Examination of Conscience on the basis of the Be-attitudes

Examination of Conscience based on the Be-attitudes

Set aside some quiet time for reflection.
Start by praying to the Holy Spirit, asking for help in making a good examination to prepare for Confession.
Read through the items on this list and honestly reflect on your behavior for each item.

Do I truly love God above all things?
Am I humble enough to acknowledge my total dependence on God?
Can I admit mistakes without blaming others?
Do I take the time for God in my life through personal and private prayer?
Do I refer my choices and decisions to God on a regular basis?
Do I talk to God about how to spend my time?
Have I grown slack in prayer?
Do I attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation? Is Mass a priority?
Do I take the Lord’s name in vain? Do I use His name casually in everyday conversation or do I honor His name when I speak?
Have I done my best to be emptied of sin and worldly desires so that God may fill it with His love?
Do I strive – with my time, passion, and resources – to accumulate more temporal/earthly/material goods and honors, rather than seeking to obtain true spiritual goods?
When I pray, do I only ask God for things, instead of for a closer relationship with Him?
Do I desire more money or a higher place in life?

Has my heart become hardened to the circumstances of others?
Do I let the pain and suffering of other people affect me, or is it that I just choose to ignore it?
Do I console and help those who mourn and suffer?Am I willing to admit my own pain, brokenness and be open with others?
When was the last time I really repented for my sin, or asked someone to forgive me whom I hurt?
Have I been able to say ‘I am sorry’ and really mean it?
Do I experience genuine sorrow over the sins committed by myself and others? Do I consider how much they offend God and how they bring more evil and disorder into the world?
Do I do sufficient penance for my own sins, and offer my little sufferings and crosses to God for reparation of the sins of others?

Am I willing to suffer quietly in faith as Jesus did, or do I tend to complain and argue about every wrong thing (real or, sometimes it is my own imagination) done to me?
Do I humbly regard others as more important than myself?
Have I sacrificed myself for the good of another person ?
Do I try to bully and manipulate, or intimidate other people to do what I want?
Am I obstinate and quarrelsome, always trying to insist on my will over that of others, in regard to petty and unimportant things?
Do I treat people differently on the basis of their skin colour, race, nationality, caste, or even by their sins? Have I joked about others because of these things?
Do I mock those who don’t share my beliefs?
Do I look down on others because of their own riches (or lack of riches)?
Do I take pride in my possessions or my job?
Am I thoughtful about what I say to others?
Do I think about what I say online?
Do I think I have all of the answers?
Do I think “speaking honestly” or “speaking frankly” allows me to put down others for what they say, do or believe?
Do I honor my elders, especially my parents and grandparents, spiritual elders?
Am I a good listener?
Do I strive to overcome evil with good, by responding to offenses with gentleness, instead of reacting in anger and spite?

Do I give thanks and praise to God as Creator of all things?
Do I desire to be holy?
How much of a priority is it to love and follow Jesus Christ in my life? Honestly.
Have I let fear keep me silent when I should have spoken out?
Do I consider how my personal decisions may negatively affect others in my family or community?
Do I listen with attention and devotion to the Word of God proclaimed?
Do I hunger for the Eucharist?
Do I offer my trials to God for the salvation of souls?

Am I quick to forgive others? Do I harbor resentment or hold grudges?
Are there people in my life who are suffering because of my lack of forgiveness?
Am I quick to judge others?
Do I give them the benefit of the doubt?
Do I speak with love/gently to others or am I harsh and pushy?
Am I happy when someone else fails or “gets what they deserve?”
Do the needs of others come before my own?
Do I forgive myself for my own shortcomings?
Do I give in to hopelessness?
Do I accept God’s mercy?
Have I been convicted that I can’t earn my way into heaven and that eternal life comes through God’s mercy toward me?

Do I lie or cheat?
Do I gossip or enjoy sharing stories about others?
Am I lustful? Have I led others to lust and impurity by the way I dress, through conversations, or other means?
Do I view pornography?
Do I see others simply as objects of sexual desire?
Am I faithful to my spouse?
Do I abuse my spouse or children through words or actions?
Have I hurt another person? Have I damaged their reputation or good name?
Have I stolen from someone?
Have I withheld wages or acted dishonestly?
Am I honest about my own faults and failings?
Do I do what is truly right or do I compromise especially when it is convenient for me to do so?
Have I allowed a particular sin or vice to distract me from God?
Do I look for instant gratification?

Do I make reconciliation with God and others a priority?
Do I try to make real peace with others in my family? At work? In my parish & community?
Do I pray for peace throughout the world?
Do I like to cause conflict or do I try to resolve it?
Do I start a lot of fights in my home by not trying to understand the other person’s point of view? What about my workplace and community?

Do I believe the teachings of the Church? Am I willing to stand up for those beliefs?
Am I guided by what the Church teaches me even when it is hard or unpopular, or difficult to do so?
Am I a Christian only when it is convenient for me or socially acceptable? Am I a Christian only so long as it increases my popularity?
Am I able to suffer in silence or am I always complaining about something?