-- A Guide for Examining the Conscience
forth in such an extreme manner, resulting in all sorts of sins, making it impossible to live in this world.
As for actual sins, upon examination, they will be found to be countless, like the hairs on a person's head or the sands on the seashore. Anyone who takes a moment to search themselves against the Ten Commandments of the Decalogue will discover their multitude of sinful thoughts, words, and actions committed against both God and fellow human beings.
A Guide for Examining the Conscience I. COMMANDMENT: Thou shalt have none other gods, &c.
He breaks this commandment:
Those who do not acknowledge the true God (Jeremiah 4:22).
Those who deny God in their hearts by denying His presence, justice, mercy, etc. (Psalm 14:1).
Those who hate God and show it through disobedience (Exodus 20:5, Romans 1:30).
Those who do not fear God and show no reverence towards Him.
Those who fear humans or other creatures more than God (Matthew 10:31, Revelation 21:8).
Those who live openly in sin without fearing God's word or judgments (1 Thessalonians 5:6-7).
Those who are only sorry for their sins in light of the punishment (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Those who fear God based on human traditions (Isaiah 29:13).
Those who do not believe God's word and question the authority of the canonical scriptures.
Those who despair of God's mercy.
Those who have a dead faith without works (James 2).
Those who put their faith in the devil and his works, like seekers of sorcery do.
Those who love creatures, such as riches, honor, and their own sinful pleasures, more than God (Ephesians 5:5).
Those who put their confidence in their own strength, wisdom, wealth, or physicians (2 Chronicles 16:9, 16:11).
Those who are impatient under the burden of the cross (Matthew 10:38).
Those who tempt God (Matthew 4:7).
Those who prioritize worldly pursuits over seeking God's kingdom (Matthew 6:33).
Those who murmur against God (1 Corinthians 10:10).
Those who argue and deny the existence of God.
Those who hold and promote opinions contrary to the ancient faith as taught by the Prophets and Apostles, like the Manichees,
Donatists, Arians, Anabaptists, etc.
Those who hold one religion while being ready to follow another (1 Kings 18:21).
Those who are presumptuous about God's mercy (Isaiah 7:12).
Those who turn away from the truth they once knew (2 Peter 2:20).
Those who add to the canonical scriptures (Deuteronomy 12: last verse).
II. COMMANDMENT. Thou shalt make to thyself no graven Image.
&c.
He breaks this commandment:
Those who represent God in an image (Exodus 32:6, 32:8).
Those who worship God through images, such as crucifixes and the like (2 Kings 18:4).
Those who kneel down before an image.
Those who are physically present at Mass while their hearts are not focused on God (1 Corinthians 8:9).
Those who retain the symbols or artifacts of idolatry (Exodus 23:13).
Those who marry unbelievers or similar individuals (Genesis 6:2).
Those who form alliances or friendships with such individuals (2 Chronicles 19:1).
Those who worship God according to their own fantasies (Colossians 2:23).
Those who offer lip-service in their worship of God (Isaiah 29:13).
Those who possess the outward appearance of godliness but deny its power (2 Timothy 3:5).
Those who give God's worship to creatures, such as saints and angels (Psalm 115:8).
Those who refuse to listen to the preaching of the Gospel (Luke 14:19).
Those who worship God negligently (Revelation 3:16).
Those who neglect the invocation of God's name (Isaiah 64:7).
Those who listen to sermons but respond with railing, rage, and gain no benefit from them (Amos 5:10).
Those who alter or change the worship of God either in whole or in part (Deuteronomy 12:32).
Those who openly or secretly enter into a pact with the devil (Psalm 58).
Those who engage in witchcraft, sorcery, or enchantments (Deuteronomy 18:11, Leviticus 19:26).
Those who consult with wizards (Leviticus 20:6).
Those who wear amulets or charms around their necks and place their trust in them.
Those who hinder schools of religion and the pursuit of knowledge.
Those who do not seek the well-being of God's Church within the scope of their calling, but instead seek their own interests
(Psalm 132:3-4).
III. COMMANDMENT. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, &c.
He breaks this commandment:
Those who irreverently use God's titles in their speech (Philippians 2:10).
Those who make a sworn promise to do something lawful and good, but fail to fulfill it (Matthew 5:23).
Those who swear thoughtlessly or rashly (Jeremiah 4:2).
Those who engage in habitual swearing in their everyday conversations (Matthew 5:37).
Those who blaspheme the name of God (Leviticus 24:16).
Those who swear falsely (John 8:44).
Those who swear against piety and honesty.
Those who curse and use profane language.
Those who find fault with God's creation (1 Corinthians 10:3).
Those who swear by created things (Matthew 5:34-35).
Those who use lots or engage in divination for amusement (Proverbs 16:33, 18:18).
Those who create and use charms or talismans made from herbs or other objects (Deuteronomy 18:11).
Those who make jokes or mock the sentences and phrases of Scripture (Isaiah 66:2).
Those who practice divination through the casting of figures or symbols (Isaiah 47:13).
Those who disregard God's judgments and take them lightly (Hebrews 3:16).
Those who live in religious dissoluteness and bring disgrace to the name of God (2 Samuel 12:13, 1 Peter 3:15).
Those who make a vow of chastity or any other vow they are unable to keep.
Those who make a lawful vow but fail to keep it (Deuteronomy 23:21).
Those who receive blessings from God but are ungrateful (Luke 17:8).
Those who teach the truth but do not practice it (Matthew 23:2).
IV. COMMANDMENT. Remember the Sabbath day to &c.
He breaks this commandment:
Those who engage in the ordinary work of their occupation on the Sabbath day (Nehemiah 13:15).
Those who travel for their regular business on this day (Exodus 16:24).
Those who participate in fairs and markets on this day (Nehemiah 13:15).
Those who work in the fields during harvest on this day (Exodus 34:21).
Those who engage in sports and recreational activities that cause distraction (1 Corinthians 10:7).
Those who spend the day in idleness (Isaiah 58:13).
Those who observe the Sabbath only outwardly, without true reverence and devotion (Isaiah 1:13).
Those who profane the day through gluttony and drunkenness.
Those who allow their servants to do as they please on the Sabbath.
Those who do not bring their family to the congregation to hear God's word and receive the sacraments on the Sabbath.
Those who do not privately sanctify the Sabbath in their family.
V. COMMANDMENT. Honor thy father, &c.
He breaks this commandment:
Those who mock, revile, or physically harm their superiors (Genesis 9:22).
Those who disobey their lawful commands (Romans 13:1).
Those who are unthankful to their parents and refuse to believe them when necessary (2 Timothy 3:3).
Those who disobey God in order to obey their parents (Acts 4:19).
Those who exalt themselves above authority figures (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
Those who serve their masters only when they are being watched (Colossians 3:22).
Those who neglect the proper governance of their family and those under their care (1 Timothy 3:4).
Those who are lax in punishing wrongdoing (1 Samuel 2:22).
Those who are excessively harsh in their words and punishments (Ephesians 6:9).
Those who marry without their parents' consent.
Those who choose a profession without their parents' consent (Numbers 30).
Those who think more highly of themselves than of others (Romans 12:10).
Those who despise elderly individuals (Leviticus 19:32).
VI. COMMANDMENT. Thou shalt not kill.
He breaks this commandment:
Those who bear malice towards others (1 John 3:15).
Those who are prone to anger and hastiness (Matthew 5:22).
Those who inwardly harbor fretting and grudging (James 3:14).
Those who have a difficult and unpleasing nature, hard to satisfy (Romans 1:31).
Those who are filled with rancor and bitterness (Ephesians 4:31).
Those who ridicule and scorn others (Genesis 21:9, Galatians 4:29).
Those who use harsh and insulting words (Proverbs 12:18).
Those who engage in contentious words or actions (Galatians 5:20).
Those who engage in quarrelling and shouting (Ephesians 4:31).
Those who make complaints about their neighbors in all places (James 5:9).
Those who are prone to fighting (James 4:1).
Those who harm or injure their neighbor's body (Exodus 21:24).
Those who refuse to forgive an offense (Matthew 5:23).
Those who claim to forgive but do not forget.
Those who live in abundance themselves but do not give alms to help the poor (Luke 16:19).
Those who use cruelty in punishing wrongdoers (Deuteronomy 22:6).
Those who deny wages to servants or laborers (James 5:4).
Those who withhold pledged items (Ezekiel 18:7).
Those who engage in fraudulent practices using different weights and measures.
Those who remove boundary markers (Proverbs 22:18).
Those who engage in usury, demanding both principal and interest (Ezekiel 18:8).
Those whose loose behavior becomes an occasion for others to sin.
Those who stir up contention and debate (Romans 1:29).
Those who, as ministers, teach erroneously.
Those who teach lazily (Jeremiah 48:10).
Those who do not teach at all (1 Timothy 3:2).
Those who hinder others' salvation in any way (Matthew 23:13).
Those who seek personal revenge.
VII. COMMANDMENT. Thou shalt not commit adultery, &c.
He breaks this commandment:
Those who look at a woman with lustful intent (Matthew 5:28).
Those who commit incest (Leviticus 18:22).
Those who engage in sodomy (1 Corinthians 6:9).
Those who commit fornication with married or unmarried individuals, or those who are betrothed (Deuteronomy 22:22).
Those who engage in excessive indulgence in the marriage bed.
Those who have sexual relations with a menstruating woman (Ezekiel 18:6).
Those who engage in wantonness (1 Corinthians 6:9).
Those who seek out opportunities and stimuli to incite lust (Galatians 5:9).
Those who are idle and lazy.
Those who wear provocative and immodest clothing (1 Timothy 2:9, 1 Peter 3:3).
Those who engage in frivolous and lascivious talk and read love stories (1 Corinthians 15:35).
Those who frequent places of lustful indulgence (Ephesians 5:3).
Those who take pleasure in explicit and suggestive images (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Those who participate in mixed dancing between men and women (Mark 6:22).
Those who associate with promiscuous and suspicious individuals (Proverbs 7:22).
Those who neglect to arrange suitable marriages for their children in a timely manner (1 Corinthians 7:37).
Those who arrange marriages for young children.
Those who impose lenient punishments for adultery.
Those who marry multiple wives simultaneously (Genesis 2:24).
Those who love their pleasures more than God (2 Timothy 3:4).
Those who prioritize fulfilling their fleshly desires (Romans 13:14).
Those who support and visit brothels (Deuteronomy 23:17).
Those who indulge in drunkenness and excessive eating (Ephesians 5:18).
Those who dedicate themselves to wine, sleep, and ease (Proverbs 20:13).
Those who avoid marriage to prevent fornication (1 Corinthians 7:2).
Those who divorce their spouse for reasons other than fornication (Matthew 19:9).
VIII. COMMANDMENT. Thou shalt not steal.
He breaks this commandment:
Those who do not engage in any productive occupation (1 Thessalonians 3:11).
Those who neglect their occupation (Jeremiah 48:10).
Those who squander their wealth in reckless living and fail to provide for their family (1 Timothy 5:8).
Those who are not content with their own possessions and constantly seek to become rich (1 Timothy 6:10).
Those who sell the goods of the Church or purchase them (Malachi 3:8).
Those who sell items that promote idolatry or other sinful activities.
Those who use deceptive practices such as powdering, starching, blowing, or dim lighting to enhance the appearance and marketability of their goods.
Those who conceal the faults of their merchandise.
Those who use false weights and measures (Leviticus 19:35).
Those who employ deceitful words in their business dealings (Proverbs 20:14).
Those who charge more than a just price for their goods (Matthew 7:12).
Those who oppress their tenants by excessively raising rents (Habakkuk 2:11).
Those who engage in hoarding of goods.
Those who increase prices solely based on the payment terms.
Those who either give or accept bribes (Isaiah 1:33, Psalm 82).
Those who write false letters of recommendation in legal matters.
Those who fail to return borrowed items (Ezekiel 18:7).
Those who withhold or profit from found or pawned items (Leviticus 6:3).
Those who are physically capable but live by begging.
Those who provide assistance to such individuals (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
Those who defend unjust causes for the sake of personal gain.
Those who burden the people with excessive taxes or demands without just cause (Isaiah 1:23, Ezekiel 22:27).
Those who squander Church resources in indulgent living (1 Timothy 6:9).
Those who exploit God's word and sacraments for personal gain (Micah 3:11, 2 Corinthians 2:17).
Those who acquire wealth through gambling.
Those who make a living through divination or performances (Ephesians 4:28).
Those who are careless in becoming a surety for others (Proverbs 11:15, 17:18).
Those who steal children to arrange their marriages (1 Timothy 1:10).
Those who steal even the smallest item for supposedly noble purposes.
Those who receive stolen goods and participate in the act (Romans 1:29).
Those who engage in deceitful practices in trade (1 Thessalonians 4:6).
Those who do not restore ill-gotten gains (Ezekiel 33:15).
Those who withhold goods that were intended for the Church (Acts 5:3).
Those who wait for times of scarcity to sell their goods at higher prices (Amos 8:5).
IX. COMMANDMENT. Thou shalt not bear false witness, &c.
He breaks this commandment:
Those who envy their neighbor's prosperity (1 Timothy 6:4).
Those who only seek to promote their own reputation.
Those who are suspicious of others (1 Corinthians 13:5).
Those who pass hasty or harsh judgments against others (Matthew 7:1).
Those who interpret other people's words and actions in a negative light (Matthew 26:60).
Those who falsely accuse others (1 Kings 21).
Those who engage in spreading rumors openly or in a whispering manner (Leviticus 19:16).
Those who willingly listen to and accept rumors and gossip (Exodus 23:1).
Those who speak the truth with malicious intent (Psalm 52:1, 2).
Those who publicly disclose others' weaknesses or faults (Matthew 18:17).
Those who engage in mocking and taunting (Ephesians 5:4).
Those who use flattery to deceive or manipulate (Proverbs 26:19).
Those who lie, even if it is for a seemingly good cause (Zechariah 13:3).
Those who defend an evil cause and attack the opposite side.
Those who write or spread libelous statements.
X. COMMANDMENT. Thou shalt not covet.
He breaks this commandment:
Those who entertain evil thoughts against their neighbor, even if they have no intention of acting upon them.
Those who derive inner pleasure from evil desires, even if they do not consent to act on them.
He sins against the Gospel:
Those who deny, directly or indirectly, that Christ has come in the flesh.
Those who treat the blood of Christ as insignificant or unimportant.
Those who do not believe in the forgiveness of their own sins and acceptance of eternal life.
Those who refuse to repent and instead harden themselves in their sinful ways.
Now, let us move on to the second duty, which is the confession of sins to God. This confession is essential because the proper way to have our sins forgiven by God is to acknowledge and uncover them before Him. When we condemn ourselves, God justifies us. When we accuse ourselves as our own enemies, He pardons us. He forgets our sins when we remember them. When we consider ourselves unworthy, we become precious in His sight. When we are lost to ourselves, we are found by Him.
To perform confession correctly, a significant aspect is the selfjudgment of a repentant sinner. By judging ourselves, we seek to avoid being judged by the Lord.
This arraignment has three specific points. Firstly, the individual must present themselves before the judgment of God. They do this by placing themselves in the presence of God as if the day of judgment were happening at that very moment. It is like what Saint
Jerome did, always imagining that he heard the voice saying, "Rise, you dead, and come to judgment."
Secondly, they must bring charges against themselves. They do this by confessing their sins before God, acknowledging both their known
sins in detail and their unknown sins in general, without making any excuses, minimizing, defending, or hiding any of them. For example,
David said, "I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight... I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. And I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing. But now, please forgive the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly." Similarly, Ezra said, "O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens."
Thirdly, with a heavy heart, they must pass judgment on themselves, acknowledging that they deserve eternal hell, death, and damnation.
Like the prodigal child who said, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son."
And Daniel said, "We have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules... Righteousness belongs to you, O Lord, but to us, open shame." Job declared, "Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth... I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes." And the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven but beat his breast, saying,
"God, be merciful to me, a sinner."
Regarding the confession of sins to other people, it should only be done in two cases. First, when we have offended our neighbour, and second, when we seek comfort and relief from a troubled conscience.
The third duty in the practice of repentance is supplication, where we pray to God for the forgiveness of the sins we have confessed with a contrite heart. We should pray earnestly and persistently, considering it the most important matter in the world. In this regard, we should approach God like a poor prisoner at the bar who, as the judge is about to pass sentence, cries out for mercy as if their life