Examination of Conscience for a Wife

Examination of Conscience for a Wife

Material Responsibilities

1. Provision
   • Have I consistently provided for the physical needs of my husband and children, including the marital debt, preparing meals, doing the laundry and other domestic responsibilites according to my state in life?
   • Have I managed our finances responsibly and with the intention of supporting the well-being of my family?
   • Have I been diligent and industrious in my work to ensure that our family’s needs are met?
   • Have I ensured that our home is a place of comfort and order, providing a nurturing environment for my husband and family?
2. Protection
   • Have I ensured the safety and security of my husband and family?
   • Have I taken necessary measures to protect my family from harm, both physically and emotionally?

Emotional Responsibilities

1. Love and Affection
   • Have I shown my husband love and affection unconditionally?
   • Have I been supportive, understanding, and compassionate towards my husband’s needs and concerns?
   • Have I made an effort to spend quality time with my husband first, before other members of my family?
2. Respect and Honor
   • Have I respected my husband’s dignity and joyfully accepted his role as head of the household?
   • Have I valued my husband’s opinions and offered advice with humility and respect?
   • Have I honored my husband through my words and actions, avoiding any form of belittlement or disrespect?
3. Communication
   • Have I communicated openly and honestly in private with my husband about my thoughts and feelings?
   • Have I listened attentively and empathetically to my husband’s concerns and perspectives?
   • Have I worked to resolve conflicts in a loving and constructive manner?

Spiritual Responsibilities

1. Spiritual Duties
   • Have I led our children by example in living a life of faith and devotion to God?
   • Have I done my best to ensure that our family attends Mass regularly and participates in the sacraments?
   • Have I encouraged and facilitated family prayers and spiritual practices at home under the leadership of my husband?
2. Religious Education
   • Have I supported my husband in his role as spiritual leader of our family?
   • Have I taken an active role in the religious education of our children?
   • Have I supported husband in teaching and nurturing the faith within our family?
   • Have I sought to grow in my own faith to better support my husband and guide my family?
3. Moral Guidance
   • Have I provided moral and ethical guidance to my children, helping them to live according to the teachings of the Church?
   • Have I addressed any immoral behavior within the family with discretion, prudence, love and correction?
   • Have I been a source of encouragement and support for my family’s spiritual growth?
   • If I offer my husband correction, do I do it in private and with humility and respect?
4. Respect and Honor
   • Have I honored my husband through my words and actions, avoiding any form of belittlement or disrespect?
   • Have I prayed daily for my husband’s spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being?
   • Have I worked to resolve conflicts in a loving and constructive manner, seeking harmony in our relationship?
   • Have I fasted or offered other sacrifices for my husband’s needs and intentions?
   • Have I performed acts of reparation for any sins against marital chastity, including any personal sins of impurity or infidelity?
   • Have I encouraged my husband to grow in his faith and supported his spiritual practices?

Avoiding Near Occasions of Sin

1. Personal Habits and Attachments
   • Have I avoided situations and behaviors that could lead me to sin, particularly in relation to marital chastity?
   • Have I maintained appropriate boundaries with members of the opposite sex to safeguard my marriage?
   • Have I been careful to avoid inordinate attachments to food, alcohol, or other substances?
   • Have I used alcohol in moderation, avoiding excessive drinking that could harm my judgment or behavior?
   • Have I been mindful of my entertainment choices, avoiding content that could lead me or my family into sin?
   • Have I controlled my recreational internet use and television watching, ensuring they do not detract from family time or spiritual duties?
   • Do I engage in gossip or inappropriate discussion about my husband with family or friends?
   • Have I avoided unnecessary shopping or any hobbies that could become disordered or financially irresponsible?
   • Have I ensured that my work, hobbies or interests do not take precedence over my responsibilities to my husband and family?
   • Have I engaged in any conduct that could invite undue attention, such as removing my wedding ring, acting or dressing immodestly?
   • Have I placed my work, professional image or friendships before my duties to my God, my husband or my children?

Chastity Within Marriage

1. Marital Debt
   • Have I fulfilled my obligations to the marital debt, being attentive to my husband’s needs and desires?
   • Have I approached the marital act with eagerness, love, respect, and a desire to foster intimacy and unity with my husband?
   • Have I betrayed my husband through impure thoughts, pornography or self-gratification?
2. Generosity and Openness to Life
   • Is my heart and mind oriented towards generosity and the acceptance of new children, in accordance with the Church’s teachings on openness to life?
   • Have I been open to the possibility of new life, welcoming children as a blessing from God?
   • Have I avoided any practices or attitudes that would close off the gift of life, such as contraception or a contraceptive mentality?
3. Patience and Selflessness
   • Have I been patient and understanding with my husband in all matters, including those related to intimacy?
   • Have I shown selflessness in my dealings with my husband, putting his needs and well-being above my own?
   • Have I put my husband first in matters of intimacy, always respecting his feelings and need to be loved and needed?
   • Have I sought to grow in chastity and purity of heart, treating my husband with the utmost respect and love?

Closing Reflection

• Have I loved my husband as the Church loves Our Lord, submitting to him in all things but sin, being willing to make sacrifices for his well-being and happiness?
• Have I sought forgiveness from God and my husband when I have failed in my duties?
• Have I prayed for the grace to fulfill my responsibilities as a wife with humility, dedication, and love?

Prayer

Lord, grant me the strength and wisdom to be a loving, faithful, patient and nurturing wife. Help me to support my husband and to be faithful to him in all things, just as the Church never wavers in devotion to thee.  Guide me Lord, so that I may grow in virtue and holiness, and give me the grace to love with a selfless and forgiving heart. I implore you to send your Mother so that I may learn from Her all those things which are proper to my state in life.  Amen.