Lent – A Good Time for the Sacrament of Penance / Reconciliation

When was the last time you went to Confession?  Maybe the last time was during Advent, in preparation for Christmas.  Maybe you went a year ago as part of the Easter Duty, or for Divine Mercy Sunday.  Maybe it was the last time you attended a White House Retreat. Whenever the last time was, (last month, last year, or ten years ago), NOW is a good time to approach the Lord through the Sacrament of Penance.  Each and every time, God offers an extraordinary gift of grace of Divine Mercy, Healing, Peace and Reconciliation.

For your convenience, here is a brief Examination of Conscience.  This one is taken from a pamphlet,        A Guide for Confession, prepared by the Office of Worship, Archdiocese of St. Louis.  I hope that it might lead you to reflection and prayer in preparation for the Sacrament of Penance.

Examination of Conscience

1.  Have God and the pursuit of sanctity in Christ been the goal in my life?  Have I denied my faith?  Have I placed my trust in false teachings or substitutes for  God?  Did I despair of God’s mercy?

2.  Have I avoided the profane use of God’s name in my speech?  Have I broken a  solemn vow or promise?

3.  Have I honored every Sunday by avoiding unnecessary work, celebrating the Mass (also holy days)?  Was I inattentive at, or unnecessarily late for Mass, or  did I leave early?  Have I neglected prayer for a long time?

4.  Have I shown Christ-like respect to parents, spouse, and family members,  legitimate authorities?  Have I been attentive to the religious education and  formation of my children?

5.  Have I cared for the bodily health and safety of myself and all others?  Did I abuse drugs or alcohol?  Have I supported in any way abortion, “mercy killing”  or suicide?

6.  Was I impatient, angry, envious, proud, jealous, revengeful, or lazy?  Have I  forgiven others?

7.  Have I been just in my responsibilities to employers and employees?  Have I discriminated against others because of race or other reasons?

8.  Have I been chaste in thoughts and words?  Have I used sex only within marriage and while open to procreating life?  Have I given myself gratification?  Did I  deliberately look at impure TV, pictures, reading?

9.  Have I stolen anything from another, from an employer, from government?  If  so, am I ready to repay it?  Did I fulfill my contracts?  Did I rashly gamble,  depriving my family of necessities?

10.  Have I spoken ill of any other person?  Have I always told the truth?  Have I kept secrets and confidences?

11.  Have I  permitted sexual thoughts about someone to whom I am not married?

12.  Have I  desired what belongs to other people?  Have I wished ill on another?

13.  Have I  been faithful to sacramental living (Holy Communion and Penance)?

14.  Have I  helped make my parish community stronger and holier?  Have I contributed to the support of the Church?

15.  Have I  done penance by abstaining and fasting on obligatory days?  Have I fasted before receiving communion?

16.  Have I  been mindful of the poor?  Do I accept God’s will for me?

Now really is a good time for the Sacrament of Penance, no matter how long it has been.  Here is the schedule for the final days of Lent.

•  Saturday, April 9, from 3:30 – 4:45 p.m.

•  Good Friday: April 15, following Stations of the Cross, from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.

 

Sincerely yours in Jesus,

Fr. John Seper