TheExaminationofConscienceisoneofthefundamentalmeansoffurtheringpersonalsanctification. For Catholics, the most common use of examination of conscience is in the preparation for confession.

. For all Christians, examination of conscience can be an effective means to greater holiness through fostering obedience to God and conformity to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. To that end, and through the application of an objective measurement of how well we conformed to the will of God, the examinationofconsciencehelpsusavoidtheselfdeceptionofthinkingthatourbehavior,thoughts,and motivesarenotsinfulwhentheyactuallyare,aswellasavoidingscrupulosity,whichisseeingsinwhere thereisnone. Therearetwobasictypesofexaminationsofconscience. The General examination is useful for measuring our behavior in light of Gods commandments and is wellsuitedtopreparation forconfession.Thegeneralexaminationofconscienceismosteffectivewhen itispracticeddailyandonceitbecomeshabitual,doesnottakemorethanafewminutes.SaintIgnatius inhisSpiritualExercisessuggestsfivepointsfortheexaminationofconscience. 1. An act of gratitude to God for all His benefits. This will dispose the soul to the correct attitude forcontrition. 2. Apetitionforgracetoknowanddetestone'ssins. 3. An accurate examination of one's actions, thoughts and motives throughout the hours of the day. 4. Anactofcontritionandanappealforpardon,theprincipalpointofthewholeexercise. 5. Aresolutiontoamend,apetitionforGod'sassistinggrace,andfinallyanOurFather. TheParticularexaminationofconscienceisaspecificmethodemployedtoassistinacquisitionofone particular virtue or in the elimination of one particular vice. As such, it is very useful for anyone who wantstogrowinholiness. On rising in the morning we resolve to avoid during the day the specific fault with which we have habitually struggled, or to perform certain acts of a particular virtue in which we would like to grow. About noon we consider how often we have committed that fault, or practiced that virtue and record the number so that we can keep track of our progress or decline. We then renew our resolution for the restoftheday.Atnightweexamineandmarkagain,andmakeresolutionsforthefollowingday. Indoingso,weactlikecarefulbusinessmenwho tracka particularportionof their businessforprofitor loss. St. Ignatius further suggests that we impose upon ourselves some penance for every one of the faultscommittedandthatwecomparethenumbersmarkedeachtimewiththoseoftheprecedingday, thetotalsumattheendoftheweekwiththatoftheprecedingweek,etc The general examination is a weapon of defense. The particular, of attack. The first is the shield.Thesecond,thesword. St.JosemariaEscriva

DailyGeneralExaminationofConscienceintheJesuitTradition
1. GodsPresence:RecallthatyouareinthepresenceofGod. Nomatterwhereyouare,hilltoporvalley,countryorcity,crowdoralone,youareacreatureinthe midstofcreation. As you quiet yourself, become aware that God is present within you, in the creation that surrounds you, in your body and in those around you. The Creator who brought you forth into being is concernedforyou.TheSpiritofGod,sentbyChrist,willremindyouthatyouaregiftedtohelpbring creationtoitsfullness. Ask the Holy Spirit to let you look on all you see with love. "Love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous or boastful, it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; ... it does not rejoiceatwrongbutrejoicesintheright...Lovehopesallthings."(1Cor.) 2. Thanksgiving:Spendamomentlookingoveryourdaywithgratitudeforthisday'sgifts. Be specific and let special moments or pleasures spring to mind! Recall the smell of your morning coffee, the taste of something good that you ate, the laugh of a child, the fragrance of a flower, the smile brought forth by a kind word, a lesson that you learned. Take stock of what you received and whatyougave.GivethankstoGodforfavorsreceived. Also look at your permanent gifts that allow your participation in this day. Recall your particular strengths in times of difficulty, your ability to hope in times of weakness, your sense of humor and your life of faith, your intelligence and health, your family and friends. God the Father gives you thesetodrawyouintothefullnessoflife. As you move through the details of your day, give thanks to God for His presence in the big and the smallthingsofyourlife. 3. Self Knowledge and relationship with God: Ask God to send His Holy Spirit to help you look at your actions,attitudesandmotiveswithhonestyandpatience. "WhentheSpiritoftruthcomeshewillguideyouintoalltruth."(John16:13) The Holy Spirit inspires you to see with growing freedom the development of your life story. The Spirit gives a freedom to look upon yourself without condemnation and without complacency and thusbeopentogrowth. Ask that you will learn and grow as you reflect, thus deepening your knowledge of self and your relationshipwithGod. 4. ExaminationofConscience:Reviewyourday. Thisisthelongestofthesteps.

Recall the events of your day; explore the context of your actions. Search for the internal movements of your heart and your interaction with what was before you. Ask what you were involvedinandwhoyouwerewith,andreviewyourhopesandhesitations. Manysituationswillshowthatyourheartwasdividedwaveringbetweenhelpinganddisregarding, scoffing and encouraging, listening and ignoring, rebuking and forgiving, speaking and silence, neglecting and thanking. Remember, this is not a time to dwell on your shortcomings; rather, it is a gentle look with the Lord at how you have responded to God's gifts. It is an opportunity for growth of self and deepening your relationship with God. Notice where you acted freelypicking a particular course of action from the possibilities you saw. See where you were swept along without freedom. What reactions helped or hindered you? See where Christ entered your decisions and whereyoumighthavepausedtoreceiveHisinfluence. "Test yourselves," St. Paul urges, "to see whether you are living in faith; examine yourselves. PerhapsyouyourselvesdonotrealizethatChristJesusisinyou."(2Cor.) His influence comes through His people, the Body of Christ. His influence comes through Scripture, the Word of God. Now, as you pray, Christ's spirit will help you know His presence and concern. As you daily and prayerfully explore the mystery of yourself in the midst of your actions, you will grow morefamiliarwithyourownspiritandbecomemoreawareofthepromptingsofGod'sSpiritwithin you. Allow God to speak, challenge, encourage and teach you. Thus you will come to know that Christ is with you. Christ will continually invite you to love your neighbor as yourself and strengthen youtodothis. 5. ThefinalstepisourhearttohearttalkwithJesus. Here you speak with Jesus about your day. You share your thoughts on your actions, attitudes, feelings and interactions. Perhaps during this time you may feel led to seek forgiveness, ask for direction,shareaconcern,expressgratitude,etc. Having reviewed this day of your life, look upon yourself with compassion and see your need for GodandtrytorealizeGod'smanifestationsofconcernforyou.Expresssorrowforsin,theobscuring darkness that surrounds us all, and especially ask forgiveness for the times you resisted God's light today. Give thanks for grace, the enlightening presence of God, and especially praise God for the timesyourespondedinwaysthatallowedyoutobetterseeGod'slife. Resolve with Jesus to move forward in action where appropriate. You might like to finish your time withtheLordsPrayer.

DailyGeneralExaminationofConscienceBasedontheTenCommandments
THEFIRSTCOMMANDMENT:I,theLord,amyourGod,whobroughtyououtofthelandofEgypt,that placeofslavery.Youshallnothaveothergodsbesidesme. HaveIperformedmydutiestowardGodreluctantlyorgrudgingly? DidIneglectmyprayerlife?DidIrecitemyusualprayers? DidIreceiveHolyCommunioninastateofmortalsinorwithoutthenecessarypreparation? DidIviolatetheonehourEucharisticfast? DidIfailtomentionsomegravesininmypreviousconfession? Did I seriously believe in something superstitious or engage in a superstitious practice such as palmreadingorfortunetelling? DidIseriouslydoutamatteroffaityh? DidIputmyfaithindangerwithoutagoodreasonbyreadingabook,pamphlet,ormagazine thatcontainsmaterialcontrartytoCatholicfaithormorals? Did I endarnger my faith by joining or attending meetins of organizations opposed to the CatholicfaithsuchasnonCatholicservices,Freemasonry,NewAgecultsorotherreligions?DidI takepartinanyofitsactivities? HaveIcommittedthesinofsacrilegesuchasprofanationofasacredperson,placeorthing? THESECONDCOMMANDMENT:YoushallnottakethenameoftheLord,yourGod,invain. DidIfailtotrymybesttofulfillthepromisesandresolutionsthatImadetoGod? DidItakethenameofGodinvain?DidImakeuseofGodsnamemockingly,jokingly,angrily,or inanyotherirreverentmanner? Did ai Make use of the Blessed Virgin Marys name or another saints name mockingly, jokingly, angrilyorinanyotherirreverentmanner? Have I been a sponsor in baptism or participated atively in other ceremonies outside the CatholicChurch? DidItellalieunderoath? DidIbreakpublicorprivatevows? THETHIRDCOMMANDMENT:RemembertokeepholytheSabbathday. DidImissMassonaSundayoraholydayofobligation? DidIfailtodressappropriatelyforMass? HaveI,withoutsufficientreason,arrivedatMasssolatethatIfailedtofulfilltheSundayorholy dayofobligation? Did I allow myself to be distracted during Mass, by not paying attention, by looking around out ofcuriosity,etc? DidIcauseanothertobedistractedatMass? Have I performed any work or business activity that would inhibit the worship due to God, the joypropertotheLordsDay,ortheappropriaterelaxationofmindandthebody,onaSundayor aholydayofobligation? DidIfailtogenerouslyhelpthechurchinhernecessitiestotheextentthatIamable? DidIfailtofastorabstainonadayprescribedbytheChurch?

THEFOURTHCOMMANDMENT:Honoryourfatherandyourmother. Forparents: HaveIneglectedtoteachmychildrentheirprayers,sendthentochurchortivethemaChristian education? HaveIgiventhemabadexample? Have I neglected to watch over my children, to monitor their companions, the books they read, themoviesandTVshowstheywatch? HaveIfailedtoseetoitthatmychildmadehisfirstcomfessionandfirstcommunion? HaveIfailedtoseetoitthatmychildrenhavereceivedthesacramentofconfirmation? Forchildren: WasIdisobedienttowardmyparents? DidIneglecttohelpmyparentswhenmyhelpwasneeded? DidItreatmyparentswithlittleaffectionorrespect? DidIreactproudlywhenIwascorrectedbymyparents? DidIhaveadisorderddesireforindependence? DidIdomychores? Foradultswithparents: HaveIsupportedmyparentsintimesofneedtotheextentthatIamable? HaveIensuredthatmyparentsareadequatelycaredforintermsoffood,clothingandshelter? HaveIspokentomyparentsrespectfullyandbeentolerantoftheirshortcomings? Have I listened to their advice patiently and humbly, with an eye toward learning from their experience? HaveImadeanefforttovisitmyparentsandtoallowthemtimetovisitwithgrandchildren? THEFIFTHCOMMANDMENT:Youshallnotkill. DidIeasilygetangryorlosemytemper? WasIenviousorjealousofothers? DidIinjureortakethelifeofanyone? WasIrecklessindriving? Was I reckless in the operation of mechanical equipment, chemicals or other potentially dangerousitems? WasIrecklessintheuseoffirearms?DidIfailtokeepfirearmssecuredsothatothers,including children,couldnotaccessthem? Was I an occasion of sin for others by way of conversation; the telling of jokes which are religiously, racially or sexually offensive; dressing; inviting somebody to attend certain shows; lending of harmful books or magazines; helping someone to steal, etc? Did I try to repair the scandaldone? HowmanypersonsdidIleadtosin?Whatsinswereinvolved? DidIneglectmyhealth? DidIattempttotakemylife? DidIgetdrunkoruseprohibiteddrugs? Did I eat or drink more than a sufficient amount, allowing myself to get carried away by gluttony?

DidIparticipateinanyformofphysicalviolence? DidIconsenttooractivelytakepartindirectsterilizationsuchastuballigation,vasectomy,etc? Do I realize that this will have a permanent effect on my married life and that I will have to answertoGodforitsconsequences? Did I consent to, advise someone about, or actively take part in an aboration? Was I aware that the Church punishes with automatic excommunication those who procure and achieve abortion?DoIrealizethatthisisaverygravecrime? DidIcauseharmtoanyonewithmywordsoractions? DidIdesirerevengeorharborenmity,hatred,orillfeelingswhensomeoneoffendedme? DidIaskpardonwheneverIoffendedanyone? DidIinsultofoffensivelyteaseothers? DidIquarrelwithoneofmybrothersorsisters?

THE SIXTH AND NINTH COMMANDMENTS: You shall not commit adultery and You shall not covet yourneighborswife. DidIwillfullyentertainimpurethoughts? Did I consent to evil desires against the virtue of purity, even though I may not have carried them out? Were there any circumstances that aggravated the sin: affinity (relationship by marriage), consanguinity (blood relationship), either the married state or the consecration to Godofapersoninvolved? DidIengageinimpureconversations?DidIstartthem? DidIlookforfuninformsofentertainmentthatplacedmeinproximateoccasionofsin,suchas certain dances, movies, shows, or books with immoral content? Did I frequent houses of ill reputeorkeepbadcompany? Did I realize that I might already have been committing a sin by placing myself in a proximate occasion of sin, such as sharing a room with a person I find sexually attractive, or being alonwe withsuchapersonincircumstancesthatcouldleadtosin? DidIfailtotakecareofthosedetailsofmodestyanddecencythatarethesafeguardsofpurity? Did I fail, before going to a show or reading a book, to find out its moral implications, so as not toputmyselfinimmediatedangerofsinninginordertoavoiddistortingmyconscience? DidIwillfullylookatanindecentpictureorcananimmodestlookuponmyselforanother?DidI willfullydesiretocommitsuchasin? DidIleadotherstosinsofimpurityorimmodesty?Whatsin? Did I commit an impure act? By myself, through masturbation (which is objectively a mortal sin)? With someone else? How many times? With someone of the same or opposite sex? Was there any circumstances of relationship (such as affinity) that could have given the sin special gravity? Did this illicit relationship result in pregnancy? Did I do anything to prevent or end that pregnancy? DiIhavefriendshipsthatarehabitualoccasionsofsexualsin?AmIpreparedtoendthem? In courtship, is true love my fundamental reason for wanting to be with the other person? Do I live the constant and cheerful sacrifice of not putting the person I love in danger of sinning? Do Idegradehumanlovebyconfusingitwithselfishnessormerepleasure? DidIengageinactssuchaspetting,necking,passionatekissesorprolongedembraces? Formarriedpeople:

Did I, without serous reason, deprive my spouse of the marital right? Did I claim my own rights inawaythat showednoconcernformyspousesstateofmindorhealth?Did Ibetrayconjugal fidelityindesireorindeed? Did I take the pill or use any other artificial birthcontrol device before or after new life had alreadybeenconceived? DidI,withoutgravereason,withtheintentionofavoidingconception,makeuseofmarriageon onlythosedayswhenoffspringwouldnotlikelybeengendered? Did I suggest to another person the use of birthcontrol pills or another artificial method of preventingpregnancy(likecondoms)? Did I have a hand in contributing to the contraceptive mentality by my advice, jokes, or attitudes?

THE SEVENTH AND TENTH COMMANDMENTS: You shall not steal and You shall not covet your neighborsgoods. Did I steal? How much money or how much was the object worth? Did I give it back or at least havetheintentionofdoingso? HaveIdoneorcauseddamagetoanotherpersonsproperty?Towhatextent? DidIharmanyonebydecetion,fraud,orcoercioninbusinesscontractsortransactions? Did I unnecessarily spend beyond my means? Do I spend too much money because of vanity or caprice? DoIgivealmsaccordingtomycapacity? WasIenviousofmyneighborsgoods? DidIneglecttopaymydebts? DidIknowinglyacceptstolengoods? DidIdesiretosteal? DidIgiveintolazinessorloveofcomfortratherthandiligentworkorstudy? WasIgreedy?DoIhaveanexcessivelymaterialisticviewoflife? THEEIGHTHCOMMANDMENT:Youshallnotbearfalsewitnessagainstyourneighbor. DidItelllies?DidIrepairanydamagethatmayhaveresultedasaconsequenceofthis? DidIunjstlyuorrachlyaccuseothers? DidIsinbydetraction,thatis,bytellingthefaultsofanotherpersonwithoutnecessity? DidIsinbycalumny,thatisbytellingderogatoryliesaboutanotherperson? DidIengageingossip,backbiting,ortaletelling? DidIrevealasecretwithoutduecasue? Ifyourememberotherseroussinsbesidesthoseindicatedhere,includethemalsoinyourconfession.

Shorter Daily General Examination of Conscience Based on the Ten Commandments

When was my last good confession? Did I receive communion or other sacraments while in the stateofmortalsin?DidIintentionallyfailtoconfesssomemortalsininmypreviousconfession? Did I willfully and seriously doubt my faith, or put myself in danger of losing it by reading literaturehostiletoCatholicteachingsorbygettinginvolvedwithnonCatholicsects? DidIengageinsuperstitionsactivitiessuchaspalmreadingandfortunetelling? DidItakethenameofGodinvain?DidIcurseortakeafaleoath?DidIusebadlanguage? Did I miss Mass on a Sunday or a holy day of obligation through my own fault, without any serousreason?DidIfastandabstainontheprescribeddays? DidIdisobeymyparentsorlawfulsuperiorsinimportantmatters? WasIselfishinhowItreatedothers,especiallymyspouse,mybrothersandsisters,myrelatives, ormyfriends? DidIhatefullyquarrelwithanyoneordesirerevenge? DidIrefusetoforgive? DidIcausephysicalinjuryorevendeath? DidIgetdrunk? DidItakeillicitdrugs? DidIconsentto,advisesomeoneabout,oractivelytakepartinanabortion? Did I willfully look at indecent pictures or watch immoral movies? Did I read immoral books or magazines? DidIengageinimpurejokesorconversations? DidIwillfullyentertainimpurethoughtsorfeelings? DidIcommitimpureacts,aloneorwithothers? Did I take contraceptive or abortifacient pills, or use other artificial means in order to prevent contraception? Did I steal or damage anothers property? How mujch was it worth? Have I made reparation for thedamagesdone? HaveIbeenhonestinmybusinessrelations? DidItelllies? DidIsinbyslander? DidIsinbydetractiontellingunknowngravefaultsofotherswithoutnecessity? DidIjudgeothersrashlyinseriousmatters? HaveItriedtomakerestitutionforanydamagesofreputationthatIhavecaused?

Ifyourememberotherseroussinsbesidesthoseindicatedhere,includethemalsoinyourconfession.