What is the use for examination of conscience books?

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fakename said:
Is it just to aid memory?
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Pretty much, but my husband’s grandmother’s old Christian prayer book has a far better examination of conscience thatn I’ve found in any of those bookletts or even in thicker books about confession. It primarily has a series of prayers to help you be honest with yourself and then lists out the ten commandments, the seven deadly sins, the precepts of the Church and then has prayers to help you to be as contrite as you can for the sins.

I don’t like the little leaflets with sin suggestions. First of all, some of them are very strange. I found one that asked me if I danced on Sunday. Really?! It was either weird stuff like that or a list of “Nope, didn’t do that. Didn’t do that. Ok I just went through this list and my answer was no to everything. You’re lying to me booklet! I am not sinless!”
 
Umm… dancing on Sunday is not a sin. 😉

I think you need to talk to someone at your parish or your local Catholic bookstore to help you find an orthodox prayer book.

Some books are too liberal (“there is no such thing as sin”) or too conservative (suggestions for sins are scrupulousness) so you need to be careful. Read the Catechism to make sure there aren’t any false teachings. Ask your priest if you have questions. And if your priest disagrees with the catechism, it’s time to find a new one.
 
They are to aid in memory. They also help a person mentally organize their sins. This can help people understand and get more to the root of the sins that they commit. Many examinations of conscience use the ten commandments and then expand upon them. I’ve used some good ones and some ok ones but they are all designed to helo you get the most fromt the sacrament of Confession.
 
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