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Examinations of Conscience: The USCCB offers helpful exams for single and married persons. You may also find helpful the exam and guide below by Fr. James Socias.

Recall your sins. Calmly ask yourself what you have done with full knowledge and full consent  against God’s and the Church’s Commandments. 

An examination of conscience:

• When was my last good confession? Did I receive Holy Communion or other sacraments in  the state of mortal sin? Did I intentionally fail to confess some mortal sin in my previous  confession? 

• Did I seriously doubt my faith or put myself in danger of losing my faith through readings or  movies hostile to Catholic teachings or involvement in non-Catholic sects? Did I engage in  superstitious practices: palm-reading, fortune telling, horoscopes, etc.? 

• Did I take the name of God in vain? Did I use curse words, or take a false oath? 

• Did I intentionally miss Mass on Sundays or holy days of obligation through my own fault,  without any serious reason? Did I keep fast and abstinence on the prescribed days? 

• Did I disobey, dishonor, or disrespect my parents or lawful superiors in important matters? 

• Did I hate or quarrel with anyone, or desire revenge? Did I refuse to forgive? Did I hurt or  cause to kill someone? Have I ever harmed myself? Did I get drunk? Did I take illicit drugs?  Did I consent to, recommend, advise or actively take part in an abortion? 

• Did I willfully look at indecent pictures or watch immoral videos or movies? Did I read immoral books  or magazines? Did I engage in impure jokes or conversations? Did I willfully entertain impure  thoughts or feelings? Did I commit impure acts, alone or with others? Did I take  contraceptives or use other artificial means in order to prevent  conception? 

• Did I steal or damage another’s property? How much? Have I made reparation for the  damages done? Have I been dishonest in my business relations? 

• Did I tell lies? Did I sin by calumny, or detraction telling the unknown grave faults of others  without necessity, even if they are true? Did I judge others rashly in serious matters? Have I  tried to make restitution for the bad reputation I caused? 

If you remember other serious sins besides those indicated here, mention them in your  confession.

Before confession:

Be truly sorry for your sins. The essential act of penance, on the part of the penitent, is contrition, a clear and decisive rejection of the sin committed, together with a resolution not to commit it again, out of the love one has for God and which is reborn with repentance. 

During confession: 

You can begin your confession by making the sign of the cross and greeting the priest:

“Bless me father, for I have sinned.” 

You may continue with the time since your last confession:  

“My last confession was . . . ” (how many weeks, months or years approximately).

Say the sins that you remember. Tip: start with the one that is most difficult to say, after this it  will be easier to mention the rest.  

If you do not know how to confess, or feel uneasy or ashamed, simply ask the priest to assist  you. Be assured he will help you make a good confession. Place your trust in God: he is your merciful  Father and wants to forgive you. 

If you do not remember any serious sins, be sure to confess at least some of your venial sins,  adding at the end:

“I am sorry for these and all the sins of my past life, especially for . . . “ (you are free to mention in general any past sin for which you are particularly sorry, for example all my sins  against charity, purity, etc.).

The priest will assign you some penance, and give you some advice to help you to be a better  Christian. 

Then you will be asked to recite an Act of Contrition prayer out loud, such as: 

“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.” 

Listen to the words of the absolution attentively. At the end answer: “Amen.” Try to do the penance as soon as possible. This penance will diminish the temporal punishment  due to sins already forgiven. 

After confession: 

Give thanks to God for forgiving you!

(Electronically adapted by Open Confessional and published with ecclesiastical approval by Midwest Theological Forum)

For further reflections: on the Sacraments and ordinary life please visit Let’s Repent!