Events

From the Fathers on Repentance:

 Repentance is the renewal of Baptism and is a covenant with God for a fresh start in life. Repentance goes shopping for humility and is ever distrustful of bodily comfort. Repentance is a critical awareness and a sure watch over oneself. Repentance is the daughter of hope and the refusal to despair.

                St. John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 5.

Examination of Conscience:

The Ten Commandments:

1.  I am the Lord your God, and you shall have no other gods before me.

Has God been the source, center, and hope of my life?  Have I put myself, others, or things before God?  Have I failed to trust in God's existence, love, and mercy?  Have I failed to pary to God, to worship Him, and to thank Him for His blessings?  Have I tried to serve God and keep His commandments faithfully?  Have I murmured or complained against God in adversity?  Have I praised and glorified God through my words and deeds? 

2.  You shall not make for yourself a graven image in order to worship it. 

Have I valued anyone or anything above God?  Have I given to anyone or anything the love, honor, and worship that belongs to God alone?  Have I made an idol of any person, idea, occupation, or thing? 

3.  I am the Lord your God, and you shall have no other gods before me. 

Have I blasphemed God's holy name in any way?  Have I sworn a false oath?  Have I broken any solemn vow or promise?  Have I entered into an agreement, promise, or contract against God's law?  Have I cursed or used foul language? 

4.  Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 

Have I worshipped regularly on Sundays and major feast days and have I helped others to do the same?  Have I worked unnecessarily on Sundays or major feast days or caused others to do so?  Have I spent the Lord's Day in a wholesome and edifying way? 

5.  Honor your father and mother. 

Have I loved and respected my parents as I should?  Have I neglected them or failed to help them?  Have I disobeyed them, deceived them or caused them pain by my words or deeds?  Have I treated all my family members with patience and love?

6.  Thou shall not kill. 

Have I caused the harm, injury, or death of anyone?  Have I wished my own or anyone's harm or death?  Have I been cruel to animals or destroyed any life unnecessarily?  

7.  You shall not commit adultery. 

Have I committed any immoral acts alone or with others?  Have I caused others to commit immoral acts?  Have I committed immoral acts in my heart?

8.  You shall not steal. 

Have I taken anything that was not mine from anyone or from anywhere?  Have I cheated anyone?  Have I caused others to steal or cheat?  Have I tried to find the owners of lost things I have found?  Have I damaged or destroyed anything that belonged to another?  Have I defrauded anyone of rightful wages?  Have I paid my debts?  Have I given to the poor and to philanthropic causes in proportion to my means? 

9.  You shall not bear false witness. 

Have I given false testimony against anyone?  Have I spoken evil, told lies, or spread rumors about anyone?  Have I disclosed to anyone the sins and faults of another?  Have I made careless statements or done anything else to harm the name and reputation of another?  Have I engaged in idle gossip?

10.  You shall not covet. 

Have I looked with envy, jealousy, or hatred toward the possessions, talents, or achievements of others?  Have I desired the downfall or loss of others out of evil intent that I might benefit?  Have I grieved that God has bestowed greater blessings on others than on me?

The Beatitudes

1.  Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Have I truly recognized my complete dependence on God?  Have I been proud, arrogant, and self-righteous in my ways?  Have I been selfish, possessive, and self-seeking?  Have I sought after status, power, and wealth? 

2.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 

Have I endured difficulties and afflictions with faith and patience?  Have I felt sadness for the sufferings of the poor, the hungry, and the addicted; the sick, the lonely, and the sinful of the world?  Have I truly been sorrowful for my sins and faults? 

3.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 

Have I tried to serve or rather to dominate others at home, school, work, office, church, and elsewhere?  Have I cursed against anyone?  Have I been resentful, bitter, unforgiving, or insulting and abusive to others?  Have I loved my enemies? 

4.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 

Have I truly yearned for God's will to be done in all things?  Have I worked for justice in my family, society, and the world in ways within my reach?  Have I tried to cultivate a righteous life through prayer, fasting, worship, receiving Holy Communion, and deeds of love toward others? 

5.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 

Have I shown compassion and help toward the poor, hungry, lonely, and needy around me?  Have I tried to understand and forgive others?  Have I been indifferent, judgmental, or legalistic? 

6.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 

Have I loved goodness, purity, and holiness?  Have I succumbed to evil motives and intentions?  Have I given way to impure thoughts, words, or deeds?  Have I been guilty of bias and prejudice?  Have I been hypocritical, pretentious, or self-indulgent to sinful passions? 

7.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 

Do I have God's peace in my heart?  Have I been unfairly angry, aggressive, or impatient?  Have I worked for peace at home, work, church, and in society?  Have I been irritable, polemical, or divisive?  

8.  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Have I complained when persecuted for God's sake?  Have I prayed for my persecutors?  Have I failed to defend anyone in the truth for fear of humiliation or persecution?  Have I had the courage to stand up for what is right despite criticism, ridicule, or persecution? 

9.  Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you on my account; rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. 

Is the joy of Christ in my heart even in trying moments?  Have I been pessimistic, despondent, or despairing?  Have I truly delighted in the promise of God's treasures in heaven? 

The Form of Confession:

The faithful may begin their confession with the words:

I confess to almighty God, one in the Holy Trinity, to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, to all the saints, and to you, Father, all my sins

Or:

Father, I have sinned before heaven and before God.

Then the penitent confesses sincerely in what way he or she has sinned, concluding with the words:

For these and all my other sins which I do not remember or cannot call to mind, I am truly sorry. I have offended God and have angered Him against me. I am sincerely repentant and promise, with the help of God, to better my life. For this I humbly ask of you, Father, salutary penance and absolution.

Then the priest will give advice, penance, and absolution.