubted of any article of faith, or whether you have rashly exposed yourself to the danger of infidelity, by reading bad books, or keeping wicked company. How often?

Have you by word or deed denied your religion, or gone to places of false worship, so as to join in the worship, or to give scandal? How often?

Have you been ignorant of the articles of your creed, of the commandments, or of any of those things which Christians in your station are bound to know? For how long a time?

Have you despaired of salvation, or of the forgiveness of your sins? Or have you rashly presumed upon finding mercy; going on in your sins without any thoughts of amendment; or depending upon a death-bed repentance? How long have you been this way?

Have you, after falling into mortal sin, neglected for a long time to turn to God by repentance? and for how long a time?

Have you neglected your morning or evening prayers? How often? How long?

Have you made a sacrilegious confession or communion, by concealing some mortal sin in confession, or what you doubted might be mortal; or by being grossly negligent in the examination of your conscience? How often?

Have you received confirmation or matrimony in the state of mortal sin?

Have you neglected to perform the penance enjoined in confession, or said it with wilful distractions? How often?

Have you employed prayers, or sacred names, to superstitious uses? How often?

Have you profaned the Holy Scripture by any whimsical or unauthorized interpretation or construction? Have you profaned or abused holy places or things consecrated to God? How often?

Have you believed in fatality, magic, or superstition? How far?

Have you believed in dreams, consulted fortune tellers, or have you done any such unmeaning and wicked thing? How often?

2. “Thou shalt not take the name of God in vain.”

Consider whether you have trifled with the name of God, by using it irreverently. How often?

Whether you have taken false or rash oaths, or induced others to do so. How often?

Whether you have cursed or sworn, or caused others to do so. How often?

Whether you have violated your lawful oaths, or led others to do so. How often?

Whether you have executed what you rashly swore to do. How often?

3. “Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day.”

Consider whether you have neglected to sanctify the Lord's day, either by omitting mass without sufficient cause, or hearing it irreverently. How often?

Whether you have neglected to assist at the evening service of the Church, commonly called vespers.

Whether you have spent the Sunday, or any part of it, in servile work, without necessity. How often?

4. “Honour thy father and thy mother.”

Duties of Children.

Consider whether you have shown any disrespect to your parents. Whether you have answered them in a petulant manner, grieved them, or provoked them to anger. Whether you have neglected them in sickness, poverty, or any other necessity. Whether you have disowned them, or been ashamed of them before others, through pride. Whether you have abused or cursed them. How often?

Whether you have stolen from your parents, or squandered their substance. Whether you lifted your hand against them. How often?

Whether you were impatient or peevish when they reminded you of your faults. Whether you disregarded their good advice. How often?

Whether you neglected to execute their will after their death, or delayed unnecessarily to do so. Whether you have shown contempt or disobedience to your lawful superiors, spiritual or temporal. How often?

Whether you have shown contempt or disrespect to aged persons. How often?

Duties of Servants, Workmen, &c., to their Masters and Employers.

Consider whether you have been proud, murmuring, or disobedient towards your masters or employers. How often?

Whether you have been inattentive to the business intrusted to your care. How far? How often?

Whether you have disregarded the just and reasonable interest of your master or employer. How far? How often?

Whether you have wilfully permitted them to be injured in their person, their property, or their character. How far? How often?

Whether you have committed theft, told lies, or sworn falsely to please them, when you knew you should not violate the law of God, for any one. How often?

Duties of Parents.

Parents should take notice that, if their children owe them respect, love, and obedience, they themselves are bound to discharge certain duties, on the faithful performance of which depends, in a great measure, the conduct of their children. Consider, therefore, whether you have loved your children with a Christian love; correcting them for their faults in a Christian manner; that is, with firmness, without temper, and at the favourable moment.

Have you not allowed them, much to their physical and moral detriment, to eat as much and as often as their appetite, whim, or fancy dictated?

Have you neglected to teach your children, or have them taught, the principles of the faith?

Have you neglected their timely education, according to your means, or their presumed station in life?

Have you given them scandal? How far?

Have you been too severe on them?

Have you compelled them to a particular state of life, or obliged them to marry a particular person?

Duties of Masters and other Superiors towards those under their Care.

Consider whether you took sufficient care to govern your servants, or those under your charge, in their manners and conversation.

Have you afforded them time to say their prayers morning and evening; to hear mass on Sundays and holydays; and to approach the sacraments?

Have you ever ordered your servants, or those under your charge, to do that which you knew was wrong? How often?

Have you ill used them? How far? How often?

Have you omitted to pay them their wages, or delayed it from them?

5. “Thou shalt not kill.”

Consider whether you did any act that was likely to lead to the death of a fellow-creature; whether you encouraged others to do so, or desired it in your heart. How often?

Have you desired any one's death, through hatred, malice, or self-interest?

Have you provoked, challenged, or struck others, or been guilty of quarrelling or fighting? How often?

Have you procured, or thought to procure, or aided or assisted to procure, or advised abortion, or miscarriage? Have you desired your own death through passion or impatience? How often?

Have you entertained a deliberate hatred for any fellow-creature?

Have you exercised tyranny, cruelty, or oppression towards your debtors, or others within your power; especially towards widows, orphans, or the poor? How often?

Have you refused pardon to those who did you injury?

Have you taken private revenge for real or supposed injuries; suborned others to do it, or desired it in your heart? How often?

6. “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

As regards Married People.

Consider whether you have thought, done, or said, any thing that may tend to a violation of those promises of fidelity made to your partner at marriage. How far have you been guilty in this respect?

As regards Unmarried People.

Consider whether you have thought, done, or said any thing that might tend to the dishonour or abuse of your person. How far and how often have you offended in this respect?

As regards Persons in general.

Consider whether you have given scandal by any levity or impropriety in your conduct or conversation. Was it before the young and unsuspecting? Have you made use of words of double meaning? How far and how often?

7. “Thou shalt not steal.”

Consider whether you have possessed, or do possess, unjustly, the property of your neighbour. Whether by fraud in traffic, injustice in weight or measure, or oppression by usury. How far? How often?

Have you bought or received goods from suspicious persons? Have you, through malice, envy, or revenge, done injury to your neighbour's property?

Have you contracted debts beyond your means?

Have you persecuted your fellow-creatures by expensive lawsuits?

Have you declined, when in your power, to pay your just debts?

Have you refused or delayed to make restitution for the injury done your neighbour, when in your power?

Have you refused to fulfil your just promises, and thereby caused distress or disappointment to your neighbour? How far? How often?

8. “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”

Consider whether you ever privately or publicly swore, said, or insinuated that which was false, or doubtful, against your neighbour.

Whether you spoke ill of him. Whether you called him by abusive names. Whether you declined to defend his character, when it was your duty to do so.

Whether you flattered people in their crimes and excesses. How often?

Whether you accused them of faults of which you knew, or had reason to doubt, that they were innocent. How often?

Whether you made known the private sins of others; opened their letters without permission. Whether you listened to the private conversation of others. How often?

Whether you set your neighbours at variance by relating the private business of one to another. How often?

9. “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife.”

Consider whether you entertained, with deliberate pleasure, thoughts on those sins prohibited by the Sixth Commandment. How often? “Evil thoughts are an abomination to the Lord.” (Prov. xv. 26.)

10. “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's goods.”

Consider whether you have dwelt with deliberate pleasure on those sins prohibited by the Seventh Commandment.

ON THE PRECEPTS OF THE CHURCH.

1. To hear mass on Sundays and holydays of obligation.

Consider whether you have committed any of the faults enumerated under the Third Commandment of the Decalogue.

2. To fast and to abstain from flesh meat on certain days.

Consider whether you have omitted to fast during Lent, or at other times appointed by the Church, without a dispensation, or without sufficient cause. How often?

Whether you have eaten meat on prohibited days, without sufficient reason. How often?

3. To confess one's sins at least once a year.

Consider whether you have suffered the year to pass without approaching the tribunal of penance.

Whether you neglected the due examination of your conscience before going to confession.

Whether you have concealed any mortal sin, or so coloured it as to make it appear less grievous.

Whether you have received absolution with sincere sorrow and a firm purpose of amendment.

Whether you have disputed with your director, when he gave you advice, instead of bowing submissively to his counsels.

Whether you neglected the due fulfilment of your sacramental penance, or deferred it without necessity.

4. To receive the blessed eucharist at Easter, or thereabouts.

Consider whether you neglected to receive the sacrament of the eucharist at paschal time from the hands of your pastor, or his representative.

5. To contribute to the support of your pastors.

Consider whether you omitted, without necessity, to pay to your legitimate spiritual pastor the contribution for his support which prescription has established in your locality.

6. Not to solemnize marriage in times forbidden, or within the forbidden degrees of kindred.

Consider whether you gave scandal by disregarding the ordinances of the Church regarding the time of your marriage, or the marriage of any one else, over whom you may have had control.

Whether you were culpably ignorant of the relationship between the parties to be married, or whether you wilfully concealed it.

Whether you disregarded the prudent advice of your parents. Whether you neglected to consult God, or your confessor, or your friends, when you were arranging to get married.

Whether you made an elopement, or intended to do so at the time of your marriage; or whether you aided or advised others to do so.

Whether you neglected to give timely notice to your pastor of your intended marriage.

Whether you had in view your spiritual, no less than your temporal advantage, at the time of your marriage.

Whether you have taken all the necessary precautions to guard against the evils that might follow from a mixed marriage.

ON THE SEVEN CAPITAL OR DEADLY SINS.

Pride.

Consider how far you have been proud, overbearing, or tyrannical towards your dependants; ill mannered or offensive towards your equals; disobedient, insolent, or disrespectful to your superiors.

Covetousness.

Consider how far and how often you have indulged in an excessive love of this world and the things of this world. How far and how often you have desired or affected unjust possessions, fraudulent profit, iniquitous gain. How far and how often you have been guilty of hardheartedness, injustice, and cruelty, in order to save, or procure money. Whether, through pride, ambition, or presumption, you have been dissatisfied with your condition in life, and murmured against the will of God.

Envy.

Consider how far and how often you have been guilty of envying your neighbour's spiritual or temporal prosperity. Have you grieved at his good fortune, or rejoiced at his adversity? How far and how often have you unjustly dispraised him or his actions?

Anger.

Consider how far and how often you may have indulged in anger, passion, impatience, or excitement, for little or no cause.

Gluttony.

Consider how far and how often you may have indulged in excess in eating or drinking. Whether you have lived above your means.

Lust.

See, on this head, what has been already said on the Sixth and Ninth Commandments of God.

Sloth.

Consider how far and how often you may have yielded to that animal feeling of a distaste for the things of God, or for the invisible goods of the life to come. How far and how often you may have indulged in carelessness and indifference in the discharge of your religious duties. How far and how often you may have been inconstant in your good resolutions; neglectful in your calling; ungrateful to God for his favours; or faithless to your friends.

Whether you gave or entertained a slothful preference to idleness or poverty, rather than labour honourably and industriously for your own support.

Observe, that in each of those sins, of which you may be guilty, you may not only be guilty of your own sin, but of the sins of others, by “counselling, commanding, consenting to, or praising the sin of another; assisting, or otherwise sharing in it, not hindering it when you could, and by concealing it, when it may be your duty to make it known.” You may be guilty of the sins of others also, by showing them a bad example.

AFTER THE EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE.

I.

“The heart is deceitful above all things.”

O Thou who canst do whatsoever thou willest, enlighten my blindness, that I may discover all the faults and defects there may have been in the examination of my conscience, and in the judgment I have formed of myself; that I may know myself, and make myself known to thy minister.

II.

“Know thou, and see, that it is an evil and a bitter thing for thee to have left the Lord thy God.” — Jer. ii. 19.

I have sinned, and I have thereby lost the friendship of thee, my Creator, my Preserver, my Redeemer, and my God. I have made myself a slave to thy enemy and mine. I have exposed myself to the never-ending pains of hell; to eternal separation from thee, my God. But, more than this — I have, by my sins, renewed the cause of my Saviour's sufferings; I have offended Him who loved me and delivered himself a willing victim, to bleed and die, that I might live; I have offended Him who, on account of his own infinite perfections, and for his own sake, should possess an undivided and devoted love. O, how happy are those who have never offended thee, my God! O that I had been so happy! But I resolve, with the assistance of thy divine grace, without which I can do nothing, nevermore to offend thee. I would much rather die than be again guilty of even the least sin; for the least offence against thee is something inconceivably great. Too late have I known thee, O eternal truth; too late have I loved thee, O beauty ever ancient and ever new.

III.

“We have an Advocate with the Father . . . always living to make intercession for us.” — 1 John ii. 1; Heb. vii. 25.

O my divine, my merciful Saviour, I am filled with fear and trembling at the thought of my sins, my wretched weakness, and the many other miseries of my poor soul; but I am encouraged and consoled, when I remember that thou art my Advocate, and I behold thee pleading my cause with thy heavenly Father. Thou knowest all my necessities; thou seest the desires of my heart.

IV.

“To thee only have I sinned.” — Ps. l. 6.
“The mercies of the Lord I will sing forever.” — Ps. lxxxviii. 1.

O infinite goodness, it is against thee. I have sinned, and it is thou thyself that providest the means for my return. Thou mightest have been long ago glorified in thy justice by condemning me to hell; yet thou didst spare me; and, notwithstanding my weekly, nay, daily treasons and offences against thee, thou hast not only preserved my life, but hast continually cherished me with innumerable special graces; and, O goodness inconceivable, thou now callest upon me to cast my sinful soul into the bath of thy own precious blood.

V.

“He was offered because it was his own will.” — Is. liii. 7.
“The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” — Ib. liii. 6.
“My soul is sorrowful even unto death.” — St. Mark xiv. 34.

“My soul is sorrowful even unto death!” Who is he that utters this expression, and for whom does he utter it? My poor, guilty soul, it is thy Saviour, thy Jesus, the great God of heaven and earth, the God of all holiness; and it is for thy sins that he is SORROWFUL, and SORROWFUL EVEN UNTO DEATH. Approach; behold the adorable blood gushing from every sacred pore; his soul is in a sea of anguish; his merciful heart is pierced by as many darts as we have committed sins. O my Saviour, by all that thou didst suffer for me in this bitter hour, grant that I may, to the end of my life, unceasingly lament and detest, from the purest love of thee, each one of my sins. Alas! each one added new anguish to thy agonized heart.

Behold, O heavenly Father, my Jesus sorrowful for my sins, even unto death, and permit me to offer his sorrow to supply my want of sorrow.

VI.

“He was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our sins; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his bruises we are healed.” — Is. liii. 5.

O God of love, O goodness inconceivable, how hard my heart must be, that it is not wrung with anguish at the sight of its sins, at the thought that it has offended thee! My God, I am sorry for this insensibility of my poor heart; and I resolve, with the assistance of thy holy grace, to show by my actions, by my carefulness to avoid every thing in the least offensive to thee, that I am grateful for thy infinite love and mercy in my regard. Accept, O my God, in thy great mercy, the poor remains of my life. I am sincerely sorry for the years I have misspent. They have vanished as a shadow; they have passed away without fruit. But, as I cannot recall them, accept my desire to think of them in the bitterness of my soul.

VII.

“And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified him there.” — St. Luke xxiii. 33.
“You are bought with a great price.” — 1 Cor. vi. 20.

O Jesus, my Lord, how can I endure the thought that for my offences thou art sacrificed, that by my hand thou art immolated? O my soul, dear-bought purchase of a Saviour's blood, lift up thy eyes, and behold the adorable Victim of thy guilt, or rather of his own and his Father's love for thee. Approach; kneel at the foot of his sacred cross. O my adorable Redeemer, hear me, a poor wretch, making supplication to thee. Let thy sacred blood flow on my guilty soul; let thy divine voice ascend; let thy wounds, thy bruised and mangled body, plead with thy heavenly Father in my behalf; and grant that I may be washed from my iniquities and cleansed from my sins, and that I may be clothed with the garments of salvation and the robe of justice. Receive me into thy extended arms; shelter me in thy sacred heart; and with thy precious blood seal me thy own forever.