Examination of Conscience according to the Ten Commandments

The examination of conscience is the first of the four acts of the penitent, according to the Council of Trent (Session XIV, ch. IV) and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (n. 1450). This form structured according to the Ten Commandments (Ex 20:1-17 / Deut 5:6-21) is the most ancient and the most reliable — commended by the Roman Catechism (1566, part III), by St Peter Canisius († 1597) in the Catechismus minor, and by the Catechism of St Pius X. Make this examination calmly, in the presence of God, after asking light of the Holy Spirit. Confess each mortal sin by species and by approximate number, according to the Tridentine doctrine.

I. I am the Lord thy God: thou shalt not have strange gods before me.

Do I practise daily prayer? Do I firmly believe all the articles of the Creed? Have I sinned against faith by intellectual pride, by superstition, by horoscopes, fortune-telling, spiritism, magic, new spiritualities? Have I sinned against hope by presumption or by despair of salvation? Have I sinned against the charity of God by lukewarmness, by shame at confessing him publicly, by revolt in trials?

II. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

Have I used the name of God, of Jesus, of the Virgin, of the saints, in vain, in false oaths, in curses, in blasphemy? Have I failed to keep vows or promises made to God?

III. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.

Have I missed the Sunday and holy day Mass through my own fault? Did I arrive late, leave early, remain distracted without serious cause? Did I work unnecessarily on Sunday? Did I sanctify the Lord’s day by rest, by prayer, and by family?

IV. Honour thy father and thy mother.

Did I honour my parents, support them when they were in need, respect them even when aged? As father/mother, did I fulfil the duty of educating my children in faith and morals? As a citizen, did I obey just laws and legitimate authority?

V. Thou shalt not kill.

Did I attempt against human life — my own or another’s — by abortion, by abortifacient drugs, by euthanasia, by suicide, by violence, by grave negligence? Did I cooperate with paid, voted for, or counselled abortion? Did I sin by hatred, desire of vengeance, cultivated bitterness, scandal given to little ones?

VI and IX. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife.

Did I sin against chastity according to my state of life — single, married or consecrated — in thoughts, looks, words, deeds, alone or with others? Did I view pornography? Did I practise contraception contrary to Catholic doctrine? Was I unfaithful to my spouse in heart or in body? Have I lived conjugal life open to the transmission of life?

VII and X. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s goods.

Did I sin by theft, by fraud, by unjust tax evasion, by not paying owed debts, by deceiving in work or in commerce? Have I made restitution or am I prepared to make restitution for what I took unjustly? Did I cooperate with social injustices? Did I sin by covetousness and disordered attachment to material goods?

VIII. Thou shalt not bear false witness.

Did I lie in grave matters? Did I slander, defame, judge rashly the neighbour? Did I detract with pleasure of others’ faults on social media or in conversations? Do I keep the secrets entrusted to me?

Precepts of the Church

Did I confess at least once a year, receive Communion at least at Easter, fast and abstain on the prescribed days (Lent, Good Friday), help the Church with the tithe according to my means?

Conclude by acknowledging: «Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner».