Examination of Conscience Questions — A Catholic Checklist for Confession

Before my first confession in years, I sat in the pew with a scrap of paper and no idea where to start. I had plenty of guilt and not much structure. What I needed was a checklist — something to walk me through my life honestly, commandment by commandment. That is exactly what an examination of conscience is for. Here are the questions I wish I’d had that day, organized by the Ten Commandments, in plain language. Pair them with our guide to what to say in confession and you’ll be ready.

How to Use This Checklist

Find a quiet place — a church, your car, a corner of the kitchen — and give yourself ten to fifteen minutes. Begin with a short prayer to the Holy Spirit: “Come, Holy Spirit, show me my sins as You see them.” Then read slowly through the questions below. You don’t need to answer every one; you need to notice the ones that sting. Jot down what comes to mind, and remember the goal: honesty, not perfection. This is not a courtroom; it is a conversation with a merciful Father.

The First Commandment: God First

Have I put anything before God — work, money, comfort, approval? Have I prayed at all this week, or only when I needed something? Have I trusted in horoscopes, superstitions, or the occult? Have I neglected Sunday Mass without a serious reason? Have I been angry at God, or doubted His love for me? These questions open the door to everything else, because our relationship with God shapes every other relationship.

The Second and Third Commandments: God’s Name and His Day

Have I used God’s name carelessly or as a swear word? Have I made promises to God and broken them? Have I treated Sunday as just another shopping day, skipping Mass when I could have gone? Do I arrive at Mass late and leave early as a habit? The third commandment is less about rules and more about rhythm: God gave us one day a week to remember who we are and whose we are.

The Fourth Commandment: Family and Authority

Have I honored my parents — spoken to them with respect, cared for them as they age? Have I been patient with my spouse, or have I let criticism and coldness creep in? Have I spent real time with my children, or only supervised their schedules? Have I prayed for my family? And beyond the home: have I shown respect to those in authority, and have I used my own authority justly — at work, in the parish, in the community?

The Fifth Commandment: Life and Kindness

Have I harmed anyone through anger, bullying, or cruelty — in person or online? Have I held grudges, refused forgiveness, or wished harm on someone? Have I driven recklessly or endangered others? Have I been careless with my own health? Have I spoken harshly to people I love and then told myself it was honesty? This commandment is where most of us find our daily sins, because it is really about how we treat the people God puts in our path.

The Sixth and Ninth Commandments: Purity of Heart

Have I indulged in impure thoughts, images, or websites? Have I treated people as objects of lust rather than children of God? Have I been unfaithful in heart or action? Have I engaged in sexual activity outside of marriage? Have I dressed or spoken in ways that lead others into temptation? These questions are hard to face, and that is precisely why they belong in the examination. God’s mercy is bigger than any of the answers.

The Seventh and Tenth Commandments: Honesty and Contentment

Have I stolen anything — even small things from work? Have I cheated on taxes, on a test, or on a timesheet? Have I taken credit for work that wasn’t mine? Have I envied what others have, or resented my own lot? Have I been generous with what I have, or tightly clenched? A peaceful conscience usually begins with an honest wallet and a grateful heart.

The Eighth Commandment: Truth

Have I lied — to my spouse, my parents, my boss, my friends? Have I exaggerated to make myself look better? Have I gossiped, spread rumors, or repeated things I wasn’t sure were true? Have I broken promises or shared secrets entrusted to me? Our words are the most frequent way we sin, and the easiest place to begin again.

After the Examination

When you have finished, close with an act of sorrow — any version of the Act of Contrition will do — and thank God for His patience. Then go to confession with your list; if you want the exact words, our article on what to say in confession walks through the whole dialogue. For a broader view of what the Church asks of us, our guide to Catholic Church rules is a helpful companion. And if you are preparing a child or a teenager, the confession sins list has a version written for younger consciences.