A Catholic prayer companion
Simple Confession
Return to the mercy of God
“A clean heart create for me, God.” — Psalm 51:12
Before Confession
- Ask the Holy Spirit for light and honesty. Remember that God's mercy is greater than your sins.
- Recall when you last confessed. Examine your thoughts, words, actions, and duties in the light of the Ten Commandments.
- Be truly sorry, resolve to turn away from sin, and prepare to confess honestly. You can ask the priest for help.
Examination of Conscience
I. I am the Lord your God. You shall not have strange gods before Me.
- Did I doubt or deny that God exists, refuse to believe what God has revealed, or leave the Catholic faith?
- Did I neglect daily prayer or put money, work, pleasure, or other things before God?
- Did I despair of God's mercy or presume on it?
- Did I seek supernatural knowledge or power through fortune-telling, horoscopes, tarot cards, Ouija boards, mediums, spells, or online psychics?
- Did I worship another deity or treat an image, statue, charm, or object as a source of supernatural power?
- Did I knowingly receive Holy Communion in a state of mortal sin, or deliberately conceal a mortal sin in confession?
II. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
- Did I blaspheme, insult God, or use His name irreverently?
- Did I curse or break a serious oath or vow?
III. Remember that you keep holy the Sabbath Day.
- Did I miss Sunday Mass or a Holy Day of Obligation through my own fault?
- Did I neglect Sunday worship or necessary rest through avoidable work or entertainment?
- Did I show reverence toward Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament?
- Did I deliberately disregard the Church's obligations of fasting and abstinence?
IV. Honor your father and your mother.
- Did I disrespect my parents or neglect my duties to my spouse, children, or parents?
- Did I fail to care for elderly or infirm relatives who depend on me?
- Did I neglect my children's religious education or give them a bad example?
- Did I cause serious fights or lasting discord in my family?
- Did I neglect family members who needed my attention because I spent excessive time on my phone or online?
V. You shall not kill.
- Did I kill, physically injure, or abuse anyone?
- Did I have an abortion or advise or help someone to have one?
- Did I attempt suicide, or take part in or approve of euthanasia?
- Did I deliberately act out of hatred, cruelty, or revenge?
- Did I harm my health or endanger others through drug abuse, excessive drinking, or reckless behavior?
- Did I bully, threaten, or deliberately humiliate another person, including online?
VI. You shall not commit adultery.
- Did I deliberately entertain lustful thoughts or desires, or seek out pornography, including online or AI-generated pornography?
- Did I commit sexual acts outside marriage, adultery, or masturbation?
- Did I engage in homosexual sexual acts?
- Did I use artificial contraception or undergo sterilization?
- Did I deliberately use impure words, stories, or sexual messages to encourage impurity?
- Did I fail to respect another person's dignity and treat them as a sexual object?
VII. You shall not steal.
- Did I steal, cheat, encourage others to steal, keep stolen goods, or fail to make restitution?
- Did I fail to fulfill contracts, pay bills, pay fair wages, or act honestly regarding bribes and gambling?
- Did I deprive my family of necessities?
- Did I waste time at work, school, or home?
VIII. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
- Did I lie, deliberately deceive someone, or give false testimony?
- Did I gossip, damage someone's reputation, or reveal confidential information?
- Did I knowingly spread false accusations, fake reviews, or deceptive online posts that harmed others?
IX. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
- Did I deliberately desire an adulterous relationship with someone else's spouse?
- Did I intentionally pursue a sexual or romantic relationship with a married person?
X. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.
- Did I envy other people's possessions or success?
- Did I make wealth or material possessions the purpose of my life?
- Did I nurture resentment or greed by continually comparing my possessions with what others show online?
At Confession
- Begin with the Sign of the Cross. You may say: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [time] since my last confession.”
- Confess your sins clearly and sincerely. For mortal sins, mention kind and approximate number; ask the priest if you are unsure.
- Listen to the priest's counsel and accept your penance. Pray an Act of Contrition when asked.
- Receive absolution, thank God for His mercy, and complete your penance as soon as you reasonably can.
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, Who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.
This guide is here to help you prepare for a good confession. If you have questions or are unsure about your personal circumstances, feel free to speak with your priest for guidance.