Examination of Conscience: Tweens
Pre-Teens Preparing for Reconciliation
The 10 Commandments are a useful tool for young people to prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
They're old enough to know the drill: Examine your conscience, make a mental list of sins, pick the "nice" priest and go to confession.
But how many young people take time to make a thorough examination of their consciences before the sacrament of reconciliation?
Just like cleaning their rooms and doing their homework, they're going to need reminders.
Here are some questions pre-teens should ask themselves before participating in reconciliation.
An Examination of Conscience for Tweens Using the 10 Commandments
1. I am the Lord your God. You shall not have strange gods before me
- Have I wanted more things, making things more important than God?
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain
- When I make promises, do I take them seriously?
- Do I use God’s name carelessly or in anger?
3. Remember to keep holy the Lord's day
- Did I stay home from church when I could have gone with my family?
- Have I tried to get a ride to church for mass if I needed one?
- Have I remembered to pray regularly?
4. Honor your father and your mother
- Do I obey my parents?
- Have I done my chores without complaining?
- Have I been disrespectful to teachers or coaches?
5. You shall not kill
- Do I keep my patience or do I lose my temper?
- Do I hold grudges and try to get even with others?
- Have I been unfair to others, especially those who are different than I am?
- Have I refused to forgive someone else?
- Have I caused another person to sin?
6. You shall not commit adultery
- Have I forgotten to show respect for the bodies of others as well as myself?
- Do I avoid harmful things like drugs, tobacco and alcohol?
7. You shall not steal
- Have I taken something that belongs to someone else?
- Have I “forgotten” to return something that I borrowed?
- Have I used money responsibly?
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
- Do I play fairly or do I ever cheat at school or games?
- Have I been honest, truthful and fair or have I lied?
- Have I hurt someone by what I have said or done?
- Have I copied someone else’s homework?
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife
- Have I been jealous of friends that someone else has?
- Have I tried to be kind to others?
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods
- Have I been jealous of the things that my friends have?
- Have I nagged my parents into buying things because my friends have them?
- Have I helped others when they needed help?
For religious education techniques for teaching about reconciliation, see:
For more examinations of conscience, see:
