After examining yourself on the Commandments of God, examine yourself on the Commandments of the Church.

First.  “To hear Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation.”  This has been considered in the examination on the Third Commandment.  Second “To fast and abstain on the days appointed.”  Have I knowingly eaten meat on Ash Wednesday or the Fridays of Lent, or not done some chosen penance on the other Fridays of the year, or not fasted on Ash Wednesday or Good Friday, unless I had good reason not to do so on account of poor health or other reason?  Third.  “To confess at least once a year.”  Is it over a year, and how much over it, since I have been to confession?  Fourth.  “To receive Holy Eucharist during the Easter time.”  Did I go to Holy Communion between the first Sunday of Lent and Trinity Sunday?  If not, I have committed a mortal sin.  Fifth.  “To contribute to the support of our pastors.”  Have I helped the church and reasonably paid my share of its expenses—­given to charity and the like, or have I made others pay for the light, heat, and other things that cost money in the church, and shared in their benefits without giving according to my means?  Have I kept what was given me for the church or other charity, or stolen from the church and not stated that circumstance when I confessed that I stole?  Sixth.  “Not to marry persons who are not Catholics, or who are related to us within the third degree of kindred, or privately without witnesses, nor to solemnize marriage at forbidden times.”  Have I anything to tell on this Commandment?

After examining yourself on the Commandments of God and of His Church, examine yourself on the capital sins, especially on “Pride.”  Have I been impudent and stubborn, vain about my dress, and the like?  Have I despised others simply on account of poverty or something they could not help?  “Gluttony.”  Have I ever taken intoxicating drink to excess or broken a promise not to take it?  Have I knowingly caused others to be intoxicated?  “Sloth.”  Have I wasted my time willfully and neglected to do my duty at school or elsewhere?  After examining yourself on the Commandments and capital sins, examine yourself on the duties of your state of life.  If you are at school, how have you studied?  You should study not alone to please your parents or teachers, but for the sake of learning.  If you are at work, have you been faithful to your employer, and done your work well and honestly?

The above method is generally recommended as the best in the examination of conscience.  But you need not follow these exact questions; you can ask yourself any questions you please:  the above questions are given only as examples of what you might ask, and to show you how to question yourself.  It is useless to take any list of sins in a prayerbook and examine yourself by it, confessing the sins just as they are given.  If you do take such a list and find in it some questions or sins that you do not understand, do not trouble yourself about them.  In asking yourself the questions, if you find you have sinned against a Commandment, stop and consider how many times.  There are few persons who sin against all the Commandments.  Some sin against one and some against another.  Find out the worst sin you have and the one you have most frequently committed, and be sure of telling it.