Celebrating the Sacraments

Examination Preparation for the sacrament

The Sacrament of Confession [with reference numbers to the New Catholic Catechism]

1. God’s Two Great Commandments

[Book III, Part 2] [New Catholic Catechism] The basis of all law (your rule of life) rests on two commandments: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind... .You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37, 39) [2055, 2083].

2. Commandments of God

These are an extension of the two great commandments. The first three tell you how to love your God; the rest show you how to love your neighbor [2196].

  • 1. You shall honor no other god but me [2084-21411.
  • 2. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God [2142-2167].
  • 3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath [2168-2195].
  • 4. Honor your father and your mother [2197-2257].
  • 5. You shall not kill [2258-2330].
  • 6. You shall not commit adultery [2331-2400].
  • 7. You shall not steal [2401-2463].
  • 8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor [2464-2513].
  • 9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife [25 14-2533].
  • 10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods [25 34-2557].

3. Precepts of the Church

[2041-2043, 2045] From time to time, the Church has listed certain specific duties of Catholics. Some duties expected of Catholic Christians today include the following. (Those traditionally mentioned as Precepts of the Church are marked with an asterisk.)

  • 1. To keep holy the day of the Lord’s Resurrection: to worship God by participating in Mass every Sunday and every holy day of obligation:
  • * To avoid those activities that would hinder renewal of soul and body, for example, needless work and business activities, unnecessary shopping, and so forth [1166, 1167,   1389, 2042, 2174-2192].
  • 2. To lead a sacramental life: to receive holy Communion frequently and the sacrament of penance regularly
  •   —minimally, to receive the sacrament of penance at least once a year (annual confession is obligatory only if serious sin is involved) [1389, 2042].
  •   —minimally, to receive holy Communion at least once a year, between the first Sunday of Lent and  Trinity Sunday or, for a just cause, at another time during the year [1389, 1417, 2042].
  • 3. To study Catholic teaching in preparation for the sacrament of confirmation, to be confirmed, and then to continue to study and advance the cause of Christ [1309, 1319].
  • 4. To observe the marriage laws of the Church: [160 1-1666] * to give religious training (by example and word) to one’s children; to use parish schools and religious-education programs [1656, 1657].
  • 5. To strengthen and support the Church: * one’s own parish community and parish priests; the worldwide Church and the Holy Father [1351,2046]
  • 6. To do penance, including abstaining from meat and fasting from food on the appointed days (1438, 2043].
  • 7. To join in the missionary spirit and apostolate of the Church [2044-2046]

Particular Examine

  • 1. Did I fail to love God … to pray? Have I doubted or denied my Faith? Was I careless in saying my prayers? Read books against the Catholic Faith?
  • 2. Did I curse or swear? Did I use God’s Name in vain: lightly … carelessly … by blasphemy? Do I use profane language? Have I insulted a sacred person?
  • 3. Have I missed Mass through my own fault? On Sundays? Holy Days? Was I late for Mass or did I leave early without a good reason? Allow my children to miss Mass? Did I omit my Easter Duty? Or my yearly Confession duty? Was I easily distracted at Mass? Did I do unnecessary servile work on Sunday?
  • 4. Did I honor and obey my parents? Others with lawful authority? Have I talked back? Failed to help at home? Been sad or sour? Neglected my children’s religious education? Failed to lead them to Mass … to frequent confession? Failed to spend time with my family? Separated or divorced civilly without consultation according to the mind of the Church?
  • 5. Was I angry … resentful … kept hatred in my heart? Did I fight … give bad example or scandal? Did I fail to correct in charity? Permitted or encouraged an abortion or mutilation (vasectomy, etc.) to avoid children?
  • 6. Did I consent to impure glances? Passionate kisses? Sinful touches? Was I immodest in dress or behavior? Did I read impure books or magazines? Am I guilty of masturbation (impurity with self), fornication (premarital sex), adultery (sex with a married person) or birth control (by pills, devices, withdrawal)? Do I avoid laziness, gluttony ,idleness, and the occasions of impurity?
  • 7. Did I steal? What or how much? Did I return it or make equal restitution? Did I waste time at work, in school, at home? Am I stingy? Do I gamble excessively? Neglect to pay my debts promptly? Do I live poverty of spirit and detachment? Have I supported my church regularly?
  • 8. Have I lied, gossiped? Talked about another behind his back? Do I always tell the truth? Am I sincere? Did I reveal secrets that should have been kept confidential? Am I critical, negative or uncharitable in my talk?
  • 9. Have I consented to impure thoughts? Have I caused them by stares, bad reading, curiosity or impure conversations? Do I neglect to control my imagination? Do I pray at once to banish such bad thoughts and temptations?
  • 10. Is my heart greedy? Am I jealous of what another has? Am I envious of him because I don’t have what he has? Am I moody? Gloomy? Do I work, study and keep busy to counter idle thoughts? Is my heart set on earthly possessions or on the true treasures in Heaven?

Act of Contrition

 My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy. Amen.

or

 O my God, I am sorry for my sins because I have offended you. I know I should love you above all things. Help me to do penance, to do better, and to avoid anything that might lead me to sin. Amen.

or

 Any spontaneous and heartfelt prayer that tells God that you are truly sorry for all your sins, that you will mend your ways, and that you firmly intend to avoid what leads to sin is a good Act of Contrition.

CONFESSING MY SINS

…with sincerity…with sorrow...I believe in a loving Savior...who forgives my sins...who gives me grace to be a saint. Jesus Christ does both in the Sacrament of Penance.

“O God, have mercy on me a sinner.” (Lk. 18:13)

“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” (Jn. 1:29)

“Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven….” (Jn.20:23)

“You are to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect …” (Mt. 5:48)

THE FIVE STEPS OF CONFESSION

(Pray to God the Holy Spirit for Hislight and His grace.)

  • 1. Examine your conscience.
  • 2. Be sorry for your sins; try to have the perfect sorrow of love.
  • 3. Make a firm resolution not to sin again, to avoid the near occasions of sin.
  • 4. Tell all your sins in the confessional and receive absolution.
  • 5. Say your penance promptly.