Before going to Confession, it’s good to take a few quiet moments to think about our actions and ask the Holy Spirit to help us see where we can love God and others better.
This short examination of conscience, based on the Ten Commandments, is meant to help children and families prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Recommended for children ages 9–12, especially those preparing for or already receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
You can read it together at home, or scroll to the bottom to download a free printable PDF version to bring along to church.
What It Means to Make a Good Confession
To make a good confession, we need to have a real desire to come back to God, just like the son in the story of the Prodigal Son, who went home to his loving father.
We start by being honest about the things we’ve done wrong and feeling truly sorry for them, not just because we’re afraid of punishment, but because we love God and don’t want to hurt Him. This is called contrition, and it’s the most important part of confession — it’s what opens our hearts so God can fill them with His mercy.
When we are truly sorry, we also promise to try our best not to sin again. God knows we might make mistakes in the future, but what matters most is that we really want to do better and avoid what leads us to sin.
With God’s grace and our effort to live as His children, we can grow stronger each day and choose what is good and right.
After confession, we should thank God for forgiving us and giving us a fresh start. If later you remember a sin you truly forgot to mention, don’t worry, God has already forgiven it with the rest. Just remember to tell it next time you go to confession.
EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
PRAYER BEFORE THE EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
My Lord and my God, I firmly believe that You are here. I ask You to help me sincerely examine and truly know my conscience, discovering all my sins. May I set aside all shame and place my trust only in Your mercy. Give me the strength to confess them with full faithfulness and truth, so that I may now deserve Your forgiveness and the grace of final perseverance. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE ACCORDING TO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
- Have I denied any of the truths taught by the Church? Have I murmured against or rejected God? Have I mocked or spoken against God, holy things, the Church, or its ministers? Have I neglected to learn my catechism or to pray? Have I received any sacrament unworthily or before I was allowed to?
- Have I sworn knowing that what I was saying was false? Have I sworn without necessity?
- Have I missed Sunday Mass? Have I prevented others from attending Holy Mass? Have I been unwilling or distracted during Mass?
- Have I disobeyed my parents? Have I caused them pain? Have I been rude to them? Do I do what they ask of me? Have I helped them when they need something?
- Have I harmed others by word or deed? Do I hold hatred or resentment toward anyone?
- Have I felt happy when something bad happened to someone else? Have I been envious? Have I been proud or shown off what I have before others? Have I been a bad example? Have I wished something bad would happen to someone? Have I fought or let anger take over? Have I failed to care for the life and body God gave me? Have I eaten more than I should? Have I tried to do good for others when I had the chance?
- Have I wasted time? Have I spent too much time on the internet, television, video games, or social media? Have I been lazy? Have I studied and done my tasks responsibly?
- Have I taken delight in impure thoughts or desires? Have I watched impure things on the internet or television? Have I had impure conversations? Have I committed any impure actions by myself or with others? Have I placed myself in a near occasion of sin?
- Have I stolen anything or any amount of money? Have I returned what I stole when I could? Do I return things I have borrowed, or do I keep them? Have I repaired the damage caused? Have I failed to help the poor or the Church in their needs?
- Have I lied? Do I have the habit of lying? Have I gossiped — that is, revealed another’s faults without a just cause, even if true but not known? Have I slandered others by saying things that are not true? Have I repaired the harm caused by slander?
ACT OF CONTRITION
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven, and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, My God, Who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.
FREE PRINTABLE PDF
If you’d like to keep this prayer for your family prayer time or to bring it to Confession, you can download the free printable PDF below (trifold).
