Examination of Conscience for Those Who Confess Regularly and Frequently

O most merciful God, I most humbly thank thee for all thy mercies to me, and, particularly at this time, for thy forbearance and long-suffering with me, notwithstanding my many and grievous sins. It is of thy great mercy that I have not fallen into greater and more grievous sins than those which I have committed, and that I have not been cut off and cast into hell. O my God, although I have been so ungrateful to thee in times past, yet now I beseech thee to accept me, returning to thee with an earnest desire to repent, and devote myself to thee, my Lord and my God, and to praise thy holy Name forever.

Receive my confession, and spare me, O most gracious Lord Jesus Christ, whom I, an unworthy sinner, am not worthy to name, because I have so often offended thee. Rebuke me not in thy anger, and cast me not away from thy face, O good Jesus, who hast said that thou willest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Receive me, I beseech thee, returning to thee with a penitent and contrite heart. Spare me, O most kind Jesus, who didst die upon the cross, that thou mightest save sinners. To whom shall I fly but to thee, my only hope and my salvation? Have mercy on me, O most gracious Lord, and despise not the humble and contrite heart of thy servant. Grant me, I beseech thee, perfect contrition for my sins, that I may detest them with the deepest sorrow of heart. Send forth thy light into my soul, and discover to me all those sins which I ought to confess at this time. Assist me by thy grace, that I may be able to declare them to the priest thy vicar, fully, humbly, and with a contrite heart, and so obtain perfect remission of them all through thine infinite goodness. Amen.

O most gracious Virgin Mary, beloved Mother of Jesus Christ my Redeemer, intercede for me with him. Obtain for me the entire pardon of my sins, and perfect amendment of life, for the salvation of my soul, and the glory of his name. Amen.

I implore the same grace of thee, O my Angel Guardian; of you, my holy Patrons N. N.; of you, O holy Peter and holy Magdalen, and of all the Saints of God. Intercede for me a sinner, repenting of my sins, and resolving to confess and amend them. Amen.

AN EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE FOR THOSE WHO CONFESS THEIR SINS REGULARLY AND FREQUENTLY.

I. In Relation to God.

1. Have you frequently omitted morning or evening prayer? Have you prayed negligently, and with wilful distraction?

2. Have you been negligent in the discharge of any of your religious duties? Have you taken care that those under your charge have not wanted the instruction necessary for their condition, nor time for prayer, or time to prepare for the sacraments?

3. Have you spoken irreverently of God and holy things? Have you taken his name in vain, or told untruths?

4. Have you omitted your duty through human respect or interest, &c.?

5. Have you been zealous for God's honor, for justice, virtue, and truth, and reproved such as act otherwise?

6. Have you resigned your will to God in troubles, necessities, sickness?

7. Have you carefully avoided all kinds of impurity, and faithfully resisted thoughts of infidelity, distrust, presumption?

II. In Relation to your Neighbor.

1. Have you disobeyed your superiors, murmured against their commands, or spoken of them contemptuously?

2. Have you been troubled, peevish, or impatient, when told of your faults, and not corrected them? Have you scorned the good advice of others, or censured their proceedings?

3. Have you offended any one by injurious words or actions, or given way to hatred, jealousy, or revenge?

4. Or lessened their reputation by any sort of detraction, or in any matter of importance?

5. Have you formed rash judgments, or spread any report, true or false, that exposed your neighbor to contempt, or made him undervalued?

6. Have you by carrying stories backward and forward, or otherwise, created discord and misunderstanding between neighbors?

7. Have you been froward or peevish towards any one in your carriage, speech, or conversation?

8. Or taken pleasure in vexing, mortifying or provoking them?

9. Have you mocked or reproached them for their corporal or spiritual imperfections?

10. Have you been excessive in reprehending those under your care, or been wanting in giving them just reproof?

11. Have you borne with their oversights and imperfections, and given them good counsel?

12. Have you been solicitous for such as are under your charge; and provided for their souls and bodies?

III. In Relation to Yourself.

1. Have you been obstinate in following your own will, or in defending your own opinion in things either indifferent, dangerous, or scandalous?

2. Have you taken pleasure in hearing yourself praised, or acted from motives of vanity or human respect?

3. Have you indulged yourself in too much ease and sloth, or any ways yielded to sensuality or impurity?

4. Has your conversation been edifying and moderate; or have you been cross, proud, or troublesome to others?

5. Have you spent over-much time in recreation or useless employments, and thereby omitted or put off your devotions to unseasonable times?

6. Have you yielded to intemperance, rage, impatience, or jealousy?