Composed by Fr. Tom Dowd, priest of the Archdiocese of Montréal 2003 graphics by Denyse Assabgui Paroisse S. Luc, DDO
Review of Life The Seven Deadly Sins Somebody Else s Shoes
Pick a period of time to review. It should be The seven deadly sins are not sins per se, but So you can t think of anything to confess?
at least the time since your last confession. tendencies to sin. Reflecting on these areas Here s a little trick
of sin often helps us to see where we have
Think of the habits of your life during that failed in more specific ways. Make a list of your primary relationships:
time. How did you work? What did you do spouse, family members, co-workers, and so
for fun? What responsibilities did you have? on.
Pride : sins against truth,
Think of the relationships you had during that sins of vanity, Now imagine each of those persons being
time. Which ones were the most significant? sins of arrogance. asked to give suggestions as to what you
Did any change?? should bring to confession. Would they have
Envy: pain in the heart at the good any suggestions? What would they be?
Think of any significant events, happy or sad, things of another.
that occurred to you during this time.. Now bring those suggestions to confession.
Lust : sins against god s gift of
Now ask yourself these questions: sexuality.
What sinful patterns, whether of commission Avarice : sins regarding money and
or omission, crept into the patterns of my possessions..
life?
Wrath: sins of physical or emotional
What sinful patterns crept into my violence; sins of hate.
relationships? Did the changes come
because of sin? Gluttony: sins of things we consume.
Did the events reveal and sin, or cause sin to Sloth: sins of failing in our
be hidden?? responsibilities, of not doing
our fair share.
Composed by Fr. Tom Dowd, priest of the Archdiocese of Montréal 2003 graphics by Denyse Assabgui Paroisse S. Luc, DDO
Fraternal Correction The Ten Commandments Prayer for Conviction
O HOLY SPIRIT, I CONFESS TO YOU
Sometimes the reason it is hard to think of THAT I AM A SINNER.
something to confess is because we are too
close to it, so it hides just underneath our OFTEN ENOUGH, I MAKE EXCUSES
nose. FOR MY SIN. I TELL MYSELF I AM
NOT THAT BAD , OR THAT MY SIN
In such cases what can help is to ask someone WAS UNAVOIDABLE OR EVEN
we trust to journey with us as we engage in NECESSARY AT THE TIME. BUT THESE
an examination of conscience. Doing such an SINS OFFEND GOD JUST THE SAME,
examination with the help of another, 1. I am the lord your god; you shall not AND ALL SIN IS UGLY.
especially someone who knows us well, have strange gods before me.
keeps us honest with ourselves. We discover HOLY SPIRIT, LEAD ME AWAY FROM
quickly where we feel ashamed, where we 2. You shall not take the name of the HARDNESS OF HEART.
would rather some truth not be told. These lord your god in vain.
are good indicators of things to bring to IF I HAVE FORGOTTREN MY SIN, HELP
confession. 3. Remember to keep holy the lord s ME TO REMEMBER.
day.
Priests often have people come to confession IF I HAVE EXCUSED IT, GRANT ME
who know they need to be there but have 4. Honour your father and mother. THE GRACE OF CONVICTION.
trouble thinking of what to confess. Do not
be ashamed to ask the priest to help you 5. You shall not kill. IF I AM TOO ASHAMED TO ADMIT IT,
examine your conscience, even during the GRANT ME THE COURAGE TO
sacrament itself. 6. You shall not commit adultery. CONFESS.
7. You shall not steal. AND IF I DO NOT WANT TO LET GO OF
IT AND CHANGE MY LIFE, GRANT ME
8. You shall not bear false witness REPENTANCE.
against your neighbour.
O HOLY SPIRIT, REVEAL MY SIN TO
9. You shall not covet your neighbour s ME, THAT I MAY BRING IT TO JESUS
spouse. THROUGH THE SACRAMENT OF
RECONCILIATION. AMEN.
10. You shall not covet your neighbour s
goods. .
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