Examination of Conscience based on the Lord's Passion

For all you Catholics out there, here's an Examination of Conscience written from the words spoken during the Passion narrative.

Feel free to copy and print for your own personal use. If sharing, please give credit to Natalie Bielejeski @natalieslittlewisdom

“There were some who were indignant…they were infuriated at her.” The Anointing at Bethany	Have I condemned others for being sinners? Have I been angry at others for doing things I don’t understand? (driving, etc…) Do I believe I’m always right and always know best? Am I compassionate and understanding even when I don’t agree with someone?
“Surely it is not I.” (Judas)	Do I believe that I’m capable of great sin or do I think I'm above others? Do I recognize my pride? Do I ask for forgiveness when I have harmed someone? Have I purposefully not confessed a mortal sin?
“Even though all should have their faith shaken, mine will not be.” (Peter)	Do I rely on grace to avoid sin or do I try to do it by myself? Am I willing to receive correction? Have I repented for how I’ve harmed others and apologized to them (if possible)? Do I believe I need God?
“Then an argument broke out among them about which one of them should be regarded as the greatest.” *	Do I look down on other people? Am I convinced I’m holy because of something I’ve done? Do I compare myself to other people? Do I engage in competition in order to make myself look better? Am I constantly worried/anxious/afraid or trying to control what others think of me? (vanity)
“What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?”** (Judas)	Have I put money before my family or before prayer? Have I compromised my values for the sake of money, attention, affection, or praise? Do I put a price on what I give to others, expecting something in return for my generosity, whether its praise, thanks, or something material?
“Could you not keep watch one hour with me?” (Jesus)	Have I remained faithful to what I’ve said yes to? Have I spent time with the Lord every day in quiet prayer? Have I put off something the Lord asked me to do? Have I prioritized things over prayer or said yes to too many things that have made it impossible to find time to pray?
“Have you come out as against a robber?” (Jesus)	Have I sworn at others, even in private? Have I been aggressive towards others? Have I yelled at anyone? Have I lost my temper or snapped at others?
“Day after day I was in the temple, yet you did not arrest me." (Jesus)	Do I practice what I preach? Do I live with integrity? Do I practice the same things at home that I do at work or with friends? Do my kids/roommates/family receive the same respect I give my friends or am I different behind closed doors?
“Many gave false witness against him.”	Have I told a lie about someone? Have I twisted a story to fit what I want it to? Have I repeated things said to me in confidence? Do I listen to what others say about other people? Am I complicit in gossip by not redirecting the conversation or leaving the conversation? Have I lied about something to avoid a hard conversation?
“The high priest rose before the assembly and questioned Jesus.”	Have I questioned God’s ability to love me and save me? Have I given God an ultimatum? Do I feel better when other people fail? (pride) Do I have an inflated sense of self-importance? Do I think God should do what I think is best or try to convince him of my plan? Do I tell God what he’s allowed to do? Do I limit how I allow him to work in my life?
“At this the high priest tore his garments.”	Have I treated sacred things with disrespect? (Receiving communion while in mortal sin, etc…) Have I treated other people, including kids, with respect and kindness even when I don’t like them or when they irritate me? Have I spanked or hit my kids? Do I sit during Mass out of laziness rather than out of need? Have I treated confession as a get out of jail free card instead of a sacrament of repentance? Have I confessed sins without the intention of changing my behaviors?
“Prophesy!” (Guards)	Have I treated God like someone who just answers prayers? Have I demanded God do what I want? Do I treat myself as equal to God?
“I do not know this man.” (Peter)	Have I avoided talking about Jesus because it made me uncomfortable? Do I not mention I’m Catholic intentionally? Am I afraid of what my friends and family will think if I truly surrender everything to God? Do I lose my peace when I sin and fall into hopelessness or despair?
“Are you the King of the Jews?” (Pilate)	Do I doubt that God is God? Have I doubted God’s grace? Do I doubt God’s ability to love and transform? Have I worshipped God? Have I attempted to test God?
“The chief priests stirred up the crowd.”	Have I stirred others to anger by responding with impatience or anger? Do I watch news, videos, social media, that fills me with anger and rage? Do I enjoy it when other people hurt each other? Have I ever tried to ruin someone’s reputation? Have I spread a rumor (true or false) about someone?
“Crucify him.” (The Crowd)	Have I joined the public in condemning or shaming someone? Is Jesus at the center of my day or are other things more important to me? Am I quick to condemn others or myself for their perceived faults?
“So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd…had Jesus scourged and handed him over to be crucified.”	Do let what other people think of me dictate how I act and behave? Have I abandoned someone who needed my help or my love? Have I abandoned my kids? Have I protected the people who I am responsible for? Have I shied away from my responsibilities out of fear of what other might say? Do I expect mercy without offering it to others? Have I tried to keep the peace at the expense of truth?
“They clothed him in purple and, weaving a crown of thorns, placed it on him.	Have I said I believe in God without surrendering to him? Have I worshipped God outwardly while not allowing him to change me? Has my worship been genuine or is it to look better others? Do I say the right words without acting on what I believe is right?
“The soldiers knelt before him in homage.”	Have I knelt before God? Do I consider myself better than God? Am I uninterested in letting God be in control? Have I repented of my pride?
“They divided his garments by casting lots for them.”	Have I taken others gifts and service for granted? Have I expressed gratitude for what I have been given? Have I taken anything that isn’t mine or taken credit for someone else's accomplishments? Do I show compassion for the suffering or the needy? Am I generous with what I have, including my time and attention?
“You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself by coming down from the cross.”	Do I laugh at the notion that God can do great things? Do I allow God to work miracles in my heart and life? Do I have hope for good things?
“Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we might see and believe.” (Chief Priests)	Have I put conditions on whether I’ll follow Christ or not? Have I avoided my responsibilities because “God will just take care of it”? Do I use God/faith as an excuse to avoid my emotions?
“One of the criminals hanging there relived Jesus saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.’”**	Have I let suffering and pain turn my heart bitter? Do I fall at the Lord’s feet in repentance when I sin? Have I allowed suffering to blind my eyes to how Jesus suffered? Do I trust that he is with me in every situation? Am I holding onto unforgiveness, bitterness, or resentment? Do I hate anyone? Am I hopeless or despairing? Am I looking at Jesus or at myself? Have I given God permission to save me and help me?