Preparation for Confession
Examination of conscience with reflections on the Second Commandment
"Thou shall not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them."
- Have I made an idol of any person or thing?
- Have I given to any one or to anything the worship that is due to God alone?
- Have I put God first? Or have I given first place to accumulation of money, acquisition of property, amusement or entertainment, food and drink, clothing, self-adornment, attention to oneself, eliciting praise, drinking alcohol, taking drugs, spending time in distractions, obsession with myself or with other persons or things?
- Have I been distracted from God by a passion for watching television or movies, attending the theater or playing games of one sort or another?
- Have I been so anxious about myself, my family or friends, that I have neglected God, failed to serve Him, and not carried out what is required of me by the Church?
- Have I given too much attention to my home and its furnishings, its decoration and repair?
- Have I been irreverent during Divine Services, let my attention wander or been insincere?
- Have I neglected to receive Holy Communion regularly?
- Have I received the Divine Gifts without due preparation?
- Have I made an idol of myself?
- Have I made an idol of some passion, love of money, gluttony, sexual obsession, anger?
- Have I allowed a passion to take possession of my heart?
- Have I read the Scriptures regularly?
- Have I read books that would be spiritually nourishing?
- Have I set before myself the holy life of Jesus my Savior and tried to imitate Him?
- Have I called on our Lord Jesus Christ to help me?
- Have I read the lives of the Saints and tried to imitate their virtues, especially those of my Patron Saint?
- Have I asked the Saints for their prayers and their strength?
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