An Examination of Conscience

For you to make a good confession you need to examine your conscience

It is necessary to evaluate your conscience with courage, in the light of the Holy Spirit. And not to hide something from the priest, because he represents Jesus himself.

1 -Do I love God more than the things, people and my programs? Or have I worshiped false gods, like the pleasure of sex before or outside marriage, the pleasure of gluttony, pride , the vanity of showing off, of wanting to be “the good one” etc.?

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Photo: Yamin/cancaonova.com

Cultivation of superstitions

2 -Have I, against the law of God, sought power, knowledge, wealth, solutions to my problems in prohibited things as horoscopes, birth chart, reading cards, Tarot readings, pyramids, crests, spiritism, macumba, black magic, summoning the dead, palm reading? Have I cultivated superstition? Fingers crossed, amulets, elves, gnomes and stuff? Do I listen to songs that influence me and cause alienation, violence, desire for sex, rebellion and depravity?

3 -Do I Pray, trust God, look to the Church, participate in the Holy Mass on Sundays? Do I confess? I share?

4 -Do I read the Gospels, the living Word of Jesus, or is it that you are a stranger to me?

5 -Respect, love and defend God, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels and saints and sacred things? Or am I a blasphemer who acts as an enemy of Jesus?

6 -Love, honor, help my parents and siblings, my family? Or am I “a problem” in my house?Do I make my parents cry? I am a child  who only knows how to demand and require? Do I lie and am I fooling them? Do I live the commandment: “honor your father and mother”?

 

Live the chastity

7 -How’s my dating life? Do I see my date as an object of pleasure for me, like a cigarette I smoke and play the “bita” out? Is my date a “person” with which I want to live, or is my date just a “thing” to give me pleasure?

8 – Do I live sexbefore marriage, out of God’s plan? Do I invite thoughts, words and deeds regarding issues such as masturbation, porn magazines, movies, erotic shows and provocative clothes? do I live homosexuality?

9 -Do I respect my body and my health, which are gifts of God? Or will I destroy my body, which is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, with prostitution, drugs, high-risk adventures, quarrels, violence, provocation etc.?

10 -Am I honest or do I fake the other? Do I fool my parents? Do I secretly get money away from them? Did I steal something from somebody, even if it’s something without much value? It is already returned?

I’m a vengeful person

11 – Have I wronged someone? Have I Hurt someone with words, thoughts, attitudes,  weapons? Have I denied my forgiveness to someone? Wanted revenge? Have I hated someone?

12 -Do I speak ill of others? Do I gossip, destroying the honor and good name of individuals? Am I a slanderer and tattler? Do I live judging and condemning others? Am I compassionate, patient and meek?Do I  know to forgive as Jesus commands?

13 -Am I humble, simple, helpful and real friend?

14 -Do I live charity, Do I know suffer to help those in need?
Do I share what I have with others or am I selfish?

15 -Am I detached from material things,money?

 

Sin of gluttony

16 -Am I greedy? Do I live to eat or eat to live?

17 -Is my drinking out of control? Do I let the alcohol destroy my life and disgrace my family?

18 -Am I lazy? Don’t work well? Do Leave all my stuff around? Am I spoiling myself?

19 -Do I feel anger and refuse to forgive what another did to me? Do I desire revenge against someone?am I mean?

20 -am I jealous? Do I wish evil upon others?

From the book: “Jovem, levanta-te” [Young Man, Get up]

Prof Felipe Aquino

Professor Felipe Aquino is a widower, father of five children. On TV Canção Nova he presents the program “Escola da Fé” [School of faith] and “Pergunte e Responderemos” [Ask and respond], on Radio he presents the program “in the heart of the Church”. On weekends he preaches deepening meetings throughout Brazil and abroad. He wrote 73 books of Catholic background by publishers, Loyola and Cleopas and Canção Nova. His teacher’s page:www.cleofas.com.br Twitter: @pfelipeaquino