Examination of Conscience

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Maybe you heart this before, but it won’t hurt to repeat it 😛

If you’re going to the confession sessions before Sunday Mass, confess only mortal sins. Just ‘what’ and the frequency / numbers, not how and when. Give someone behind you a chance to confess, they might have mortal sins to confess too.

Otherwise, appoint a priest.
 
I don’t get it. What does that have to do with thoughts on the article? I appreciate your advice, however, I was not asking for advice.
 
I’ve seen these and other “lists” or guides. This one almost seems to be too inclusive. There are some items that I can’t understand what they’re doing under certain commandments, but most are related to the commandment.

I struggle big-time with confession and examination of conscience, and I have a real aversion to going to confession. I understand and support the CC’s teaching, I just don’t like to go, and have always felt “worse” after I go than I did before going. I don’t get that sense of forgiveness that others have talekd about.

These guides help me somewhat, but I struggle with many of those that are classified as “mortal”. If one considers all of the potential mortal sins listed, we’d be in confession a long, long time, and needing to go daily.
 
OKAstro said:
I just don’t like to go, and have always felt “worse” after I go than I did before going. QUOTE]

Do you go to the same confessor each time? If so, would it help to find someone new? Does the confessor tell you about Christ’s love for you and about how this is an opportunity for a fresh start? Confession is one of my favorite things about being Catholic.
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It’s good that you’re aware of being overly scrupulous.

These lists have value, good to go over them from time to time to make sure you’re doing a good check. Don’t throw them away…don’t be a slave to lists.

Maybe focus on root sins…pride, vanity, sensuality, as starters.

I often remember the acronym: PLACES-G

Pride
Lust
Avarice
Covetousness
Envy
Sloth
Gluttony

as I prepare to confess.

Pride (think: do I put my security in myself…my ability to control events, my skills, my wit, etc.)

Vanity (think: do I put my security in what others think of me; how am I coming off…etc.)

Sensuality (think: do I put my security in things…food, music, drink, drugs, sex, etc)

Or do I put my security in God, and God alone.

Do I wall off God anywhere in my life? Do I bring and invite Him along everywhere…to my work, to my play, in my family life, while I watch TV, while on the internet, in my bedroom, etc.

Just a thought.
 
Yeah, I know what you mean. It seems though, that in my situation, this list really seems to nail down a lot of what I’ve been scrupulous about. It was written by a priest, so I am confident that the Holy Spirit has inspired him to address some concerns that he is addressing in his confessional no doubt.

It’s not like I killed anyone! 😃
 
OpenSource said:
I stumbled across this article, deciding whether or not to go to confession today since I’m not sure if I NEED to or not.

catholicparents.org/oxcart/Examination%20of%20Conscience.pdf

Thoughts?

I found it to take some weight off of my shoulders since I tend to scruple about every little detail of my daily conduct.
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I can not recommend this one.

…and especially to you since you say you tend to scruples…set it aside.

(oh…and just cause it was written by a Priest…does not mean something is good…or correct…or inspired by the Holy Spirit)
 
Bookcat said:
I can not recommend this one

…and especially to you since you say you tend to scruples…set it aside.
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Ah Bookcat. My brother, I enjoy reading your posts. As we have very different views on morality, I regret that I cannot accept your advise.

Perhaps an explanation would be in order.

May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you my friend. 🙂
 
OpenSource said:
Ah Bookcat. My brother, I enjoy reading your posts. As we have very different views on morality, I regret that I cannot accept your advise.

Perhaps an explanation would be in order.

May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you my friend. 🙂
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This examine has a good deal of subjectivity too it…and can be a breeding ground for scruples…

I conform my views on morality to that of the Church and sound orthodox writers who think with the Church etc (would rather have my little finger cut off with a rusty knife than do otherwise etc…) (not to say you do not seek the same…perhaps you come from a different “school” of theology…a different way of expressing things…anyhow let us follow Christ together in complete faithfulness to the Church)

Anyhow such is my observation in regards to this examine is it can tend to confuse those with scruples into seeing sins where sins do not exist…seeing faults as sins etc…due to the way it is written…thus could tend to breed scruples…

(but of course much too is good and correct there…)
 
Bookcat said:
This examine has a good deal of subjectivity too it…and can be a breeding ground for scruples…

I conform my views on morality to that of the Church and sound orthodox writers who think with the Church etc (would rather have my little finger cut off with a rusty knife than do otherwise etc…) (not to say you do not seek the same…perhaps you come from a different “school” of theology…a different way of expressing things…anyhow let us follow Christ together in complete faithfulness to the Church)

Anyhow such is my observation in regards to this examine is it can tend to confuse those with scruples into seeing sins where sins do not exist…seeing faults as sins etc…due to the way it is written…thus could tend to breed scruples…

(but of course much too is good and correct there…)
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Thank you for your insight.

As I understand you conform your views on morality to that of the Church and sound orthodox writers, I was just reflecting on a 4-5 page thread on if breaking man’s law is sinful or not. I share some of the same views as you do, but I do tend to lean towards the gray area of ‘FULL knowledge’ and ‘full consent’. Not to justify my actions, but to assert that life is full of uncertainy. Although one may find great comfort in a black and white rulebook of what is good and bad, another may find equally great comfort in a gray world of intention.

What has put my mind at ease are that the things that are listed as ‘venial’ or ‘imperfections’. As I do tend to scruple, I feel that this particular guide has put my mind at ease of things that I thought may have been more serious than they really were.
 
OKAstro said:
I’ve seen these and other “lists” or guides. This one almost seems to be too inclusive. There are some items that I can’t understand what they’re doing under certain commandments, but most are related to the commandment.

I struggle big-time with confession and examination of conscience, and I have a real aversion to going to confession. I understand and support the CC’s teaching, I just don’t like to go, and have always felt “worse” after I go than I did before going. I don’t get that sense of forgiveness that others have talekd about.

These guides help me somewhat, but I struggle with many of those that are classified as “mortal”. If one considers all of the potential mortal sins listed, we’d be in confession a long, long time, and needing to go daily.
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OKAstro, try this examination of conscience guide. I know it helped me.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=397137
 
OpenSource said:
Thank you for your insight.

As I understand you conform your views on morality to that of the Church and sound orthodox writers, I was just reflecting on a 4-5 page thread on if breaking man’s law is sinful or not. I share some of the same views as you do, but I do tend to lean towards the gray area of ‘FULL knowledge’ and ‘full consent’. Not to justify my actions, but to assert that life is full of uncertainy. Although one may find great comfort in a black and white rulebook of what is good and bad, another may find equally great comfort in a gray world of intention.

What has put my mind at ease are that the things that are listed as ‘venial’ or ‘imperfections’. As I do tend to scruple, I feel that this particular guide has put my mind at ease of things that I thought may have been more serious than they really were.
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Ah. I see. Do keep in mind his lumping imperfections in with venial sins…make sure this does not make you think everything is a sin there…I still do not recommend it but bear this in mind.

(Well remember intention is not the primary thing in the moral life…)

As to laws… …but yes there can be reasons to go contrary to laws…certain laws are sinful to break…others are not …but if one gets “caught” one must pay…some laws are immoral .and they are usually to be not obeyed…God certainly gives authority to men to govern…but yes there are many aspects that can go into things…so many different kinds of laws…so many different kinds of “legal” systems etc…and some things well were never imagined by the law giver …so while God gives authority to men… just cause a law is broken does not per se mean one has sinned…)
 
That was largely why I would not recommend it…due to the confusion it could cause one with scruples…so make sure you do not take for a sin what is an imperfection…and also remember there can be subjectivity there along with a lot of good things…
 
OpenSource said:
I stumbled across this article, deciding whether or not to go to confession today since I’m not sure if I NEED to or not.

catholicparents.org/oxcart/Examination%20of%20Conscience.pdf

Thoughts?

I found it to take some weight off of my shoulders since I tend to scruple about every little detail of my daily conduct.
Click to expand...
OpenSource, I just thought of something that might be of interest to both you and OKAstro.

I’ve since learned that an Examination of conscience, which comprises of a list, is intended more to help us form our consciences then it is to help us root out our sins just before confession. It’s much better to study these lists with the intention of discovering what actions are sinful (or can lead to sin) and storing that knowledge in our minds for future reference.

That way when we finally sit down to reflect on our past sins, we have a good idea of what actions were sinful and what actions were not.

These lists weren’t intended as check lists to mark off the sins we think we committed right before going to confession. It’s much better to sit and reflect on what we may have done wrong before going to confession then to just go through a quick grocery list of sins. That’s really not reflecting on our sins or our sorrow for having committed them.

Try studying the list between confessions with the intention of deepening your understanding of what is right and wrong. Try to make your examination of conscience without the aid of a check list, and just sit a reflect upon your actions.

I hope that helps. 🙂
 
Another thought in reference to my last post…

Think of these lists in much the same way as a list of bad manners… bad spiritual manners.

We’re familiar with lists of bad manners. For example: don’t pick your nose… don’t chew with you mouth open… don’t eat with your fingers, etc.

Let’s look at the list linked in the OP in much the same way.
  1. You shall not steal.
Don’t steal a large amount of money.
Don’t willfully destroy or deface another’s property.
Don’t steal something consecrated to God or from a Holy place.
Don’t excessively gamble.

These are like spiritual no no’s. Good spiritual manners means avoiding these things.

Anyways, just another way to look at it.
 
OKAstro said:
Thanks - I read it, but it’s written for young boys and girls, and I’m well beyond that. It’s not bad, but it’s at the opposite end of the spectrum (too ambiguous) compared to the initial list.

Peace
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I guess I’m just a kid at heart!

It never hurts to back to basics. Sometimes when we struggle, it’s because we’re too big for our britches (despite our age). Peace. 🙂
 
Sonic said:
OpenSource, I just thought of something that might be of interest to both you and OKAstro.

I’ve since learned that an Examination of conscience, which comprises of a list, is intended more to help us form our consciences then it is to help us root out our sins just before confession. It’s much better to study these lists with the intention of discovering what actions are sinful (or can lead to sin) and storing that knowledge in our minds for future reference.

That way when we finally sit down to reflect on our past sins, we have a good idea of what actions were sinful and what actions were not.

These lists weren’t intended as check lists to mark off the sins we think we committed right before going to confession. It’s much better to sit and reflect on what we may have done wrong before going to confession then to just go through a quick grocery list of sins. That’s really not reflecting on our sins or our sorrow for having committed them.

Try studying the list between confessions with the intention of deepening your understanding of what is right and wrong. Try to make your examination of conscience without the aid of a check list, and just sit a reflect upon your actions.

I hope that helps. 🙂
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Thank you Sonic, that does help.
 
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