Examination of Conscience

To say that we all need forgiveness is to accept that we are all human, we forget we make mistakes, we are thoughtless, and we hurt others. And yet, God loves us even in our very weakness, and wants all of us to be reconciled to Himself and to one another. Let us now beg our merciful God for the Spirit of light that we may see our sins and sinful tendencies for the grace to name and claim them. And for the courage to feel shame and sorrow for them.

1. Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

Forgive us, Lord:
• for the times when we compared ourselves to others and thought ourselves better than them;
• for the times when we were stubborn, proud and judgmental;
• for the times we were overly-critical or full of excuses;
• for the times we hid our talents and abilities;
• for the times we failed to respond generously.
Forgive us, Lord, as we forgive one another.

2. Blessed are the Gentle

Forgive us, Lord:
• for the times our anger got the better of us and we refused to listen.
• for our violence, our recklessness and roughness, our disregard for other people's feelings.
• for our impatience with you, with others, with ourselves.
Forgive us, Lord, as we forgive one another.

3. Blessed are those who mourn

Forgive us, Lord:
• for being afraid to be vulnerable, failing to risk loving because we are afraid.
• for the many devious ways we avoid loneliness and all the pains of simply being human, forgetting that you were human and knew what it is like to suffer, too.
Forgive us, Lord, as we forgive one another.

4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

Forgive us, Lord:
• for being self-centered, for our lack of concern for others.
• for our indifference and passivity in the face of all the poor, the oppressed, the suffering, the abused, who are our marginalized brothers and sisters.
• for the small and big ways we participate in the injustice and oppression of the world.
Forgive us, Lord, as we forgive one another.

5. Blessed are the merciful

Forgive us, Lord,
• for our unkindness, for our lack of generosity to you, with others, and with ourselves.
• for our deriving pleasure at the misfortunes of others
• when we are insensitive and when we are too sensitive
Forgive us, Lord, as we forgive one another.

6. Blessed are the pure in heart

Forgive us, Lord
• for our lack of simplicity; for wanting more than we need
• for our lack of self-discipline, for our mistrust and cynicism, for our lack of honesty, even with ourselves
• for our envy and our jealousy that lead us to destroy our relationship.
Forgive us, Lord, as we forgive one another.

7. Blessed are the peacemakers

Forgive us, Lord:
• when we choose to hold on to our grudges, or get even, instead of choosing to love and forgive.
• for our gossiping, for our quarrels and wrangling, for all our anxiety.
Forgive us, Lord, as we forgive one another.

8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake

Forgive us, Lord:
• for our failure to do what is right, because it is unpopular.
• for our non-committal silence when we needed to take a stand
• for our easy tolerance for the ways of the world, because we are afraid to be left out, afraid of not belonging.
Forgive us, Lord, as we forgive one another.

Prayer:
As we remember and look at all these our sins and sinful tendencies, look kindly upon us, O Lord, and have mercy. Remember us you wayward children, Lord. We long to come home to you. Bless us with the healing calm of your forgiveness, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Father ...

Recited during Bro. Nono Alfonso, S.J.'s talk at MTQ Parish on Holy Thursday, March 20, 2008.