A general confession is a repetition of the confessions of your whole life or of a certain part of it.
"A general confession", says St Francis de Sales, "is for the majority of Christians a necessary
means of salvation. It gives us a more complete knowledge of ourselves; it fills us with a wholesome shame at the
sight of our sins; it relieves our mind of much anxiety and gives peace to our conscience; it excites in us good
resolutions; it shows us God's wonderful patience and mercy towards us; it enables our confessor to direct us more
safely; and, finally, it so dilates our heart, that we are ever after able to make our confession with greater
confidence."
The inestimable advantages of a general confession are best appreciated at the hour of death, that dreadful moment,
on which a whole eternity depends, - when the soul is about to be summoned before the tribunal of the Supreme Judge.
Let us hearken to our divine Redeemer's warning: "Watch ye and be ye ready, for... the Lord of that servant
shall come in a day that he hopeth not, and at an hour that he knoweth not" (Mat. 24, 42 44 50)
A man came one day to a priest to make a general confession. He said: "Am I not to die? After a life like
mine I cannot die in peace, unless I make a general confession. If I put it off till my last illness, I shall hardly
be able to make it at all. My bodily pains, my worldy affairs and the thoughts of my family will so distract me,
that I shall scarcely be able to think of my soul. I must therefore make a good general confession while I have
the time and the ability to do so."
If then, dear Christian, you find that a general confession is not only useful, but even necessary, do not put
it off. Make it at once and make it well. When you lie down tonight think that this night may be your last, and
say to yourself: "Were I now on my death bed, what would I wish to have done?" Do not let the devil deceive
you with the vain pretext that you have no time, that it is too difficult for you now to make a general confession,
or that you will be better able to do so later. All such pretexts and delays only endanger your eternal salvation.
For whom is a General Confession necessary?
It is necessary for all adults who have never been to confession, and for all those whose confessions are sacrilegious.
He who has never made a good confession, must make a confession of his whole life.
He who has made sacrilegious confessions during only a part of his life, must confess since his last good confession.
1. He makes a bad confession who, through fear, shame, or malice, wilfully conceals or essentially misrepresents
a mortal sin, or the number of his mortal sins.
2. He who, through sheer carelessness in his examen of conscience, omitted a mortal sin, or who purposely confessed
any of his mortal sins in such a way as not to be understood by the confessor; he who chooses a confessor because
he is deaf, or does not understand his language, and therefore cannot properly question him and give him the necessary
admonitions.
3. He who will not give up the immediate occasion of sin.
4. He makes a bad confession who confesses his sins without supernatural sorrow, or without the firm purpose of
avoiding sin and the proximate occasion of sin.
5. He makes a bad confession who does not sincerely intend to restore, as far as possible, the property of good
name of his neighbor.
6. He who will not be reconciled with his enemy and sincerely forgive him.
7. He makes a bad confession who does not renounce forbidden secret societies (Masonic groups), and he who is ignorant
of the principal of the mysteries of faith, or who, through his fault, knows little or nothing of the Commandments
of God and of the Church, the nature of the Sacraments he receives, and the necessary duties of his state of life.
All these classes of penitents are unworthy of absolution. If they receive absolution, it is worthless and sacrilegious
in the sight of God. They are bound, under pain of eternal damnation, to make all such confessions over again.
For whom is a General Confession useful?
1. It is useful for such as wish to begin a new life, and to serve God more faithfully and fervently. Experience
teaches that many Christians, after a good general confession, lead fervent and virtuous lives.
2. It is very useful for those who are about to marry, or to enter the religious or the ecclesiastical state, or
to assume an important office, or to undertake a dangerous journey.
3. It is useful for all who wish to make a serious preparation for death.
A general confession is one of the best means of securing peace of conscience and preparing for a happy eternity.
Many good Christians make every year a review or general confession. It makes them more humble, and preserves them
from falling again and again into the same sins.
Those who are unreasonably scrupulous should not make a general confession without the express sanction of their
confessor. They should obey him like good children and make frequent acts of contrition, and refrain from excessive
examination of their conscience.
Examination of Conscience for a General Confession
How long ago did you make your last confession? Did you receive absolution? Have you performed your penance? Did
you wilfully conceal a mortal sin, or confess without true sorrow, without firm purpose of amendment, or without
intending to perform your penance? Did you, after this bad confession, go to holy Communion? How many such sacrilegious
confessions and Communions have you made? Have you also during that time received Confirmation, Extreme Unction,
or the Sacrament of Matrimony?
Commandments of God and Precepts of the Church
First Commandment
Have you denied the Catholic faith, openly rejected or spoken against any doctrine of the Catholic Church? Have
you disbelieved or wilfully indulged in doubts against any article of faith, or suggested or encouraged such doubts
in others? Have you betrayed the Catholic faith by saying, that all religions are good, that a man may be saved
in one as well as in another? How many times have you been guilty of these sins? Have you read the Protestant Bible,
heretical tracts or books, or sold, or lent them? Have you attended, or joined in false worship? Have you played
or sung in places of false worship? Have you listened to heretical or infidel preachers or lectures? How many times?
Have you exposed your faith in danger by evil assocations? Have you joined any secret society forbidden by the
Church? Do you still belong to it? Have you, through your own fault, remained ignorant of the doctrines and duties
of your religion? Have you remained a long time, a whole month, or longer, without reciting any prayer, or performing
any act of devotion towards God? Have you sinned in a holy place, the church, the graveyard? Have you been guilty
of great irreverence in church, by immodest conversation, by an unbecoming way of dressing, or by other gross misconduct?
How many times? Have you consulted fortune-tellers, or made use of superstitious practices, love-potions, charms,
horse-shoes, ect.; read, kept, given, lent or sold dream-books, fortune-telling books, and the like? Have you attended
or taken part in spiritualist meetings, and the like? How many times have you been guilty of these sins? Did you
sin and remain in sin because God is good? Have you given way to despair?
Second Commandment
Have you been guilty of blasphemy by angry, injurious, or insulting words against God or any of His perfections?
Have you murmured against God; - said He was unjust, cruel, etc.? Did you even hate God? - Have you pronounced
in a blasphemous or irreverent manner, or in anger, the holy name of God, the name of Jesus Christ, or that of
any of the saints? Spoken in a blasphemous manner of sacred things, or abused the words of Holy Scripture by any
indecent or grossly irreverent application? How many times? Have you sworn falsely? - Done so to the prejudice
of your neighbor? - Taken rash, foolish or sinful oaths? - Joined an oath-bound secret society? How many oaths
did you take in that society? Did you take an oath to be revenged or to commit some other crime? Have you broken
a lawful oath? Induced others to swear falsely or unnecessarily, or to break a lawful oath? How often? Have you
cursed yourself or your neighbor? Did you mean it? Is this sin habitual? How often do you curse in the day? Have
you made any rash vows? Have you broken or neglected a lawful vow, or changed it without permission? How often?
Third Commandment of God and the Precepts of the Church
How often have you on Sundays and Holydays of obligation wilfully lost Mass, or come too late, or gone away before
Mass was over? How often have you talked, laughed, and gazed about during Mass? Have you been habitually absent
from the sermons and instructions? How often have you performed unnecessary servile work on Sundays and Holydays,
or cause others to do so? How often have you desecrated these days by frequenting ungodly company, by sinful amusements,
gambling, immodest dancing, or drinking to excess? How often have you without necessity eaten meat or caused others
to eat meat on days of abstinenece? How often have you broken the laws of fasting? Have you been married before
a civil magistrate, or even before a heretical preacher? Have you, without dispensation, married a relative or
an unbaptized person? Have you contracted marriage in any way forbidden by the Church?
Fourth Commandment
Have you despised or even hated your parents, wished their death, or that some other misfortune should befall them?
Have you insulted, mocked, ridiculed or cursed them? Have you threatened them, or even lifted your hand to strike
them? How often have you been guilty of such sins? Have you disobeyed them in serious matters; kept bad company,
read bad books and papers, and so on? Have you sorely grieved your parents by your ingratitude, or misconduct?
Have you, still a minor, promised or even contracted marriage without their knowledge? Have you neglected or refused
to aid them in their wants? Have you been ashamed of them on account of their poverty? Have you faithfully accomplished
their last will? Have you neglected to pray for them? Have you neglected to pray for the repose of their souls?
Have you been disrespectful and disobedient to your spiritual superiors, the bishops and priests of the Church?
Have you behaved towards them in a haughty and insulting manner? Have you taken with the disaffected and seitious?
Have you neglected to contribute, according to your means, to the support of your pastor and the church? Have you
resisted the lawful authorities of the country, or taken part in any mob, or association to commit deeds of violence,
or disturb the public peace? How many times?
Fifth Commandment
Have you by act, participation, instigation, counsel, or consent, been guilty of anyone's death or bodily injury?
Have you intended or attempted to take another's life? How often have you committed these sins? How often have
you intended or attempted to take your own life? Have you injured your health by excess in eating or drinking?
Have you been drunk or been the cause of drunkenness in others? How many times have you been guilty of these sins?
Have you by act, advice, or consent, done anything to hinder, or to destroy life? How often? Have you wished the
death of your neighbor, or that some other misfortune should befall him? Have you intended or attempted to injure,
or ill-treat others? How often? Have you been at enmity with your neighbor? Have you refused to speak to him or
salute him? How often? Are you now reconciled with him? How often have you excited others to anger or revenge?
Have you through avarice, passion or revenge, engaged in vexatious or unjust lawsuits? Have you harmed the soul
of anyone by giving scandal? Have you, by wicked words, deeds or bad example, ruined innocent persons, taught them
bad habits or things they should not know? Have you thrown temptation in the way of the weak? Have you tried to
dissuade or discourage those who were willing to repent and reform? How often have you been guilty of these sins?
Have you neglected to give alms according to your means, or to relieve those in distress?
Sixth and Ninth Commandments
These commandments forbid everything that is contrary to purity. Every sin of this nature, whether in deed, word,
or even thought, when wilful and deliberate, is a mortal sin and must be confessed. How often have you dwelt with
wilful pleasure on impure thoughts or imaginations, or consented to them in your heart? Have you wilfully desired
to see or do anything impure? How often have you made use of impure language, allusions, or words of double meaning?
How many were listening to you? Have you listened with wilful pleasure to immodest language? How often have you
sung immodest songs or listened to them? How often have you boasted of your sins? How often have you read immoral
books or papers, or lent or sold them to others? How often have you written, sent, or received improper letters
or messages? How often have you gazed with wilful pleasure on improper objects, images or cards, or shown them
to others? How often have you voluntarily exposed yourself to the occasion of sin by sinful curiosity; by frequenting
dangerous company, places, or dangerous or sinful amusements; by immodest dances and indecent plays; by remaining
alone in company with those of the other sex, or by undue familiarities? Do you keep sinful company now? Did you
ruin an innocent person? How long hve you been addicted to secret sins? How often did you commit them? How often
have you been guilty of improper liberties with others? How far have you carried your sinful conduct? How often
have you by your freedom of manners, your immodest dress, and so on, been the cause of temptation to others? Have
you been guilty of seduction, or even rape? Did you accomplish your designs by a false promise of marriage? Have
you refused to repair the injury done? Have you committed crimes against nature? Have you taken part in the sins
of others? You must mention those circumstances that change the nature of your sin - the sex, the relationship
and the conditions - whether married, single or bound by vow. Were you married or single at the time?
Seventh and Tenth Commandments
Have you stolen money or anything of value? Is it still in your possession? What was its value? How much did you
take each time? How often? Throughout this whole examination you must not merely tell the number of sins, you must
also tell, as nearly as possible, the value of what you took, or the amount of damage caused by your injustice,
that the confessor may know whether your sins are mortal or not, and what restitution you have to make. Have you
stolen anything consecrated to God, or from a holy place? This is a sacrilege. Have you charged exorbitant prices,
or made out false bills, or cheated in the weight, measure, quantity, or quality of your goods? Have you cheated
in games? Have you been in the habit of gambling, and to what extent? Have you engaged in deceitful speculations
or enterprises to the injury of the simple and unwary? Have you defrauded your creditors? Have you been guilty
of forgery or swindling? Have you charged exorbitant interests? Have you robbed the poor? Have you passed counterfeit
or mutilated money? Have you been guily of bribery, or taking bribes? Have you kept things you found without inquiring
for the owner? Have you retained any of the money intrusted to you? Have you failed to return things borrowed?
Have you neglected to pay your debts? Have you contracted debts without any reasonable hope of paying? Have you
bought, received, or concealed things you knew to be stolen? Have you been the cause of ruin or damage to the property
of another? Allowed your cattle to injure the neighbor's crop, etc.? Have you squandered the money of your husband,
wife, parents, etc. in buying costly dresses, jewelry, in drinking, etc.? Have you been careless of goods intrusted
to your charge? Have you received pay for word or services that you never did, or done it so poorly that it had
to be done over again? Have you sought to gain your cause by bribery, threats, or other unjust means? Have you
set fire to your property and pocketed the insurance money? Have you, in your dealings, taken advantage of the
simple, the young and inexperienced? Have you made hard bargains with the poor, or those in distress? Have you
been guilty of fraud or embezzlement in any public office or private trust? Have you caused any injury, or loss
by your negligence or culpable ignorance in the discharge of your profession or employment? Have you in any way
taken part in another's theft, fraud or injustice? Have you concealed the injustice of others, when it was your
duty to report? Have you attempted, or intented, or wilfully desired to rob, steal, defraud, or commit any kind
of injustice? Have you, by calumny or other unjust means, caused anyone to lose his situation? Did you vote for
anyone you knew to be unfit for office? Examine whether you have repaired all the injustice you have done. Your
sins will not be pardoned so long as you refuse or wilfully neglect to make restitution. If what you have unjustly
acquired is no longer in your possession, return the value of it. If you cannot restore the whole, restore at least
part, and that without delay. If you are unable to restore at once, you must have the firm and sincere resolution
to do so as soon as possible. You must also strive earnestly to acquire the means of doing so. The obligation of
restitution is binding until it is fully discharged. Restitution must be made to the owner. If the owner cannot
be found, you must give the money to God, that is, to the poor, the Church, or some charitable purpose.
Eighth Commandment
Have you taken a false oath or advised others to do so? Have you signed false papers or documents or forged any
writings? What injury have you done thereby? How often have you committed these sins? Have you been guilty of malicious
lying? Have you put in circulation, or repeated any scandalous report, you knew or believed to be false? Have you
been guilty of detraction in serious matters, by making known your neighbor's secret sins or defects? Have you
done anything to blacken his character or injure his interests? Have you caused ill-feeling between others by tale-bearing?
Have you revealed an important secret? Did you without authority read another's letters? How often, and in presence
of how many persons, have you committed these sins? Have you endeavored to repair the harm you have done, by contradicting
your false reports? Have you tried honestly to restore the good name, that you have injured? Have you spoken against
the priest, bishop, or anyone Consecrated to God? This is a sacrilege. How often have you been guilty of unjust
suspicions and rash judgments?
The Particular Duties of Your State
Parents
Have you always taken proper care of the life and health of your children? Have you exposed them to great danger
before their birth? Have you placed them in you own bed where they were in danger of being suffocated? Have you
failed to provide for their wants? Have you given them proper food, clothing, etc.? Have you even deserted them?
Have you endeavored to procure them a good and Christian education according to your means? Did you teach them
a trade or profession, so that they could gain an honest livelihood? Have you manifested an unjust preference for
one to the prejudice of the others? Have you been neglectful, unkind, and even cruel to your children, step-children,
or wards? Have you forced your children into a state of life, for which they had no vocation? Have you hindered
them from following their vocation to the religious or ecclesiastical state? Have you, without reasonable cause,
opposed their inclinations with regard to marriage? Have you neglected the care of their salvation? Have you failed
to teach them their prayers? Have you neglected to inspire them, in their tender years, with the love of God and
a horror of sin? Have you delayed their baptism too long? Have you neglected to have them prepared and brought
at the proper age to Confession, holy Communion, and Confirmation? Have you neglected their religious instruction,
or sent them to heretical or godless schools? Have you failed to take them to Mass on Sundays and Holydays? Have
you caused them to observe abstinence on the days perscribed? Have you placed them in a situation where they could
not practise their religion, or where their faith or their virtue was in danger? Have you exposed their innocence
to danger by letting the different sexes sleep together, or by keeping them at night in your own bedroom? (i think
this means molesting?? ) Have you watched over their conduct carefully? Have you seen where they spend their time,
with what companions they associate, and if they are addicted to any secret vice? Have you allowed them to wander
where they would? Have you entrusted them to the care of servants that were irreligious or of loose morals? Have
you allowed them to read love stories, trashy novels, and other dangerous books? Have you allowed them to take
part in sinful or dangerous amusements? Have you allowed them free intercourse with persons of the other sex; to
receive visits alone, at improper hours, or to stay out late at night? Have you allowed immodest dances in your
house? Have you failed to correct and punish them when they deserved it? Have you allowed them to curse or use
improper language without chastising them? Have you, through indifference or misguided affection, left them without
restraint? Or have you, on the contrary, cursed them in anger; treated them brutally, or exasperated or scandalized
them by violent language, abusive names, etc.? Have you scandalized them by bad example, by neglecting your religion?
The Married
Did you enter the marriage state from base and unchristian motives? Have you by your giddy conduct been the cause
of jealousy and grief to your companion? Have you profaned the sanctity of matrimony by misuse, or by trying to
hinder its lawful end? Have you sinned against each other by angry words, opprobrious names, or even by quarrels
and blows? How often have you been guilty of these sins? Have you, without just cause and lawful permission, abandoned
your companion in life, lived seperate or remained long absent?
Husbands
Have you been faithless to your marriage vows? Have you treated your wife in a gross, cruel, or tyrannical manner,
beat her, or abused her in your anger? Have you made her unhappy by your coldness, stinginess, neglect and unfeeling
conduct, or by spending your leisure time away from home? Hve you treated her with attention and forbearance, when
she was in a delicate condition? Have you compelled her to act against her conscience, to sin against the laws
of nature? Have you neglected to support your wife and children? Have you squandered your earnings or the property
of your wife?
Wives
Have you, unknown to your husband, made useless and extravagant expenses for yourself or relatives? How much? Have
you caused discord by your selfishness and jealously and by your unfriendly conduct towards his relatives? Have
you broken your marriage vows? Have you given rise to jealousy by your levity; by trying to win the admiration
and affection of others? Have you been respectful and obedient to him in all things reasonable and lawful? Have
you made home disagreeable by your ill-temper, scolding and fault-finding, or by pretended or imaginary ailments?
Have you without just cause refused him his marriage rights? Have you induced him to offend God and act contrary
to the laws of nature? How often have you been guilty of these sins? Have you done your part towards the support
of the family, or have you, on the contrary, been idle and neglectful of your household duties?
Employers, etc.
Have you treated your employees and servants in a harsh or a tyrannical manner? Have you overburdened them with
work, or obliged them to do unnecessary work on Sundays or Holydays of obligation? Have you kept them from Mass
on those days? How often? Have you always given them proper and sufficient food and treated them kindly in sickness?
Have you dismissed them unjustly before the time agreed on? Have you refused them their just dues, neglected to
pay them or taken advantage of their poverty or simplicity to engage them in hard and unjust terms? How much have
you wronged them, and how often? Have you encouraged and exhorted them to keep out of sin and dangerous occasions;
to go regularly to Mass, to frequent the sacraments? Have you been in any way an occasion of sin to them? Have
you watched over their morals? Have you suffered them to keep improper company, late hours, etc.
Employees and Servants
Have you served your employers diligently and faithfully? Have they suffered any harm or loss through your fault,
neglect or wastefuless? Have you retained part of what they gave you to make purchases, or taken anything under
pretence of your wages were too low? How much? How often? Have you concealed from them the theft or misconduct
of your fellow-employee in matters pertaining to your charge? Have you revealed unnecessarily the faults of your
employers, sowed discord in their families, or been the cause, by false or malicious complaints, of other employees
being discharged? Are you in a situation where your faith or morals are endangered, or where you have not the opportunity
of fulfilling your religious duties? Have you connived at or aided your employers in their crimes? Did you print,
bind, or sell books or papers against faith and morals?
Magistrates and Public Officers
Have you faithfully discharged your duties of your office? Have you through weakness, human respect, desire of
popularity or eagerness for office, betrayed the public interest, or sacrificed the rights of any individual, or
suffered crime to go unchecked and unpunished? In what way and how often? Have you directly or indirectly received
bribes, or allowed yourself to be influenced, by promises or presents, in the administration of justice, or in
your official conduct? Have you embezzled the public funds, or used them to your own advantage? Have you enriched
yourself or your friends at the expense of the public by means of unjust contracts? In what way and how much? Have
you abused your official power to gratify revenge, to favor your frends, or to shield or aid the wicked? Have you
neglected the cause of the poor, the innocent, the helpless and the oppressed? Have you given scandal by open neglect
and disregard of your holy religion and your Christian duties?
Lawyers, Notaries, and Clerks of Court
Have you advocated unjust claims or sustained an unjust cause? Have you knowingly prosecuted an innocent person?
Have you injured the cause of your client by treachery, gross ignorance, or neglect? Have you given treacherous,
doubtful, or dishonest advice? Have you unjustly flattered the hopes of your client, or otherwise encouraged useless
litigation? Have you been guilty of fraud, bribery, or other injustice? Have you procured false testimony, or uncouraged
others to commit perjury? Have you been guilty of fraud in drawing up legal documents, or made the ambiguous, or
contrary to the intentions of the persons concerned? Have you abstracted, falsified, destroyed, or substituted
documents? Have you made out unjust bills of cost, demanded unlawful or exorbitant fees, or charged anyone for
services not rendered? How often and how much have you cheated in this manner?
Physicians and Surgeons
Have you undertaken the care of the sick without sufficient science or experience? Have you been negligent in the
treatment of serious or extraordinary cases? Have you hazarded dangerous remedies or made merciless experiments
on patients in hospitals, the poor, etc.? How often have you been guilty of these sins, and what were the results?
Have you failed to consult other physicians when necessary, or made choice of such as would connive at your mistakes?
Have you caused needless expenses by unnecessary consultations, useless visits, or costly and useless remedies,
etc.? Have you followed the opinions of others contrary to the clear laws of God, or sanctioned an improper course
of treatment? What injury and injustice have you caused thereby? Have you undertaken surgical operations beyond
your science or skill, or conducted them recklessly? Have you wilfully taken the life of a child? Have you directly
or indirectly procured, permitted or encouraged abortion? Have you taught or encouraged the use, or abuse of opiates,
liquors, etc.? Have you taught or encouraged others to hinder contraception (NFP, Birth control) or to practise
the crime of Onan? Have you hastened anyone's death, at his own request, or the request of his relatives? Have
you failed to warn those in danger of death, so that they could not receive the sacraments in time? Have you suffered
a child to die without baptism? How many times have you been guilty of these sins? Druggists
Have you sold medicine or any other object to destroy life, to hinder conception, or to excite the passions? Have
you sold liquor to drunkards? Have you sold morphine or other opiates to those who abuse those drugs?
Those having a Hotel, Bar, or Public House
Have you overcharged your guests, or adulterated your liquors? To what amount, and how often? Have you given liquor
to drunkards, or to those partially drunk, or allowed anyone to drink to excess in your house or place? How often?
Have you taken money from those whom you knew to be ruining their family by dissipation? Have you made your house
a place of dissipation on Sundays and even during Mass? Have you allowed gambling in your establishment, or tolerated
blasphemy, obscenity, or quarrels? Have you allowed improper persons to visit or lodge there? Have you made it
a resort of scandalous interviews, sinful amusements, immodest dances, or other shameful abuses? Have you kept
immodest pictures and papers in your house? Is your business an occasion of sin to your neighbor, or injury to
your family, and a hinderance to your own salvation?
(All text was taken from The Mission Book of the Redemptorist Fathers - A manual of prayers and instructions
with and Imprimatur and Nahil Obstat, dated, 9 Dec. 1947.)