1. I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, YOU SHALL HAVE NONE ABOVE ME.

     - Did I fail to love God, to make Him first in my life, to thank Him, trust Him, love Him as He deserves?

     - Did I fail to pray?

     - Have I doubted or denied my faith?

     - Was I careless in saying my prayers?

     - Do I give God time everyday in prayer?

     - Do I make a god out of my work, my possessions, or my image in the eyes of  others so that these rule my life instead of God?

     - Am I angry toward God because if illness or misfortune?

     - Have I been involved with magic, horoscopes, Ouija boards, or fortune telling?

 

2. YOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD YOUR GOD IN VAIN.

     - Did I curse or swear?

     - Did I use God’s name in vain, lightly, carelessly, or by blasphemy?

     - Have I used foul language or jokes?

     - In conversation have I passively listened to slander and to

       jokes demeaning to Church or God’s authority?

 

3.  REMEMBER THE SABATH DAY, TO KEEP IT HOLY.

     - Have I deliberately missed Mass on the Lord’s Day or Holy Days of  Obligation?

     - Did I leave Mass early without a good reason?

     - Have I been to Communion at lest once a year?

     - Did I receive Holy Communion in the state of serious (mortal) sin?

     - Have I been to Confession recently?

     - In any of my previous Confessions, did I lie to or deliberately conceal anything  from the priest?

     - Have I allowed myself to become so dominated by my work and chores that I  have not set aside  Sunday for spiritual and family activities?

 

4. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.

     - Did I honor and obey my parents?

     - Did I respect my brothers and sisters?

     - Did I respect others with lawful authority, especially teachers?

     - Have I talked back?

     - Did I fail to help at home or to spend time with my family?

     - Do I blame my parents for my own shortcomings?

 

5. YOU SHALL NOT KILL.

     - Did I give into feelings of anger or jealousy?

     - Have I kept hatred in my heart?

     - Have I ever struck anyone in anger, intending to injure the person?

     - Did I fight, give a bad example or cause scandal?

     - Have I abused alcohol or drugs?

     - Have I had or in anyway permitted or encouraged abortion?

     - Have I thought about suicide?

 

6. YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.

      - Did I give my mind over to lustful thoughts or fantasies?

     - Was I immodest in dress or behavior?

     - Have I looked at pornography, impure books, magazines, or videos?

     - Am I guilty of impurity with myself, premarital sex, etc.?

     - Do I live chastely according to my state in life (married, single, ordained)?

     - Do I avoid laziness, gluttony, idleness, and the occasions of impurity?

 

7. YOU SHALL NOT STEAL.

     - Have I stolen what is not mine?  What or how much?

     - Did I return it or make up for what I have stolen?

     - Have I cheated on tests or homework?

     - Did I waste time at work?

     - Have I written graffiti?  (This steals nature’s beauty.)

     - Have I been extravagant in my manner of life, to the neglect of the poor at home and abroad?

 

8. YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR.

     - Have I lied or gossiped?  Talked about another person behind their 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?

     - Have I injured the reputation of others by speaking about their failures and  sins with little desire or intention to help them?

     - Have I condoned prejudice and hatred toward people of other nationalities, races or religions?

 

9. YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBOR’S WIFE.

     - Have I consented to impure thoughts?

     - Have I encouraged them by stares, curiosity, or impure conversations?

     - Did I neglect to control my imagination or desire of other people?

   Have I rejected my family in my heart, wishing to distance myself emotionally and personally from  them?

 

10. YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBOR’S GOODS.

     - Is my heart greedy?

     - Am I jealous of what others have?

     - Am I envious of others because I don’t have what they have?

     - Do I habitually compare myself with others?

     - Am I moody or gloomy?

     - Do I work, study and keep busy to counter idle thoughts?

     - Am I critical, uncharitable, or negative in my thoughts of others?

     - Is my heart set on earthly possessions or on the treasures of Heaven?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prayer Before Confession (in your pew alone)

Come Holy Spirit, enlighten my mind that I may clearly know my sins.  Move my heart that I may be sincerely sorry for them, honestly confess them, and firmly resolve to amend my life.  Spirit of Wisdom, grant me to see the malice of sin and my ingratitude toward You, the all-loving God.  Spirit of fortitude, help me to make whatever sacrifice is needed to avoid sin in the future.  Amen.

 

HOW TO GO TO CONFESSION – “WHAT DO I DO?????” the priest greets you and Blesses you – Bless yourself and say Amen The penitent says: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.”  You then say how long it has been since your last Confession. The Penitent tells the priest his/her sins and answers any questions. The priest will give you some advice and will assign you a penance. The priest may ask you to say an act of contrition (below) The priest then gives absolution. – again he will bless you and you will say AMEN.  You are FORGIVEN and given grace to help avoid sin!!! How awesome is that?

Act of Contrition (if priest asks during confession)

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

Almighty and Merciful God, whose mercy is boundless and everlasting, and of Whose goodness the riches are infinite, I thank You because You have so graciously pardoned all of my sins, and restored me to Your heavenly favor.  I am awed by Your divine compassion and the incomprehensible love of Your Son, which lead Him to institute so gentle and powerful a remedy for sins.  In union with all of the gratitude that has ever ascended to You from truly penitent hearts, I proclaim Your merciful praises on behalf of all heaven, on earth, and in purgatory, for ever and ever.  Amen.

“Come now, let us set things right, says the LORD: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool.” – Isaiah 1:18
The only sin God cannot forgive is the sin we don’t ask forgiveness for…I am a sinner. I really can be so selfish at times.
How could God forgive me for all that I have done in my life?
How can God forget about all of the times I’ve been SO self-centered? How could my Creator POSSIBLY still love me, knowing all of the things I’ve done?How, indeed. That is what the CROSS does – it “crosses” out all of that garbage.
The wonderful cross…what is it? It is the eternal reminder that sin is death, but death has no power over me.
It is a challenge to my self-centeredness, forcing me to look beyond myself.
It is a harsh reality that necessitates a decision and action on my part, as a Christian.
It is a sacrifice so steeped in love that I can barely comprehend it.
It is the sword my savior wields to defend and uplift me.
It is the entry way to Heaven, the doorway to a happiness that “I can only imagine”.
It is the invitation into the eternal family, a seat at the banquet table of God my Father
No, I’m not worthy, but worthiness has nothing to do with me and everything to do with God. That is how incredibly and realistically that God loves me, and you. He knows how sin clouds and “clogs” our relationship. This verse reminds us of how badly my Father wants things to ‘be made right” and how easy it is, if I come to Him.
In our unworthiness He finds worth, in our sinfulness the cross stands firm – raising us up, the way the Romans raised up my Savior one Friday…but also the way God raised up my Lord one Sunday – an event we pause to remember each Sunday, and every day we breathe.I don’t understand, God, what you see in me…but Lord, I am SO glad you do.
Just thinking about it, really thinking about it, brings tears to my eyes. My life is yours God. Take me where you want to take me.
A “yes” to God is little more than a “no” to self-centeredness.
We’ve all sinned, we’ve all screwed up. If its dragging you down – make amends, reconcile yourself to God (especially in the Sacrament)
He is waiting. Are you walking? The only sin God cannot forgive is the sin we don’t ask forgiveness for…You are worth more to God than you know…more than you can understand, for now. One day, you will.
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