The Examen is a simple prayer with five easy steps in which you are examining your day for signs of God’s presence. Begin the Examen by remembering you are in God’s presence and ask the Holy Spirit to help you with your prayer.

1. Review: Lookback on the events of your day, from beginning to end, noticing where you felt God’s presence, what made you happy, or even what made you stressed.

2. Gratitude: Thank God for any moments or things that you are especially grateful for. These things can be big or small such as finishing an important assignment, enjoying some tasty food, or sharing a loving moment with a parent.

3. Sorrow: Admitting our sinfulness and faults isn’t easy, but it reminds us of our need for God.  So, recognize any actions you committed that stopped you from loving God, loving your neighbor, or loving yourself.

4. Forgiveness: Ask for God’s forgiveness for anything sinful that you’ve done during the day. Consider if you need to go to confession or if there is someone you need to apologize to. Remember that God always welcomes us back with open arms and loves us immensely.  

5. Grace: In the final step of the Examen, ask God for the grace you need for tomorrow and an ability to be more aware of your actions. Close the Examen by saying any prayer you like.

We use an Examination of Conscience to help call to mind our sins and failings during a period of quiet reflection before approaching the Priest in Confession.

It's important for a good Catholic examination of conscience to be thorough. This will help you to consider what sins you are guilty of and make you aware of sins you might not realize as sins.

To make an examination:

1. Set aside some quiet time for reflection.
2. Start by praying to the Holy Spirit, asking for help in making a good examination to prepare for Confession.
3. Read through the matters of this list and honestly reflect on your behavior for each.

 

Examination of Conscience

Responsibilities to God:

• Have I prayed every day?
• Have I prayed my morning prayers and night prayers?
• Have I prayed with my parents and family?
• Have I been moody and rebellious about praying and going to church on Sunday?
• Have I asked the Holy Spirit to help me whenever I have been tempted to sin?
• Have I asked the Holy Spirit to help me do what is right?

Responsibilities to others:

• Have I been obedient and respectful to my parents?
• Have I lied or been deceitful to them or to others?
• Have I been arrogant, stubborn or rebellious?
• Have I talked back to parents, teachers or others?
• Have I been selfish toward my parents, brothers, and sisters,
• teachers, or my friends and schoolmates?
• Have I gotten angry at them? Have I hit anyone?
• Have I held grudges or not forgiven others?
• Have I treated others with respect?
• Have I used bad language?
• Have I stolen anything? Have I returned it?
• Have I kept my mind and body pure in preparation of marriage?
• Have I performed my responsibilities?
• Have I been helpful and affectionate toward my family?
• Have I been kind and generous?

The Sacrament of Reconciliation (which means to make up, to repair a relationship) - is also known as Confession. When we confess our sins with true sorrow, the merciful heart of Jesus restores our relationship, renewing our friendship with God. When we partake of the Sacrament, we receive the grace of forgiveness.
 
Step 1: Begin by making the sign of the Cross and saying: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been___(weeks/months/years) since my last confession and these are my sins.”

Step 2: Confess your sins and when you finish confessing, end with the words: “for these and for all of my sins I am truly sorry.”

Step 3: The priest will offer some advice and then assign you a penance.

Step 4: You will then pray the Act of Contrition:
  Step 5: The priest will then say the prayer of Absolution, where the Lord frees you from sin and reconciles you with Himself and His Church.

Step 6: Fulfill your act of penance.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (the Eucharist) is a devotion that began centuries ago. To adore is to give worship. We worship Jesus, who is present in the Blessed Sacrament, as we sit with Him in Silence. We use this time to deepen our relationship with Him.

Please be reverent and respectful during adoration. We ask you to give to Jesus and to those involved in Adoration around us the consideration of being in silence with a prayerful attitude.

During Adoration you can...

• Pray for others and yourself.
• Pray that God’s kingdom come.
• Use Scripture, especially the praise Psalms.
• Ask for forgiveness.
• Pray the Rosary.
• Look at God, and let God look at you.
• Pope Francis

Prayers To Use In  Adoration

Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O Good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds hide me.
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee.
From the malignant enemy defend me.
In the hour of my death call me.
And bid me come unto Thee,
That with all Thy saints,
I may praise Thee forever and ever. Amen.

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You have already come, and unite myself wholly to You. Never
permit me to be separated from You. Amen.