An examination of conscience before confession

Begin with a short, prayerful review

Choose a quiet place and a finite time to prepare. Ask God for the honesty to recognize your choices and the courage to bring them to confession. If you are returning after a long absence, tell the priest rather than trying to resolve every uncertainty alone.

The USCCB offers examinations suited to children, young adults, married people, and other circumstances. Choose one appropriate to your life. Read through it once, pausing when a question brings an actual action or omission to mind. [1]

Questions to help you reflect

The following prompts are an original starting exercise. They are not a complete examination of every moral question. Use the bishops’ Scripture-based resources for a fuller review, and bring personal questions to the priest.

• Prayer and worship: where have I knowingly pushed God out of my day or neglected my responsibilities toward him?
• Truth and speech: whose trust or reputation have I harmed through dishonesty, careless sharing, or cruel words?
• Relationships: where have I failed to respect another person’s dignity, fidelity, or appropriate boundaries?
• Responsibilities: what duty toward my family, work, or community have I deliberately avoided?
• Possessions and fairness: have I treated another person’s property, money, or time as if it were mine to take?
• Mercy and repair: when did I see a need I could reasonably address and choose to turn away? What harm can I begin to repair?

Turn the review into a brief preparation

Focus on concrete choices you need to confess. For remembered mortal sins, prepare to identify the kind and number as accurately as you can. If you are unsure about responsibility, seriousness, or how to explain a situation, ask your confessor.

A short private reminder can help if you lose your place easily. Write enough to remember the action, without unnecessary names or identifying details about others. Keep it secure and dispose of it privately afterward. This guide has no form for recording your answers. [3]

1. Review a suitable examination of conscience.
2. Identify the specific actions and omissions you need to bring to confession.
3. Acknowledge sorrow and your intention to change.
4. Choose one question to ask the priest if a point remains unclear.
5. Use the confession wording guide if the next step is unfamiliar.

How is this different from an evening review?

A daily review can help you notice gratitude, difficult moments, and a next step for tomorrow. Preparation for sacramental confession has the particular purpose of identifying sins to confess. You can practice a daily review while also preparing deliberately when you are going to confession.

For an ordinary evening, try three short questions: What am I grateful for? Where did I respond poorly? What can I do differently tomorrow? This is a suggested habit, not a replacement for sacramental preparation or the priest’s guidance. The daily prayer habit guide can help you choose a regular time.

Finish the preparation and take the next step

Preparation should lead you toward an honest confession. When you have reviewed your life thoughtfully, bring your concerns to the priest rather than continually rewriting the same list. If you often recheck past confessions or feel unable to finish preparing, explain that pattern to a regular confessor and follow his guidance.

After confession, complete the penance you receive. The Catechism also describes the importance of repairing harm where possible. Ask how to make amends if the situation is complicated or if an attempted repair might cause further harm. [2]