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My
Relationship to God
"You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart."
- Is my
whole life directed toward loving God and seeking His kingdom
and plan for humanity? Or are personal greed and the things
of this world my basic object of devotion?
- Do I accept
with my whole heart the revelation of God's love through Jesus
and do I respond fully to the call of this Spirit in my life?
- Do I pray
sufficiently each day and seek to have a continuous spirit of
prayer? Do I turn to God in good times and bad and in times
of temptation? Do I listen with an open and humble heart and
am I ready to accept the inner conversion to which He invites
me? Do I praise and thank Him for His gifts?
- Do I worship
God as an active member of the faith community that Christ founded,
the Church? Am I conscious of and responsive to the Body of
Christ, local and universal? Do I participate fully in the Mass
each Sunday and in the whole sacramental life of the Church?
Do I accept Church teaching and authority in a spirit of faith
and cooperation?
- Do I take
steps to deepen and increase my understanding of the faith?
Do I profess and live it courageously?
6. Have I shown reverence for God in my speech and in my attitude
toward religious symbols? Have I elevated things like money,
status, superstition or occult practices to the level of false
gods?
My
Relationship to Others
"Love one another as I have loved you."
- Do I truly
love my neighbors-as myself? Do I aid or obstruct their progress
toward God and a Fuller life? Have I used or exploited others
for my own selfish interests?
- Am I caring
toward my family? Do I show fidelity, patience, reverence and
love to my spouse, children, parents, brothers, sisters? Have
I shown good example? Fulfilled my respective role?
- Do I deal
honestly and truthfully with others? Have I harmed anyone by
deceit, rash judgment, detraction, calumny or broken agreements?
Have I worked honestly, upheld contracts, paid fair wages?
- Have my
relations to others been faithful and chaste? Have I sexually
exploited or demeaned another? Am I guilty of such violations
of chastity as adultery, fornication, or conversation that is
indecent or cheapens human dignity?
- Have I
hated others, shown prejudice or discrimination toward them?
Have I stolen or damaged the property of others? Have I returned
or paid for stolen or damaged goods? Do I share what God has
given me with those in need?
- Have I
injured the life, limb or reputation of others? Have I upheld
and protected the right of life at all levels? Have I procured
or cooperated in abortion or not revered the human dignity of
the aged, the retarded, deformed or mentally ill? Am I violent?
Do I strive to reduce violence around me?
- Do I bring
the good news of the gospel to others? Do I promote Christian
values and the life of the Church on all levels of human society?
Do I work and pray for Christian unity? Do I try to heal the
wounds of the Church or do I inflame them? Do I support and
involve myself in the Catholic Community or Parish to which
I belong?
- Do I obey
legitimate authority? Do I exercise leadership and authority
in a spirit of Christian service?
- Do I work
for the betterment of human society? Do I try to be informed
and actively concerned about social and political issues that
affect the common good whether on the local, national or global
level?
- According
to my role in life, do I seek to eliminate from the world whatever
keeps my brothers and sisters from the full human development
intended by their creator: poverty, disease, hunger, injustice,
discrimination, oppressive laws and structures, unequal distribution
of world resources? Am I wasteful? Do I support according to
my means and abilities, organizations which work for social
improvement?
My
Personal Growth in Christ
"Be perfect as your Father is perfect."
- Is Christ
and His way of living the basic goal of my life? What inclinations
and attitudes within me are hindrances to my growth and development
as God's son or daughter? Am I too self-centered? Do I work
on controlling dangerous attitudes like pride, arrogance, jealousy,
avarice, lust, intemperance, self-sufficiency, prejudice? Do
I explore my motives and overall patter of conduct? Do I make
full use of my talents and gifts?
- Do I try
to keep a cheerful, positive disposition? Do I give in to depression
and self-pity? Do I put myself down? Do I let unfounded fears
limit my potential and personal freedom? Have I let fear prevent
me from following my conscience? Do I seek counseling, spiritual
direction and other aids to personal growth, when needed? Do
I take care of my health? Overeat, over-drink, take harmful
drugs?
- Do I have
a wholesome attitude toward my own sexuality? Have I willfully
indulged in thoughts, actions, reading, entertainment that are
contrary to the dignity and proper meaning of sex?
- Do I take
time for my spiritual growth? Do I have a wholesome spirit of
penance and self-denial as taught by Jesus? Do I observe the
day so f penance established by the Church? Is personal renewal
and on-going inner conversion a priority in my life? Am I open
to change and the call to fuller life prompted by God's Spirit
in my heart?
Act of Contrition.
a) My God,
I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do
wrong and failing to do good. I have sinned against You whom
I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with Your help,
to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me
to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In
His name, my God have mercy.
b)Oh my
God, I thank you for loving me. I am sorry for all my sisns,
for not loving others and for not loving you. Help me to live
like Jesus and not sin again.
OR
c) Any spontaneous
prayer that tells God you are sorry, that you will mend your
ways and avoid what leads to sin is a good Act of Contrition.
Outline
of the Basic Steps
Preparation.
- Place yourself
in God's loving presence. Remember this sacrament is a sign
and celebration of the great love and mercy of Jesus, who forgive
totally all who approach Him with contrite and humble hearts.
- Assured
of God's goodness rather than burdened by fear, review your
life with the help of this guide. Resolve to renew your heart.
Introduction.
- After entering
the confessional or confession room (and being welcomed), make
the sign of the cross with the priest, the representative of
the loving and forgiving Christ.
- After some
words of greeting, the priest may say an introductory prayer
to which you answer, "Amen."
Reading
of Scripture. (Optional)
- A short
biblical passage expressing God's mercy and call to conversion
is selected and read by the priest. (This could also be done
by the penitent.)
Confession
of Sin & Penance.
- If necessary,
the priest will help you make a complete confession, giving
counsel and encouragement and suggesting a penance.
Manifestation
of Contrition.
- The Act
of Contrition is a distinct part of the Sacrament. Express sorrow
in your own words or use a traditional form.
Absolution.
- Representing
Christ and the Church, the priest says the words which convey
God's forgiveness.
Dismissal.
- The priest
says one of several possible prayers followed by appropriate
words of dismissal.
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