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Examination of Conscience: Tweens

Pre-Teens Preparing for Reconciliation

Mar 23, 2007 Diane Laney Fitzpatrick

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:

The copyright of the article Examination of Conscience: Tweens in Catholicism is owned by Diane Laney Fitzpatrick. Permission to republish Examination of Conscience: Tweens in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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Comments

Jun 19, 2009 8:51 AM
Guest :
Thank-you. very helpful. I'm ten years old- a tween and going to the sacrament of confesstion tonight!
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