Examination of Conscience
Dear Parent, Son, and Holy Spirit:
As I examine my conscience in preparation for Holy Week, I entreat you to help me overcome my faults and become a better person. I pray earnestly that you will rid me of:
Pride - Help me to love you first and not be vain about my personal appearance, clothes, possessions, family, abilities, or success, to never feel sorry for myself or refuse to admit when I am wrong.
Idolatry - Let me never put another person or possession before you.
Profanity - Help me to never utter the name of Jesus in vain, or give way to anxiety, instead of turning to you, God for help.
Irreverence - Let me always keep Sunday as a sacred day, dedicated to your worship, and never be ashamed of my religion.
Disobedience - Help me to be loving, respectful, never deliberately disobeying you, or seeking to ignore your desire for me.
Hate – Let me always stand up against injustice, never gossip, hold a grudge against anyone, or be unwilling to forgive someone who has wronged me.
Impurity - Help me be pure in thought, word, and deed, diligent in prayers, work, and study, and refrain from overeating, overdrinking, or engaging in idle pastimes, to the exclusion of worthwhile things.
Theft - Let me never be over-extravagant in my lifestyle, help me to pay off my debts, and not to contract debts unnecessarily. Let me remember that you, God, have given me all I have, and in return, to always be a generous steward of the resources available to me.
Deceit – Help me to not engage in exaggeration, inequity, hypocrisy, or allow others to receive blame for my faults.
Discontent - Let me never be jealous of others, instead allow me to accept loss, sorrow, or illness without thinking that God has forsaken me.
All these things I pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Submitted by Janice D. Villiers