Pope Francis recently gave out free booklets to 50,000 people with tips and pointers for self-reflection to help prepare themselves for confession.
According to the Catholic Herald, these booklets, which are entitled "Safeguard Your Heart" and written in Italian, contain advice from the Pontiff himself on how Catholics can make sure they are prepared for confession.
The book's title is derived from a homily delivered by the Pope last October, in which he said Christians need to safeguard their hearts against evil.
Pope Francis laid out in the booklet 30 questions that Catholics can ask themselves in the examination of conscience that precedes confession.
These questions include:
- Do I only turn to God when I'm in need?
- Do I take attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation?
- Do I begin and end the day with prayer?
- Am I embarrassed to show that I am a Christian?
- Do I rebel against God's plan?
- Am I envious, hot-tempered, biased?
- Am I honest and fair with everyone or do I fuel the "throwaway culture"?
- In my marital and family relations, do I uphold morality as taught in the Gospels?
- Do I honour and respect my parents?
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops defines examination of conscience as a "prayerful self-reflection on (one's) words and deeds in the light of the Gospel to determine how (one) may have sinned against God."
In addition to the questions, the booklets offer Catholics a snapshot of their religion's basics. Readers can refresh themselves on the Beautitudes, the Apostle's Creed, the Ten Commandments, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit as well as read about Pope Francis' take on the Lectio Divina.
The Lectio Divina is a meditative or prayerful way of reading the Scripture in order to understand what God is saying to the faithful.
Pope Francis used the book to urge Catholics to undergo the sacrament of confession because "because everyone needs forgiveness for their sins."
