Have You?

[ironmonk]

Examination of conscience: a daily task. Bookkeeping is never neglected by anyone in business.

And is there any business worth more than the business of eternal life?


-- St. Josemaria Escriva: The Way



[url="http://www.catholic-pages.com/penance/examine.asp"]http://www.catholic-pages.com/penance/examine.asp[/url]
[b]Prayer Before Confession[/b]

O Lord, grant me light to see myself as Thou dost see me and the grace to be truly and efficaciously contrite for my sins. O Mary, help me to make a good confession.

[b]Preliminary[/b]

Besides telling the NATURE of our sins, we must also recollect, as far as possible, the NUMBER of times we have committed them, telling also (and only) those CIRCUMSTANCES which at times may either make a venial sin mortal or a mortal sin notably worse.

Have I ever failed to confess a serious sin or disguised it?

Have I been guilty of irreverence for this sacrament by failing to examine my conscience carefully?

Have I failed to perform the penance given me by the confessor or disobeyed any of his directions?

Have I neglected the Easter duty of receiving Holy Communion or failed to confess my sins within a year?

Have I any HABITS of serious sin to confess first (impurity, drunkenness, etc.)?

[b]First Commandment[/b]

Am I ignorant of my catechism (Act of Contrition, Apostle's Creed, Ten Commandments, Seven Sacraments, the Our Father)?

Have I willfully doubted or denied any of the teachings of the Church (heresy)?

Have I taken active part in any non-Catholic worship?

Am I a member of any anti-Catholic or any secret society?

Have I knowingly read any anti-Catholic literature?

Have I practiced any superstitions (horoscopes, fortune tellers, etc.)?

[b]Second Commandment[/b]
Have I used God's name in vain by way of profanity?

Have I murmured or complained against God (blasphemy)?

Have I maligned priests or others consecrated to God?

Have I sworn by God's name (oath) either falsely or rashly?

Have I broken any private vow?

[b]Third Commandment[/b]
Have I missed Mass on Sundays or holydays through my own fault?

Have I been late for Mass through my own negligence?

Have I been inattentive at Mass or otherwise failed in reverence for the Most Blessed Sacrament?

Have I done unnecessary servile work (physical labor) or shopping on Sunday?

[b]Fourth Commandment[/b]
Have I been disrespectful to my parents or neglected them?

Have I failed in obedience or reverence to others in authority?

Have I mistreated my wife or children?

Have I been disobedient or disrespectful to my husband?

[b]Regarding my children: [/b]
Have I neglected their material needs?

Have I failed to care for their early Baptism or their proper religious instruction?

Have I allowed them to neglect their religious duties?

Have I otherwise failed to discipline them?

Have I given bad them example?

Have I interfered with their freedom to marry or follow a religious vocation?

[b]Fifth & Eighth Commandments[/b]
Have I quarreled with any one?

Have I cursed anyone or otherwise wished evil on him?

Have I taken pleasure in anyone's misfortune?

Is there anyone to whom I refuse to speak or be reconciled?

Have I lied about anyone (calumny)?

Have I rash judged anyone of a serious sin?

Have I engaged in gossip (detraction) or spread scandal?

Have I lent an ear to scandal about my neighbor?

Have I been jealous or envious of anyone?

[b]Sixth & Ninth[/b]
Have I denied my spouse his or her marriage rights?

Have I practiced birth control?

Have I abused my marriage rights in any other way?

Have I committed adultery or fornication?

Have I touched or embraced another impurely?

Have I sinned with others of the same sex?

Have I committed masturbation or otherwise sinned impurely with myself?

Have I harbored lustful desires for anyone?

Have I indulged in other impure thoughts?

Have I failed to dress modestly?

Have I done anything to provoke or occasion impure thoughts in others?

Have I read indecent literature or looked at indecent pictures?

Have I watched suggestive films or programs?

Have I permitted my children or others under my charge to do these things?

Have I used indecent language or told indecent stories?

Have I willingly listened to such stories?

Have I boasted of my sins?

Have I sinned against chastity in any other way?

[b]Seventh & Tenth Commandments[/b]
Have I stolen anything?

Have I damaged anyone's property through my own fault?

Have I cheated or defrauded other?

Have I refused or neglected to pay any debts?

Have I neglected my duties or been slothful in my work?

Have I refused or neglected to help anyone in urgent necessity?

Have I failed to make restitution?

[b]OTHER SINS[/b]
Have I knowingly caused others to sin?

Have I cooperated in the sins of others?

Have I sinned by gluttony?

Have I become intoxicated?

Have I used narcotics?

Have I been motivated by avarice?

Have I indulged in boasting or vainglory?

Have I received Holy Communion or another sacrament in the state of mortal sin?

Is there any other sin I need to confess?


[b]Prayer for a Good Confession[/b]

O my God, by my grievous sins I have re-crucified Thy divine Son to myself and have deserved Thy everlasting wrath in the fires of hell. Even more, I have been most ungrateful by my sins to Thee, my Heavenly Father, Who have created me out of nothing, redeemed me by Thy Son, and sanctified me in the sacraments by Thy Holy Spirit. But Thou hast spared me to make this confession. Receive me back as Thy prodigal son and grant me to confess myself well, that I may begin anew to love Thee with my whole heart and soul, henceforth keeping Thy Commandments and suffering patiently whatever temporal punishment for my sins may remain. I hope by Thy goodness and power to obtain everlasting life in paradise. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.





God Bless,
ironmonk

[Archbishop 10-K]

Excellent post.


I want to ask one honest question: what does the Church say concerning secret societies? Freemasons, I can understand perfectly why the Church condemns it, but what about informal cliques with friends? The CIA? Are those necessarily sinful?

[mom25angels]

We have a wonderfull family examination of conscience that we "go over" weekly before confession. Got it from catholic Heritage Curriculum....it's wonderfull for families. It helps go over the ways we fail to serve each other during the week.

[ironmonk]

At the time of examination [of conscience each night] beware of the devil that ties your tongue.

-- St. Josemaria Escriva: The Way

[Quietfire]

[quote]We have a wonderfull family examination of conscience that we "go over" weekly before confession. Got it from catholic Heritage Curriculum....it's wonderfull for families. It helps go over the ways we fail to serve each other during the week.[/quote]

So post it here baby! I wanna see it too. Or is it pretty much the same as Ironmonks?


Peace.

[ilovechrist]

[quote name='Archbishop 10-K' date='Jul 29 2004, 11:32 PM'] I want to ask one honest question: what does the Church say concerning secret societies? [/quote]
i think it depends on the society...

not sure though

[Lil Red]

you could've just posted a link to the examination of consciences in the Word phorum. but great post!!

[MagiDragon]

St. Josemaria Escriva, The Way, and Opus Dei ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ICTHUS]

[quote name='ironmonk' date='Jul 29 2004, 09:39 PM'] Examination of conscience: a daily task. Bookkeeping is never neglected by anyone in business.

And is there any business worth more than the business of eternal life?


-- St. Josemaria Escriva: The Way



[url="http://www.catholic-pages.com/penance/examine.asp"]http://www.catholic-pages.com/penance/examine.asp[/url]
[b]Prayer Before Confession[/b]

O Lord, grant me light to see myself as Thou dost see me and the grace to be truly and efficaciously contrite for my sins. O Mary, help me to make a good confession.

[b]Preliminary[/b]

Besides telling the NATURE of our sins, we must also recollect, as far as possible, the NUMBER of times we have committed them, telling also (and only) those CIRCUMSTANCES which at times may either make a venial sin mortal or a mortal sin notably worse.

Have I ever failed to confess a serious sin or disguised it?

Have I been guilty of irreverence for this sacrament by failing to examine my conscience carefully?

Have I failed to perform the penance given me by the confessor or disobeyed any of his directions?

Have I neglected the Easter duty of receiving Holy Communion or failed to confess my sins within a year?

Have I any HABITS of serious sin to confess first (impurity, drunkenness, etc.)?

[b]First Commandment[/b]

Am I ignorant of my catechism (Act of Contrition, Apostle's Creed, Ten Commandments, Seven Sacraments, the Our Father)?

Have I willfully doubted or denied any of the teachings of the Church (heresy)?

Have I taken active part in any non-Catholic worship?

Am I a member of any anti-Catholic or any secret society?

Have I knowingly read any anti-Catholic literature?

Have I practiced any superstitions (horoscopes, fortune tellers, etc.)?

[b]Second Commandment[/b]
Have I used God's name in vain by way of profanity?

Have I murmured or complained against God (blasphemy)?

Have I maligned priests or others consecrated to God?

Have I sworn by God's name (oath) either falsely or rashly?

Have I broken any private vow?

[b]Third Commandment[/b]
Have I missed Mass on Sundays or holydays through my own fault?

Have I been late for Mass through my own negligence?

Have I been inattentive at Mass or otherwise failed in reverence for the Most Blessed Sacrament?

Have I done unnecessary servile work (physical labor) or shopping on Sunday?

[b]Fourth Commandment[/b]
Have I been disrespectful to my parents or neglected them?

Have I failed in obedience or reverence to others in authority?

Have I mistreated my wife or children?

Have I been disobedient or disrespectful to my husband?

[b]Regarding my children: [/b]
Have I neglected their material needs?

Have I failed to care for their early Baptism or their proper religious instruction?

Have I allowed them to neglect their religious duties?

Have I otherwise failed to discipline them?

Have I given bad them example?

Have I interfered with their freedom to marry or follow a religious vocation?

[b]Fifth & Eighth Commandments[/b]
Have I quarreled with any one?

Have I cursed anyone or otherwise wished evil on him?

Have I taken pleasure in anyone's misfortune?

Is there anyone to whom I refuse to speak or be reconciled?

Have I lied about anyone (calumny)?

Have I rash judged anyone of a serious sin?

Have I engaged in gossip (detraction) or spread scandal?

Have I lent an ear to scandal about my neighbor?

Have I been jealous or envious of anyone?

[b]Sixth & Ninth[/b]
Have I denied my spouse his or her marriage rights?

Have I practiced birth control?

Have I abused my marriage rights in any other way?

Have I committed adultery or fornication?

Have I touched or embraced another impurely?

Have I sinned with others of the same sex?

Have I committed masturbation or otherwise sinned impurely with myself?

Have I harbored lustful desires for anyone?

Have I indulged in other impure thoughts?

Have I failed to dress modestly?

Have I done anything to provoke or occasion impure thoughts in others?

Have I read indecent literature or looked at indecent pictures?

Have I watched suggestive films or programs?

Have I permitted my children or others under my charge to do these things?

Have I used indecent language or told indecent stories?

Have I willingly listened to such stories?

Have I boasted of my sins?

Have I sinned against chastity in any other way?

[b]Seventh & Tenth Commandments[/b]
Have I stolen anything?

Have I damaged anyone's property through my own fault?

Have I cheated or defrauded other?

Have I refused or neglected to pay any debts?

Have I neglected my duties or been slothful in my work?

Have I refused or neglected to help anyone in urgent necessity?

Have I failed to make restitution?

[b]OTHER SINS[/b]
Have I knowingly caused others to sin?

Have I cooperated in the sins of others?

Have I sinned by gluttony?

Have I become intoxicated?

Have I used narcotics?

Have I been motivated by avarice?

Have I indulged in boasting or vainglory?

Have I received Holy Communion or another sacrament in the state of mortal sin?

Is there any other sin I need to confess?


[b]Prayer for a Good Confession[/b]

O my God, by my grievous sins I have re-crucified Thy divine Son to myself and have deserved Thy everlasting wrath in the fires of hell. Even more, I have been most ungrateful by my sins to Thee, my Heavenly Father, Who have created me out of nothing, redeemed me by Thy Son, and sanctified me in the sacraments by Thy Holy Spirit. But Thou hast spared me to make this confession. Receive me back as Thy prodigal son and grant me to confess myself well, that I may begin anew to love Thee with my whole heart and soul, henceforth keeping Thy Commandments and suffering patiently whatever temporal punishment for my sins may remain. I hope by Thy goodness and power to obtain everlasting life in paradise. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.





God Bless,
ironmonk [/quote]
Romans 4:4-8

[color=blue]Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7[b]“Blessed are they
whose transgressions are [B]forgiven,[/b] [/B] whose sins are [b]covered. [/b]
[b]8Blessed is the man
whose sin the Lord will never count against him."[2] [/color][/b]

Our sins are not counted against us because all of the sins of the Elect were atoned for on Calvary.

"My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!"

- Horatio G. Spafford, "It is Well With My Soul", v. 3

[M.SIGGA]

What is the (Calvinist i'm guessing?) teaching that someone knows absolutly sure, without a doubt, that they are the Elect, whose sins are already atoned for, instead of the damned? If you're talking fundamentalism, isn't there a specific number like 144,000 or something like that?

[quote]"My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!"

- Horatio G. Spafford, "It is Well With My Soul", v. 3[/quote]

funny you posted this. I sang this as a solo piece when I was like 10; it brought back memories. TMI, but so what

[ICTHUS]

[quote name='M.SIGGA' date='Jul 30 2004, 06:17 PM'] funny you posted this. I sang this as a solo piece when I was like 10; it brought back memories. TMI, but so what [/quote]
Were you raised Protestant, and joined Rome as an adult?

[Sojourner]

[quote name='ICTHUS' date='Jul 30 2004, 05:55 PM'] Romans 4:4-8

[color=blue]Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7[b]“Blessed are they
whose transgressions are [B]forgiven,[/b] [/B] whose sins are [b]covered. [/b]
[b]8Blessed is the man
whose sin the Lord will never count against him."[2] [/color][/b]

Our sins are not counted against us because all of the sins of the Elect were atoned for on Calvary.

"My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!"

- Horatio G. Spafford, "It is Well With My Soul", v. 3 [/quote]
So ... are you saying that after a person's sins are forgiven, he never again needs to examine his conscience, since his sins are from that point forward not counted against him at all?

[ICTHUS]

[quote name='Sojourner' date='Jul 30 2004, 08:05 PM'] So ... are you saying that after a person's sins are forgiven, he never again needs to examine his conscience, since his sins are from that point forward not counted against him at all? [/quote]
No - we should examine our consciences daily, and repent of our sins because they offend God - they should greive us immensely - but ultimately, they are not imputed to us, but to Christ.

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

Nevermind.

Edited July 31, 2004 by thedude

[M.SIGGA]

[quote name='ICTHUS' date='Jul 30 2004, 07:51 PM'] Were you raised Protestant, and joined Rome as an adult? [/quote]
no, I attended primary school at a christian academy and I sang in the choir. this was one of my favorite songs. I used to know, and I guess I still do, all these traditional genre songs by heart.

[mom25angels]

[quote name='Quietfire' date='Jul 30 2004, 03:32 PM']
So post it here baby! I wanna see it too. Or is it pretty much the same as Ironmonks?


Peace. [/quote]
Well, it's an entire book so I probably shouldn't post it here But you can check it out here [url="https://blitz.goldrush.com/chcweb/shopcart/html/fcec.htm"]https://blitz.goldrush.com/chcweb/shopcart/html/fcec.htm[/url]

There's a sample from the book you can look at at the website.

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

ICTHUS,
What type of Calvinist are you?

[ironmonk]

Your particular examination [of conscience] should be directed towards the acquisition of a definitive virtue or the rooting out of your predominant defect.
-- St. Josemaria Escriva: The Way

[MagiDragon]

here's my favorite from the Way:

#307

That supernatural mode of conduct is a truly military tactic.

You carry on the war — the daily struggles of your interior — far from the main walls of your fortress.

And the enemy meets you there: in your small mortifications, your customary prayer, your methodical work, your plan of life: and with difficulty will he come close to the easily-scaled battlements of your castle. And if he does come, he comes exhausted.



- St. Josemaria Escriva (Founder of Opus Dei)

[ironmonk]

[quote name='ICTHUS' date='Jul 30 2004, 07:55 PM'] Romans 4:4-8

[color=blue]Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7[b]“Blessed are they
whose transgressions are [B]forgiven,[/b] [/B] whose sins are [b]covered. [/b]
[b]8Blessed is the man
whose sin the Lord will never count against him."[2] [/color][/b]

Our sins are not counted against us because all of the sins of the Elect were atoned for on Calvary.

"My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!"

- Horatio G. Spafford, "It is Well With My Soul", v. 3 [/quote]
Wrong again ryan. Your new psudotheology does not add up.

[b]St John 20:21 [/b]
(Jesus) said to them again, "[color=red]Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.[/color]"
[b]22 [/b]And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "[color=red]Receive the holy Spirit. [/color]
[b]23 [/b][color=red]Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained[/color]."


[b]St James 5:14[/b]
Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint (him) with oil in the name of the Lord,
[b]15 [/b]and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.
[b]16 [/b]Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.



Our sins do count against us.


[b]The Didache[/b]

"Confess your sins in church, and do not go up to your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life. . . . On the Lord’s Day gather together, break bread, and give thanks, after confessing your transgressions so that your sacrifice may be pure" (Didache 4:14, 14:1 [A.D. 70]).


[b]The Letter of Barnabas[/b]

"You shall judge righteously. You shall not make a schism, but you shall pacify those that contend by bringing them together. You shall confess your sins. You shall not go to prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of light" (Letter of Barnabas 19 [A.D. 74]).


[b]Ignatius of Antioch[/b]

"For as many as are of God and of Jesus Christ are also with the bishop. And as many as shall, in the exercise of penance, return into the unity of the Church, these, too, shall belong to God, that they may live according to Jesus Christ" (Letter to the Philadelphians 3 [A.D. 110]).

"For where there is division and wrath, God does not dwell. To all them that repent, the Lord grants forgiveness, if they turn in penitence to the unity of God, and to communion with the bishop" (ibid., 8).


[b]Irenaeus[/b]

"[The Gnostic disciples of Marcus] have deluded many women. . . . Their consciences have been branded as with a hot iron. Some of these women make a public confession, but others are ashamed to do this, and in silence, as if withdrawing from themselves the hope of the life of God, they either apostatize entirely or hesitate between the two courses" (Against Heresies 1:22 [A.D. 189]).


[b]Tertullian[/b]

"[Regarding confession, some] flee from this work as being an exposure of themselves, or they put it off from day to day. I presume they are more mindful of modesty than of salvation, like those who contract a disease in the more shameful parts of the body and shun making themselves known to the physicians; and thus they perish along with their own bashfulness" (Repentance 10:1 [A.D. 203]).




Of course I'm sure you'll blow it all off, and change the subject as all anti-Catholics must do. The only way non-Catholic churches can survive and get people to follow them is to attack the Catholic Church, hence the title protestant. If they had the full truth, they would not have to attack the Catholic Church... but seeing that they all came out of the Catholic Church their founders are counted with those in Acts 20:29-30.


Come with some quotes from the first Christians and Scripture if you want to prove a point. Show us all your beliefs taught in 200 AD, 300 AD, 500 AD, 1000 AD, 1400 AD. If they were not taught then it cannot be the Church established by Christ.



You really should read the bible a few times before you try to use it against the Church. You fail to look at the bible as a whole, but instead you look at it with tunnel vision as all anti-Catholics do. For if you actually read it to learn, you would get the whole picture. When it was written, it was not written by chapter and verse, it was a scroll.



You want to talk scripture... Let's talk some scripture. I've been reading it for about 25 years... how about you?



[b]Romans 3:29 [/b]
Does God belong to Jews alone? Does he not belong to Gentiles, too? Yes, also to Gentiles,
[b]30 [/b]for God is one and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
[b]31 [/b][b]Are we then annulling the law by this faith? Of course not! On the contrary, we are supporting the law. [/b]


[b]Romans 6:1 [/b]
What then shall we say? Shall we persist in sin that grace may abound? Of course not!
...
[b]11 [/b]Consequently, [b]you too must think of yourselves as (being) dead to sin [/b]and living for God in Christ Jesus.
[b]12 [/b]Therefore, sin must not reign over your mortal bodies so that you obey their desires.
[b]13 [/b]And do not present the parts of your bodies to sin as weapons for wickedness, but present yourselves to God as raised from the dead to life and the parts of your bodies to God as weapons for righteousness
[b]14 [/b]For sin is not to have any power over you, since you are not under the law but under grace.
[b]15 [/b]What then? [b]Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Of course not![/b]
[b]16 [/b][b]Do you not know that if you present yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of [u]obedience[/u], which leads to righteousness?[/b]
[b]17 [/b]But thanks be to God that, although you were once slaves of sin, [b]you have [u]become obedient [/u]from the heart to the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted.[/b]
....
[b]23 [/b][b]For the wages of sin is death[/b], but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.




[b]St. Luke 12:47 [/b]
[color=red]That servant who knew his master's will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; [/color]
[b]48 [/b][color=red]and the servant who was ignorant of his master's will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.[/color]


Christ is pretty clear that our sins do count.


[b]2 Corin 11:15 [/b]
So it is not strange that his ministers also masquerade as ministers of righteousness. [u][b]Their end will correspond to their deeds[/b][/u].



[b]St. Matt 10:22 [/b]
[color=red]You will be hated by all because of my name, [b][u]but whoever endures to the end will be saved.[/u][/b] [/color]

[b]St. Matt 24:13 [/b]
But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.



No one will be saved until the end. We must endure to the end, meaning we must do good works and have faith. If we sin, we are not enduring to the end.


[b]1 John 5:16[/b]
If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray.

[b]Rev 21:27 [/b]
but nothing unclean will enter it, nor any (one) who does abominable things or tells lies. Only those will enter whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Nothing Unclean can enter Heaven, but not all sin is deadly (1 John 5:16) therefore we must have our sin purged (Isaiah 6:6-7) before we enter Heaven if we are guilty of lesser sins. Our sins do count against us.


For if we love Christ we will keep His commandments.

[b]St. John 14:15 [/b]
[color=red]If you love me, you will keep my commandments. [/color]


-ironmonk