Examination of Conscience
Below are some points of reflection for an examination of conscience, especially for the homebound and elderly. It is helpful when preparing a person for sacramental confession. FOR SENIORS/ADULTS IN GENERAL ⎕ Have I neglected to dedicate a part of my day to prayer? ⎕ Do I have other “gods” in my life, like money, possessions, inheritance, etc.? ⎕ Have I taken the Lord’s name in vain, or used other vulgarities? ⎕ Have I missed Mass on Sundays or a Holy Day of Obligation when I could have gone? ⎕ Do I harbor unkind and revengeful thoughts about others? Do I gossip about others or listen to gossip, beyond necessary communication and care for others? ⎕ Have I read, listened to, viewed, thought about or spoken of impure things? ⎕ Have a failed to apologize or forgive someone from my heart? ⎕ Am I greedy, selfish or envious of someone’s possessions, talents, or blessings? ⎕ Have I neglected my body by not getting enough rest, movement and healthy eating? ⎕ Have I abused prescription drugs, tobacco, alcohol and/or other drugs? ⎕ Have I been ungrateful to God or forget to thank Him for his many blessings in my life? FOR THE HOMEBOUND ⎕ Do I express gratitude to my family and friends for their kindness? ⎕ Am I appreciative of my caregiver’s efforts? ⎕ Do I feel angry because someone else has/had more money, or better health? ⎕ Do I become upset or because my grown children do not spend more time with me? ⎕ Have I neglected using my time to pray, read holy books, meditate and watch spiritual programs? ⎕ Have I used my physical limitations as an excuse for laziness or being unhelpful? ⎕ Am I a “busybody” in the house, irritating others instead of helping? ⎕ Have I watched sinful movies or looked at bad content on electronic media? ⎕ Was I unnecessarily unkind (or rude) to a telephone caller, impatient with a visitor and/or crabby with others? ⎕ Do I suppose I have no need of confession, merely because I never or rarely leave the house? ⎕ Have I given into depression and negativity, instead of focusing on the joy that belongs to those who have been redeemed by Christ, to those who maintain firm hope in their hearts for promised for eternal bliss to all the faithful? FOR ELDERLY MARRIED PERSONS WITH ADULT CHILDREN, ETC. ⎕ Do I frequently nag and criticize my spouse? ⎕ Do I expect more than he or she is capable of giving? ⎕ Do I not take time to listen to my spouse, with his or her concerns and worries? ⎕ Have I neglected my duties to my spouse? ⎕ Have I forgiven my spouse for the wrongs he or she has committed against me? ⎕ Have I allowed misunderstanding to cause anger and mistrust? ⎕ Have I manipulated my spouse in order to get my own way? ⎕ When I look at the shortcomings of my adult children, do I fail to acknowledge where I have been wanting in my formation of them? ⎕ Have I disrespected my adult children? Am I overly demanding of them?
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Last Rites
Below are some points of reflection for an examination of conscience, especially for the homebound and elderly. It is helpful when preparing a person for sacramental confession. FOR SENIORS/ADULTS IN GENERAL ⎕ Have I neglected to dedicate a part of my day to prayer? ⎕ Do I have other “gods” in my life, like money, possessions, inheritance, etc.? ⎕ Have I taken the Lord’s name in vain, or used other vulgarities? ⎕ Have I missed Mass on Sundays or a Holy Day of Obligation when I could have gone? ⎕ Do I harbor unkind and revengeful thoughts about others? Do I gossip about others or listen to gossip, beyond necessary communication and care for others? ⎕ Have I read, listened to, viewed, thought about or spoken of impure things? ⎕ Have a failed to apologize or forgive someone from my heart? ⎕ Am I greedy, selfish or envious of someone’s possessions, talents, or blessings? ⎕ Have I neglected my body by not getting enough rest, movement and healthy eating? ⎕ Have I abused prescription drugs, tobacco, alcohol and/or other drugs? ⎕ Have I been ungrateful to God or forget to thank Him for his many blessings in my life? FOR THE HOMEBOUND ⎕ Do I express gratitude to my family and friends for their kindness? ⎕ Am I appreciative of my caregiver’s efforts? ⎕ Do I feel angry because someone else has/had more money, or better health? ⎕ Do I become upset or because my grown children do not spend more time with me? ⎕ Have I neglected using my time to pray, read holy books, meditate and watch spiritual programs? ⎕ Have I used my physical limitations as an excuse for laziness or being unhelpful? ⎕ Am I a “busybody” in the house, irritating others instead of helping? ⎕ Have I watched sinful movies or looked at bad content on electronic media? ⎕ Was I unnecessarily unkind (or rude) to a telephone caller, impatient with a visitor and/or crabby with others? ⎕ Do I suppose I have no need of confession, merely because I never or rarely leave the house? ⎕ Have I given into depression and negativity, instead of focusing on the joy that belongs to those who have been redeemed by Christ, to those who maintain firm hope in their hearts for promised for eternal bliss to all the faithful? FOR ELDERLY MARRIED PERSONS WITH ADULT CHILDREN, ETC. ⎕ Do I frequently nag and criticize my spouse? ⎕ Do I expect more than he or she is capable of giving? ⎕ Do I not take time to listen to my spouse, with his or her concerns and worries? ⎕ Have I neglected my duties to my spouse? ⎕ Have I forgiven my spouse for the wrongs he or she has committed against me? ⎕ Have I allowed misunderstanding to cause anger and mistrust? ⎕ Have I manipulated my spouse in order to get my own way? ⎕ When I look at the shortcomings of my adult children, do I fail to acknowledge where I have been wanting in my formation of them? ⎕ Have I disrespected my adult children? Am I overly demanding of them?
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