An examination of conscience for young adults aged 19 to 29, at college, at work or starting a family. Tick the questions that apply to you and open your private list when you are ready for confession.
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 Young Adults 29 questions
Faith and PrayerFirst, Second, and Third Commandments
Relationships and VocationFourth, Sixth, and Ninth Commandments
Social and Professional LifeFifth, Seventh, Eighth, 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 for light. Open “A prayer before you begin” in the tool, or pray in your own words.
- Read slowly and tick what applies. A few questions ask about a good habit; tick those only if the answer is no. They are marked.
- Open “My list for confession”. It turns your ticks into short sentences you can say to the priest, with the steps of confession and an Act of Contrition under them.
- Print it or keep the tab open on your phone in the confession line. Close the tab and everything is gone.
What the 29 questions cover
- Faith and prayer (8 questions, first to third commandments): daily prayer, Sunday Mass, doubt, career or a relationship placed before God.
- Relationships and vocation (9 questions, fourth, sixth and ninth commandments): parents, dating, chastity, living together, pornography, prayer about your vocation.
- Social and professional life (12 questions, fifth, seventh, eighth and tenth commandments): honesty in study and work, drinking, gossip and social media, debts, generosity, envy.
Coming back after a long time
Many young adults return to confession after years away. Tell the priest how long it has been and that you would like help; he will lead you through it. Confess the serious sins you remember and about how often. Sins you have honestly forgotten are forgiven with the rest. See how to go to confession for the words to say.
Other age groups
- Examination of conscience for kids (ages 7 to 12)
- Examination of conscience for teens (ages 13 to 18)
- Examination of conscience for adults (ages 30 to 64)
- Examination of conscience for seniors (65 and over)
- All five age groups on one page