A gentle examination of conscience for kids aged 7 to 12, for first confession or any confession. Read each question, tick the ones that are true for you, and your list for the priest is ready.
Private: your ticks stay in this browser tab and are never sent to us. Close the tab and they are gone.
A prayer before you begin
Come, Holy Spirit. Help me to see my sins as you see them, to be sorry for them with my whole heart, and to trust in the mercy of the Father. Amen.
Read each question slowly. Tick the ones that apply to you; your list for confession builds itself.
Examination of Conscience for Children 30 questions
Love for GodFirst, Second, and Third Commandments
Love for Family and OthersFourth, Fifth, and Eighth Commandments
Respect for Things and SelfSixth, Seventh, Ninth, and Tenth Commandments
What to say in confession
- Begin with the Sign of the Cross and say: Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been (how long) since my last confession.
- Tell your sins simply. This is your list, in your own words:
You have not ticked anything yet. Go back to the questions, or tell the priest what is on your conscience.
- End with: For these and all the sins of my life, I am sorry.
- Listen to the priest and accept the penance he gives you.
- Pray an Act of Contrition: O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.
- The priest gives you absolution. Answer Amen, thank him, and do your penance as soon as you can.
How to use it
- Ask the Holy Spirit to help you remember. There is a short prayer at the top of the tool.
- Read each question slowly. Tick it only if it is true for you. Some questions ask about something good, like praying; tick those only if your answer is no.
- Tap “My list for confession”. It shows what to tell the priest. You can print it or copy it onto a small piece of paper.
- Tell God you are sorry and go to confession. When you close the page, your ticks disappear.
What the 30 questions cover
- Love for God (9 questions, first to third commandments): prayers, Sunday Mass, using God’s name with respect.
- Love for family and others (11 questions, fourth, fifth and eighth commandments): obeying parents and teachers, chores, fighting, unkind words, telling the truth, forgiving.
- Respect for things and self (10 questions, sixth, seventh, ninth and tenth commandments): taking what is not yours, cheating, jealousy, what you watch.
For parents and catechists
- Read the questions together with a younger child, then let the child tick alone. The list belongs to the child; nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
- A child does not need a long list. Two or three honest sins, said simply, make a good confession.
- Practise the opening words: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. This is my first confession.” For later confessions the child says how long it has been since the last one.
- Practise a short Act of Contrition for kids until the child knows it by heart. Most priests are glad to help a child who forgets the words.
- Remind the child that the priest can never tell anyone what he hears in confession, and that God is always glad to forgive.
Other age groups
- Examination of conscience for teens (ages 13 to 18)
- Examination of conscience for young adults (ages 19 to 29)
- Examination of conscience for adults (ages 30 to 64)
- Examination of conscience for seniors (65 and over)
- All five age groups on one page