EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE

 According to St. Paul’s Hymn of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Inspired by Chapter 4 of Pope Francis’ Amoris Laetitia (nos. 89-119)
Written by Fr. Bryce Sibley

1. LOVE IS PATIENT
   a. Have I been impatient?
   b. Have I been quick to anger or lose my temper?
   c. Have I been selfish and demanding?
   d. Are my expectations of others to high?
   e. Am I easily annoyed or moody?
   f. Am I controlling and manipulative?
   
   

2. LOVE IS AT THE SERVICE OF OTHERS
   a. Have I been kind to others?
   b. Have I not been willing to serve joyfully?
   c. Do I have a servant’s heart?
   d. Have I given generously, especially to the poor?
   
   

3. LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS
   a. Have I found pleasure in others failures or suffering?
   b. Have I been envious of the success of others?
   c. Have I not been concerned with the happiness of others?
   d. Am I too closed in on myself?
   e. Am I thankful for what I have?
   f. Have I coveted another’s possessions?
   
   

4. LOVE IS NOT BOASTFUL
   a. Do I need to be the center of attention?
   b. Am I vain and narcissistic?
   c. Do I talk too much about myself?
   d. Do I boast and show off?
   e. Am I prideful?
   f. Have I looked down on others?
   g. Have I been self-righteous and pharisaical?
   h. Have I been judgmental?
   i. Have I been arrogant to unbelievers and those weak in faith?
   j. Have I exhibited a lack of humility?
   k. Have I lorded over others?
   
   

5. LOVE IS NOT RUDE
   a. Have I been harsh and abrasive with others?
   b. Have I been rude and discourteous?
   c. Am I sensitive to the needs of others?
   d. Am I respectful of others?
   e. Am I overly critical and negative?
   f. Do I always complain?
   g. Do I point out the faults of others?
   h. Do I care too much for my own convenience?
   i. Have I not offered consolation to those who are suffering?
   j. Do I think too much about my own needs?
   k. Do I speak gently to others?
   l. Have I put others down?
   
   

6. LOVE IS GENEROUS
   a. Do I look out for the interest of others?
   b. Have I desired to be loved more than to love?
   c. Do I expect things in return after I give?
   d. Do I give fully of myself to others?
   e. Am I greedy?
   f. Am I a good steward of what I’ve been given?
   g. Do I give freely to others?
   
   

7. LOVE IS NOT IRRITABLE OR RESENTFUL
   a. Do I harbor resentment in my heart?
   b. Do I avoid people who annoy or upset me?
   c. Have I allowed anger to take root in my heart?
   d. Am I unforgiving?
   e. Do I work to make peace with others?
   f. Do we bless our enemies?
   
   

8. LOVE FORGIVES
   a. Am I holding on to any grudges in my heart?
   b. Do I seek to understand the weakness of others?
   c. Do I presume that others have bad intentions?
   d. Am I a forgiving person?
   e. Am I unduly harsh with the failings of others?
   f. Do I blow small offenses out of proportion?
   g. Do I always demand that my rights be respected?
   h. Do I seek vengeance or revenge?
   i. Am I willing to put forth the effort to forgive others?
   j. Do I sow division into relationships?
   k. Am I able to forgive myself?
   l. Do I avoid relationships with others?
   m. Am I able to accept my own weakness and limitations?
   n. Am I open to God’s mercy and forgiveness?
   
   

9. LOVE REJOICES WITH OTHERS
   a. Do I rejoice at seeing injustices done to others?
   b. Have I allowed negativity to take root in my heart?
   c. Do I always compare myself to others?
   d. Do I see everything as a competition?
   e. Do I find joy in the happiness of others?
   f. Do I focus too much on my own needs?
   g. Do I celebrate others’ successes?
   
   

10. LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS
    a. Do I have control of my tongue?
    b. Do i speak about what may be wrong with others?
    c. Am I quick to judge?
    d. Do I speak ill of others?
    e. Do I commit slander?
    f. Do I gossip?
    g. Do I care about the reputations of others?
    h. Do I speak well of others?
    i. Can I see the good in others?
    j. Do I expect too much of others?
    
    

11. LOVE BELIEVES ALL THINGS
    a. Am I a trustworthy person?
    b. Am I overly suspicious of others?
    c. Do I respect the freedom of others?
    d. Do I try to possess and control others?
    e. Do I show unconditional love?
    f. Do I keep secrets from those I love?
    g. Do I hide my faults and weaknesses?
    h. Do I ever pretend to be someone who I am not?
    
    

12. LOVE HOPES ALL THINGS
    a. Do I despair of the future?
    b. Do I believe others can change?
    c. Do I see the untold potential in others?
    d. Can I see God working in and through failure and suffering?
    e. Do I hope for heaven?
    f. Do I see others from a supernatural perspective?
    
    

13. LOVE ENDURES ALL THINGS
    a. Do I bear trials with a positive attitude?
    b. Do I stand firm when faced with difficulty?
    c. Can I tolerate aggravations?
    d. Am I ready to face any challenge?
    e. Am I committed to goodness?
    f. Am I prone to give up?
    g. Am I able to see the “image of God” in others?
    h. Do I work to halt injustice?
    i. Do I work to stop the spread of violence and hate?
    j. Do I believe love is stronger than death?
    k. Am I willing to stand up to evil?
    l. Am I prone to “give up” on people?