Making a Good Confession

8/2/2019 Making a Good Confession

1/9

EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCEA DAILY DUTYBy Rev. John Corapi, SOLT, STD

This article is from www.fathercorapi.com--click here to visitDeep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon

himself but which he must obey. Its voice, ever calling him to love and to do whatis good and to avoid evil, sounds in his heart at the right moment..For man has

in his heart a law inscribed by God.His conscience is mans most secret core andhis sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths

(Catechism of the Catholic Church #1776).

Most Catholics understand that it is necessary to make a good examination

of conscience before they receive the sacrament of Penance. If you dontexamine your conscience properly you obviously cant make a goodconfession. Today in the world of noise, both interior as well as exterior,this needs to be stressed very emphatically. Often the voice of conscience,which is very akin to the very voice of God, comes as a still tiny whisper,not a loud and obvious sound. In order to hear such a whisper we need topreserve a certain holy silence at times.As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us in paragraph 1779, It isimportant for every person to be sufficiently present to himself in order to hear and

follow the voice of conscience. This requirement of interiority is all the morenecessary as life often distracts us from any reflection, self-examination, orintrospection: Return to your conscience, question it.Turn inward, brethren,and in everything you do, see God as your witness. (St. Augustine).I am convinced that the world of constant noise is a major contributingfactor to the tidal wave of sin we have experienced in recent generations. Ifthe voice of conscience is drowned out by a million loud and distractingsounds and concerns, then sin is facilitated. This noise is not merelyexternal sounds: radio, television, iPods, talk, talk, talk, etc., but also the

interior noise that most contemporary people suffer from. Be still andknow that I am God, is something we would do well to remember.Most individuals in the Western world simply arent in touch withthemselves. What I am suggesting is that each of us performs a dailyexamination of conscience, not just before going to Confession. Sin is adaily occurrence for most of us, if not sins of commission, then sins of


2/9

omission. We need to be in touch with how we are living in order toimprove our spiritual life and make progress in holiness, which, by theway, is the real meaning of human existence. Unfortunately, most peopledont really care to strive for holiness. They are oblivious of the absolutemoral mandate given us by Jesus Christ; You must be holy (perfect) as yourheavenly Father is holy (perfect).This is not a novel idea. The Church has encouraged its children to makean examination of conscience (also called examen) since the earliest times.Monks, nuns, priests, and lay faithful alike have done so for centuries.Set aside a time for prayer every day without exception. As part of thisprayer time make a good examination of conscience using the TenCommandments as your guide. This daily practice will help you

immensely to make daily progress in your spiritual life. Our nation, andmuch of the world, has lost its collective conscience. This is becauseindividuals are not in touch with their conscienceor have numbed it oreven murdered it by repeated sin, failing or refusing to listen to the voiceof conscience.As the Catechism teaches in #1454, The reception of this sacrament [Penanceor Reconciliation] ought to be prepared for by an examination of consciencemade in the light of the Word of God. The passages bests suited to this can befound in the Ten Commandments, the moral catechesis of the Gospels and the

apostolic Letters, such as the Sermon on the Mount and the apostolic teachings.Pope John Paul II taught convincingly in his Post-Synodal ApostolicExhortation on Reconciliation and Penance that all of the divisions we seetearing the world apartthe divisions among nations, the divisions withinindividual nations, the divisions in cities, and the divisions in families canall be traced back to a single root and cause: that division withinindividual human beings, and that division is called sin.There will be no peace in the world, no healing of the political divisions in

this nation or any other until individuals find healing within themselves.That healing comes from God and the first step toward that healing is thehumility to recognize sin and to ask forgiveness for it. This surely takesplace in the great sacrament of Reconciliation, but it should be a dailyquest on our part. I am strongly recommending that each of us do a dailyexamination of conscience as an essential element of our prayer life.Toward that end I am offering you this little examination of conscience to


3/9

get you started.EXAMINATION OF CONSCEINCE

BASED ON THE TEN COMMANDMENTSAs #2055 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us: When someoneasks Him, Which commandment in the Law is the greatest? Jesus replies Youshall love the Lord your God will all your heart, and with all your soul, and withall your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it:You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang allthe Law and the prophets (Mt 22:37-40; cf Deut 6:5; Lev 19:18).The Ten Commandments can be placed in two major categories: The firstthree that concern our direct relationship with God (the verticaldimension), and the seventh through tenth Commandments that concernour relationship with our neighbor, with other persons or, indeed, all ofcreation (the horizontal dimension). Note that when you are living theCommandmentsboth the vertical dimension (first threeCommandments) that must be in place firstand the horizontaldimension (Commandments 4-10) what you have is a cross. It is notpossible to live as God wills us to do without a cross. This is the reality ofsacrificial love in the life of a person following Gods will. No pain, nogain. No cross, no crown.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND THE EXAMINATION OFCONSCIENCENOTE: I strongly suggest that you read the sections of the Catechism ofthe Catholic Church concerning each of the Ten Commandments

periodically to strengthen your understanding of what God requires of us.THE VERTICAL DIMENSION: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEINDIVIDUAL AND GOD(The First Table of the Decalogue)You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all yoursoul, and with all your mind.I. I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me. NOTE: If we get this one right we probably wont need to go further. In


4/9

this first Commandment we can incorporate loving God with our wholeheart, mind, soul, and strength.(See paragraphs 2083-2141 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church)Do I put created things before the Creator? Do I have what amount to falsegods in the form of money, prestige, power, drugs, alcohol, sex, oranything else in the realm of created things? God comes first. If we serveHim wholeheartedly all other things will fall into place. If you dedicate allof your time, energy, and thought to these created things, rather thangiving God first place as He deserves, perhaps your priorities aredisordered.Some sins against the First Commandment would be those against the

theological virtue of faith such as voluntary doubts against the faith,incredulity (the neglect of revealed truth or the willful refusal to assent toit.), heresy, apostasy, and schism.Sins against hope such as presumption and despair (which are also sinsagainst the Holy Spirit).Sins against Gods love or charity would include indifference, ingratitude,luke-warmness, spiritual sloth, or hatred of God.The First Commandment requires us to adore God, to pray, to offersacrifice and do penance for sin.Sins against vows (marriage, religious vows, priestly vows, etc.) wouldalso be under the First Commandment.Sins of superstition, idol worship, divination, magic, witchcraft, Santa Ria,Voodoo, attending sances, playing with the occult in any form, sorcery,etc. would all be sins against the First Commandment.Irreligion, sacrilege, profanation, willful atheism or agnosticism when theperson has had a chance to know God, but rejects him would also be sinsagainst the First Commandment.II. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in Vain. (See Catechism of the Catholic Church #2142-2167)


5/9

Do I use Gods holy name in vain? The name of the Father, Son, and HolySpirit, Jesus, etc. is holy. The Second Commandment forbids everyimproper use of Gods name. Blasphemy uses the name of God, of JesusChrist, of the Virgin Mary, and the angels and saints in an offensive way.Have I given false oaths or promises using Gods name? Perjury is a graveoffense against the Lord who is always faithful to his promises. Have Igiven false testimony or perjured myself?III. Remember to keep holy the Lords Day.(See Catechism of the Catholic Church #2168-2195)

Sunday is the fulfillment of the Sabbath. The Sunday celebration of theLords Day and his Eucharist is the very heart of our faith. It is a matter ofprecept and required of Catholics to attend Mass on all Sundays and HolyDays of Obligation if they do not have a serious reason. Serious reasonswould be inability due to advance age, illness, need to take care of a sickchild, necessity to work such as nurses taking care of the sick, doctors, etc.In some cases individuals have to work or lose their job. The exceptionmust be serious and cannot be allowed to become a habit.To miss Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation without a

sufficiently serious reason constitutes grave matter and may be a mortalsin if there is knowledge, full consent of the will, and no mitigatingcircumstances. (See # 2181 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church).Have I missed Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation? Have Idone unnecessary servile labor that interferes with giving God the worshipHe is due on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation? Have I dedicatedmyself to family and works of charity on these days?THE HORIZONTAL DIMENSION: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE

INDIVIDUAL AND OTHER PEOPLE(The Second Table of the Decalogue)YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.IV. Honor your father and your mother.


6/9

(See Catechism of the Catholic Church #2196-2257)Have I honored my parents? Have I been respectful to them? Have I lostpatience with them? As a parent have I cared for my children as Godwould will? Have I provided my children with a proper education,especially in the faith? Have I safeguarded their education from evilinfluences by being actively involved in it?As a citizen have I acted in accordance with Gods will? Do I defend life?Fight against the evils of abortion, euthanasia, fetal stem cell research,human cloning, etc.? Do I vote, pay taxes, and do my part to defend mycountry when called upon to do so?

NOTE: We are obliged to obey legitimate Church and civil authority.However, if the secular government promotes laws that are against thenatural law and Gods law we are obliged in conscience to resist these andfight against them to the extent possible.V. You shall not kill.(See Catechism of the Catholic Church #2258-2330)#2258 Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative

action of God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator,who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: noone can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy aninnocent human being.Have I committed murder, contributed directly to abortion, euthanasia,suicide of another, or have I contributed materially to any of these throughneglect, advice, confirming another in such sins, or voting for anyone thatfurthers the ends of such sins?Have I caused scandal in any way? Have I failed to take care of my healthby eating or drinking in a way that could harm me physically oremotionally? Have I abused drugs, alcohol, or any other potentiallyharmful substance? Am I seriously overweight due to my own fault? Do Ifail to seek medical help when necessary and take medications whenprescribed by competent medical professionals?


7/9

VI. You shall not commit adultery.(See Catechism of the Catholic Church #2331-2400)It is impossible to be truly happy without living chastity in accordancewith our state in life. That is an assertion of the Church that isunquestionably true.Have I been guilty of lust (Sexual pleasure sought for itself, isolated fromits procreative and unitive purposes.)? NOTE: The use of the sexual facultyis reserved only for those who are marrieddefined as between one manand one woman.Have I been guilty of masturbation, fornication, homosexual sex? Have I

looked at pornography in any form? Have I engaged in or paid forprostitution?Have I been faithful to my spouse, not committing adultery?Have I given in to impure thoughts?Have I used methods of artificial contraception, birth control pills, etc.?VII. You shall not steal.(See Catechism of the Catholic Church #2401-2463)The seventh commandment forbids unjustly taking or keeping theproperty of ones neighbor and wronging him in any way with respect tohis goods or property.Have I stolen anything? Have I cheated my employer from the labor he isdue? Have I cheated my employees of the just wage they are due? Have Ibreached contracts, defrauded anyone, or failed to pay debts I owe? Have I

made reparation for any such thefts, breaches, frauds, or debts?Have I been guilty of air, water, or other pollution of the environment,including improperly disposing of things such as batteries, which containtoxic substances?Have I been kind to animals?


8/9

Have I been kind and charitable to the poor? Have I practiced the corporaland spiritual works of mercy? (Sins can also be of omission. Chronic lackof concern of the poor, homeless, sick, hungry, etc. can be a serious sin.

Jesus linked such sins to eternal damnation.)VIII. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.(See Catechism of the Catholic Church #2464-2513)As #2464 of the Catechism teaches, The eighth commandment forbidsmisrepresenting the truth in our relations with others...Have I lied? (The gravity of a lie is measured against the nature of the

truth it deforms) Have I misrepresented the truth or deceived others?Have I given false witness or perjured myself? Have I respected thereputation of others, not engaging in gossip, rash judgment, calumny, ordetraction? (Detraction is disclosing the faults and sins of another topersons who did not know them without an objectively serious and validreason.)Have I confirmed a person in bad conduct or immoral behavior by flattery,adulation, or complaisance? If I have offended truth and justice in any ofthese previous ways have I made reparation for same, such as repairing

someones reputation that was damaged?IX. You shall not covet your neighbors spouse.(See Catechism of the Catholic Church #2514-2533)The ninth commandment concerns purity, both in thought and in action.As #2520 of the Catechism teaches, Baptism confers on its recipient the graceof purification from all sins, but the baptized must continue to struggle againstconcupiscence of the flesh and disordered desires. Have I thought lustfully of others spouses? Have I been pure in myintentions, in my thoughts, and in my actions? Have I been modest in myspeech, in my dress, and in my actions? Have I done anything to make themoral environment around me (home, workplace, etc.) less wholesomeand pure? Have I told off-color jokes or sexually suggestive stories, etc.?


9/9

X. You shall not covet your neighbors property.(See Catechism of the Catholic Church #2534-2557)Have I coveted the possessions of others? Have I been envious of othersproperty or success? Have I been overly concerned with accumulatingmoney, possessions, or other created things? Have I been sufficientlyconcerned with spiritual things, of seeing God, and attaining my eternalsalvation?Do I long for Heaven?CONCLUSION

Once again, I strongly recommend that each person make a careful studyof the Catechism of the Catholic Church in order to have the kind of moralformation that will help them to know how to live in accordance withGods will. This is a long-term project, one that should be ongoing in thecourse of ones life.In addition, one should then make a daily short examination of consciencebased on the Ten Commandments as the Catholic Church expounds onthem and teaches them fully.Finally, each person should seek to go to Confession, the great sacramentof Penance or Reconciliation, frequently. Before approaching thesacrament of Reconciliation a good examination of conscience should bemade. This will be a much easier and more effective exercise when it hasbeen done previously on a daily basis.Each sacrament channels sanctifying grace in a unique way. The sacramentof Penance channels that share of divine life (sanctifying grace) in aforgiving and healing way. The integrity of the human person is madewhole again and that healing that tends toward peace is facilitated, and

that peace surpasses all understanding.In the end, having lived well in striving for holiness, we shall die well, andultimately enjoy that eternal beatitude that eye has not seen, nor ear heard,nor have our wildest dreams imagined, what God has in store for those who lovehim.This article is from www.fathercorapi.com--click here to visit

Documents

Making a Good Confession