This confession guide is meant to help those who want to make a good sacramental confession. These questions are a general guide for your confession. If you haven’t had a confession in a long time please don’t be anxious about it. The best confession comes from your heart and you need to trust that God wants to reconcile you to himself. Be confident in his loving mercy and humble enough to speak the truth. If you can do that then you will have a good confession.
Confession Guide for Catholics
Confession Helper and Examination of Conscience
These confession guide questions are based on the 10 Commandments.
We have included this confession guide on our website because many Christians today are unaware of what is right and wrong and what the Church teaches about sin. If you haven’t been to confession in years, we encourage you first spend time doing an examination of conscience. Let the Lord show you through the Holy Spirit what needs to be confessed and amended before you receive him in the Eucharist at Mass. Then keep your resolutions by avoiding all near occasions of sin and making a conscious effort to “sin no more” (John 8:10-11).
Conversion begins with a resolution and the intent to stop committing the sins that have separated you from God. This confession guide will help you take a vital step forward to repair what has been severed.
Confessing Habitual Sin
If you have a problem with a habitual sin, please keep returning to the Lord to repent and ask for grace with every repeat sin. Never sin with the idea that you will be forgiven. This is a sin of presumption, but if you fall, know that God is merciful and He desires for you to amend your life. It’s like the story of the prodigal son. He longs to reconcile with you.
With this confession guide, you will make a better examination of conscience before you go meet with your priest.
In making this public commitment to change by confessing your sins you will begin to enter into a renewed friendship with God. The Sacrament of confession helps us love God and be grateful for his mercy. It also humbles us and gives us a desire to reconcile with others. When you are absolved of your sin you will feel a new sense of purpose and have the grace to make a positive change in life to turn it toward the good.
Confession Guide for Catholics
The 1st Commandment
Have I?
Reserved or harbored hatred for God?
Disobeyed the commandments of God or the Church?
Refused to accept what God has revealed as true, or what the Catholic Church proclaims for belief?
Denied the existence of God?
Neglected to nourish and protect my faith?
Neglected to reject everything opposed to a sound faith?
Deliberately misled others about doctrine or the faith?
Rejected the Catholic faith, joined another Christian denomination, or joined or practiced another religion?
Joined a group forbidden to Catholics? (Masons, communists, etc.)
Despaired about my salvation or the forgiveness of my sins?
Presumed God’s mercy? (Committing a sin in expectation of forgiveness, or asking for forgiveness without interior conversion and practicing virtue.)
Loved someone or something more than God? (money, power, sex, ambition, etc.)
Let someone or something influence my choices more than God?
Engaged in superstitious practices? (Including horoscopes, fortune tellers, etc.)
Been involved in the occult or occult practices? (Séances, Ouija board, worship of Satan, etc.)
Formally attempted to leave the Catholic Church?
Hidden a serious sin or told a lie in Confession?
Confession Guide for Catholics
The 2nd Commandment
Have I?
Used the name of God in cursing or blasphemy?
Failed to keep vows, promises, or resolutions that I have made to God? (specify in the confessional which one; the Priest has authority to remove the obligations of promises and resolutions if they are too rash or unjust)
Spoken about the Faith, the Church, the saints, or sacred things with irreverence, hatred or defiance?
Watched television or movies, or listened to music that treated God, the Church, the saints, or sacred things irreverently?
Used vulgar, suggestive or obscene speech?
Belittled others in my speech?
Behaved disrespectfully in the church building? (e.g., talking immoderately in church before, during, after holy Mass)
Misused places or things set apart for the worship of God?
Committed perjury? (Breaking an oath or lying under oath.)
Blamed God for my failings?
Confession Guide for Catholics
The 3rd Commandment
Have I?
Neglected to set time aside each day for personal prayer to God?
Committed a sacrilege against the Blessed Sacrament? (thrown Him away; brought Him home; treated Him carelessly, etc.)
Received any sacrament while in the state of mortal sin?
Habitually come late to and/or leave early from Mass?
Shop, labor, practice sports or do business unnecessarily on Sunday or other Holy Days of Obligation?
Not attended to taking my children to Mass?
Not provided proper instruction in the Faith to my children?
Knowingly eaten meat on a forbidden day? (or not fasted on a fast day.)
Eaten or drunken within one hour of receiving Communion? (other than medical need.)
Confession Guide for Catholics
The 4th Commandment
Have I?
(If still under my parents’ care)
Obeyed all that my parents reasonably asked of me?
Shown disregard for my parents wishes, displayed contempt of their demands, and/or disdained their very being?
Neglected the needs of my parents in their old age or in their time of need
Harbored hatred for my parents?
Brought shame on them?
(If still in school)
Obeyed the reasonable demands of my teachers?
Disrespected my teachers?
(If I have children)
Neglected to give my children proper food, clothing, shelter, education, discipline and care (even after Confirmation)?
Provided for the religious education and formation of my children for as long as they are under my care?
Ensured that my children still under my care regularly frequent the sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion?
Educated my children in a way that corresponds to Catholic religious disciplines?
Provided my children with a positive, prudent and personalized education in the Catholic teaching on human sexuality?
Been to my children a good example of how to live the Catholic Faith?
Prayed with and for my children?
Confession Guide for Catholics
The 5th Commandment
Have I?
Unjustly and intentionally killed a human being? (murder)
Been guilty, through negligence and/or lacking of intention, of the death of another? (killing)
Been involved in an abortion, directly or indirectly? (through advice, encouragement, providing money, or facilitating it in any other way.)
Seriously considered or attempted suicide?
Supported, promoted, or encouraged the practice of assisted suicide or mercy killing? (euthanasia)
Deliberately desired to kill an innocent human being?
Unjustly inflicted bodily harm on another person?
Unjustly threatened another person with bodily harm?
Verbally or emotionally abused another person?
Gossiped, slandered, detracted, calumniated?
Hated another person, or wished him/her evil?
Been prejudiced, or unjustly discriminated against others because of their race, color, nationality, sex or religion?
Joined a hate group?
Purposely provoked another by teasing or nagging?
Recklessly endangered my life or health, or that of another, by my actions?
Driven recklessly or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs?
Abused alcohol or other drugs?
Sold or given drugs to others to use for non-therapeutic purposes?
Used tobacco immoderately?
Over-eaten?
Encouraged others to sin by giving scandal?
Helped another to commit a mortal sin? (through advice, driving them somewhere, dressing and/or acting immodestly, etc.)
Caused serious injury of another by criminal neglect?
Indulged in unjust anger?
Refused to control my temper?
Been threatening to, quarreled with, or willfully hurt someone?
Been unforgiving of others, especially when mercy or pardon was requested?
Sought revenge or hoped something bad would happen to someone?
Delighted to see someone else get hurt or suffer?
Treated animals cruelly, causing them to suffer or die needlessly?
Confession Guide for Catholics
The 6th Commandment
Have I?
Given in to lust? (The desire for sexual pleasure unrelated to spousal love in marriage.)
Used an artificial means of birth control? (including withdrawal)
Refused to be open to conception, without just cause? (Catechism, 2368)
Participated in immoral techniques such as in vitro fertilization or artificial insemination?
Sterilized my sex organs for contraceptive purposes?
Deprived my spouse of the marital right, without just cause?
Claimed my own marital right without concern for my spouse?
Deliberately caused male climax outside of normal sexual intercourse
Masturbated? (Deliberate stimulation of one’s own sexual organs for sexual pleasure outside of the conjugal act.)
Committed incest? (Sexual relations with a relative closer than the third degree or an in-law.)
Committed fornication? (Sexual relations with someone of the opposite sex when the two are not married to one another or any others.)
Engaged in homosexual activity? (Sexual activity with someone of the same sex)
Committed rape?
Engaged in sexual foreplay reserved for marriage? (e.g., “petting”, or excessive touching)
Preyed upon children or youth for my sexual pleasure? (pedophilia)
Engaged in unnatural sexual activities? (anything that is not inherently natural to the sexual act; e.g., sex toys, even in the context of marriage.)
Engaged in prostitution, or paid for the services of a prostitute?
Confession Guide for Catholics
The 7th Commandment
Have I?
Stolen? (Taken something that doesn’t belong to me against the reasonable will of the owner.)
Cheated on a test, taxes, sports, games, or in business?
Squandered money in compulsive gambling?
Make a false claim to an insurance company?
Paid my employees a living wage, or failed to give a full day’s work for a full day’s pay?
Failed to honor my part of a contract?
Failed to make good on a debt?
Overcharge someone, especially to take advantage of another’s hardship or ignorance?
Misused natural resources?
Confession Guide for Catholics
The 8th Commandment
Have I?
Lied?
Knowingly and willfully deceived another?
Perjured myself under oath?
Gossiped?
Committed detraction? (Destroying a person’s reputation by telling others about his faults for no good reason.)
Committed slander or calumny? (Telling lies about another person in order to destroy his reputation.)
Committed libel? (Writing lies about another person in order to destroy his reputation. Libel is in substance different from slander because the written word has a longer “life” of damage.)
Been guilty of rash judgment? (Assuming the worst of another person based on circumstantial evidence.)
Failed to make reparation for a lie I told, or for harm done to a person’s reputation?
Failed to speak out in defense of the Catholic Faith, the Church, or of another person?
Betrayed another’s confidence through speech, deed, or in writing?
Confession Guide for Catholics
The 9th Commandment
Have I?
Neglected to practice and grow in the virtue of chastity?
Willfully entertained impure thoughts?
Purchased, viewed, or made use of pornography?
Watched or promoted movies and television that involve sex and nudity?
Listened to music or jokes that are harmful to purity?
Read books that are immoral?
Seduced someone, or allowed myself to be seduced?
Made uninvited and unwelcome sexual advances toward another?
Purposely dressed immodestly?
Confession Guide for Catholics
The 10th Commandment
Have I?
Envied others on account of their possessions?
Neglected to live in a spirit of Gospel poverty and simplicity?
Neglected to give generously to others in need?
Not considered that God has provided me with money so that I might use it to benefit others, as well as for my own legitimate needs?
Allowed myself to be conformed to a consumer mentality? (buy, buy buy, throw away, waste, spend, spend, spend.)
Neglected to practice the corporal works of mercy?
Deliberately defaced, destroyed or lost another’s property?
Misused natural resources?
Confession Guide for Catholics
After Examining your Conscience
After having discovered the different sorts of sins that you have been guilty of committing, together with their number, enormity, and the amount of malice in your heart toward God and others when committing them, you should now open your heart wide to offer a heartfelt sorrow for having committed them.
Sincerely detest having committed them.
This is the most essential and most difficult thing needed for making a good confession: the true sorrow for having lived your life in such a sinful manner and having severed your soul from union with God.
Ask God for the humility needed to confess these sins with true repentance to a confessor and for the perseverance to never commit such sinful acts again in the future.
How to Go to Confession
Begin by making the Sign of the Cross with the priest and say: “Forgive me father for I have sinned. It has been (period of time) since my last confession.”
Then tell your sins to the priest simply and honestly after having contemplated this confession guide.
Listen to the priest’s words and accept the penance he gives you.
Pray the Act of Contrition
Version 1
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.
Version 2
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.
(Both versions are found on the Vatican website.)
Receive Absolution
The priest will then conclude with the words: “Go in Peace”.
Do Your Penance
If it is possible it is always best to say your penance immediately after your confession in the church or the chapel. It is also a very good act of charity to say your penance a second time for the priest who heard your confession.
Below is a prayer of resolution that can be said after you make your sacramental confession to help you stop habitual sins and amend your life.
Confession Guide for Catholics
Prayer of Resolution
My Lord and my All,
I am confounded at the multitude and enormity of all my offenses against so good a God. With great humility I ask You, Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.
My sins exceed in number the sands of the sea. But Your mercies are still greater in number than my sins. O ocean of mercy, have compassion on me. I am nothing but a poor sinner. Make me now, at least, a true penitent.
Father, I have sinned against heaven and in Your sight. I am not worthy to be called Your child. Receive me now as one of the least of your servants, and never let me suffer to stray from You again.
It grieves me, O God, that I have offended You. I am heartily sorry for all the sins I have committed against Your infinite goodness. I wish that I could sufficiently lament them, every single sin with tears of blood for having been so evil and selfish and in enmity with You.
I wish I had never offended You, my God. You are my true Love and Only Good. I wish I had never sinned against You. My shame is so great that I want to escape Your presence. Yet I know You are present to me always. There is no place I can go to escape Your gaze.
Lord, You have said that there is joy in Heaven when one sinner repents and does penance for his sins more than in the 99 souls which remain just. I beg you now, give me the grace to be that one repentant sinner. Help me to turn my cold heart into a heart burning for love of You so that heaven may rejoice at my conversion.
You came, dear Jesus, not to call the just, but sinners like me to repentance. Look down on me right now, I am miserable in my current state. I long to be free from the bondage of my sin. I find myself in this terrible condition because of the many poor choices I have made. I beg You, do not turn Your Face from me. Do not let me remain dead in my sins. Please, God, let me live in You. Send me Your Spirit and renew my soul. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within my soul. Grant that I may now serve You with fervor so that I may make up for all my past sins. I want to make reparation for the many evil deeds I have done. Please God, flood my soul with grace and then open the doors of healing in my life.
O My God, You have made me, and You have redeemed me by Your Precious Blood. Please God, I want to amend my life. Do not turn Your Face away from Your creation. I am the work of Your hands. Please God, redeem me so that I may offer You all the rest of the days of my life. I promise to live them in service to Your Kingdom.
I beg You please give me a penitential heart. Make me humble so that I may hate my sin and turn away from myself and grow in love for You. I am unable to do this without Your grace. I consent right now to Your intervention. Do with me whatever You Will for the salvation of my eternal soul.
Oh Divine Savior of my soul, how little You are known and loved in this wicked world. How little You are loved. I myself am guilty of not loving You. Please, I beg You, forgive me now. Come right now into my heart and take full possession of it for time and eternity. Do not let me perish in hell. I beg You. Take my heart and make it like Your own.
You promise souls that Your mercy is infinite as long as we repent. I repent now with my whole heart. I have been an ungrateful sinner in spite of the many graces, mercies, and gifts You have given me. Still I rejected Your love and it has destroyed my soul. I cannot live without Your Spirit any longer. I must be in union with You or I die.
I beg You, Jesus, hear this one prayer of mine right now today. You know how desperate I am and how ashamed I am of who I have become and how I have betrayed You. Please turn Your Face toward me and heal me. Give me the grace to amend all that is broken in me and all those I have sinned against in my life. God, give me the grace to never betray Your Love ever again from now to eternity.
I ask all this in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.