How to Use Confiteor

Basic Usage

When you open the app you will see three tabs: Examine, Sins, and Walkthrough.

Start on the Examine tab. At the top you will see a sticky banner showing your current state in life. This banner stays visible as you scroll. Tap it to change your state — you can select multiple states using the checkboxes (e.g. Married and Parent). The questions shown will match the states you choose.

Below the state-in-life banner you will find Expand All and Collapse All buttons. Use these to quickly open or close all question sections at once.

Work through the questions by tapping Yes on any that apply to you. Questions are grouped by section so you can focus on one area at a time. Tap a section header to expand or collapse it.

If you committed the same sin more than once, use the + and − buttons that appear after checking a sin to set the frequency count.

To add a sin that is not in the questions list, tap the + button at the bottom of the screen. Type a brief description and tap Add.

Switch to the Sins tab to review everything you have checked. Sins are shown in three sections: From Examination, From Personal Examen, and Custom Sins. You can remove any sin by tapping its delete icon.

The Walkthrough tab is designed for use inside the confessional. It presents the Rite of Penance step by step, with your checked sins inserted into the penitent’s opening statement.

Examination Types

The app includes built-in examination types plus any imported modules. You can manage all of them in Settings > Examination Settings. At least one type must remain enabled.

Standard

The default examination based on the Ten Commandments, Precepts of the Church, and the Seven Capital Sins. Each section includes a relevant scripture reference.

Comprehensive (Monthly)

A virtue-based examination organized across twelve months of the year. Each month focuses on a specific virtue and is divided into Mortal Sins and Venial Sins. Section headers show the virtue, and the subtitle shows the month name and virtue.

This examination is based on Examination of Conscience for Adults by Rev. Donald F. Miller, C.SS.R. (1956).

Virtue Override

By default the Comprehensive examination shows questions for the current month’s virtue. To examine a different virtue, go to Settings > Examination Settings and tap Virtue Override (visible when Comprehensive is enabled). You can select one or more specific virtues — leave all unchecked to use the monthly default.

Personal Examen

When enabled, a My Personal Examen section appears at the top of the Examine tab. This lets you include your saved custom sins alongside the examination questions.

Imported Modules

Any modules you import (see Examination of Conscience Modules below) also appear in Examination Settings as additional types. You can enable or disable each module independently, just like the built-in types.

You can enable or disable each type independently, as long as at least one remains checked.

Display Order

Tap Display Order in Examination Settings to open a dialog where you can long-press and drag the handle next to each group to reorder how they appear in the Examine tab.

Examination of Conscience Modules

Examination of Conscience modules let you extend Confiteor with additional examination questions from external sources.

Import a Module

Go to Settings > Examination of Conscience Modules and tap the + button. You have two ways to import:

• Choose File — Select a module file from your device storage.
• QR Code — Tap the QR icon to scan a QR code containing a module URL. The app will open the URL in your browser so you can download the file, then use Choose File to import it. The app will ask for camera permission if needed.

Manage Modules

Each imported module is shown as a card with its name, producer, version, question count, and import date. You can:

• Change the header colour — Tap the colour swatch on the card to choose a colour for the module’s section headers in the Examine tab.
• Delete — Tap the trash icon to permanently remove the module and all its questions.

Enable or Disable a Module

To control whether a module’s questions appear in the Examine tab, go to Settings > Examination Settings. Imported modules are listed below the built-in types with their own checkboxes.

Sample Module

A sample module is available to download and try:

• sample-lenten-examination.md — Markdown format
• sample-lenten-examination.json — JSON format

Module Library

Visit the Examination of Conscience Module Library to browse available modules, download templates, and find new examinations to import.

Saved Sessions

Save a session

Tap the save icon (floppy disk) in the top bar. A dialog will appear where you can give the session a name (for example “Lent 2026”). You have two options:

• Save — saves the session and keeps it open.
• Save & New — saves the session and immediately starts a fresh one.

Load a session

Open the navigation drawer and tap Saved Sessions. You will see a list of all your sessions sorted by most recent. Each card shows the session name, state in life, last updated date, sin count, and status. Tap a card to load that session.

You can also start a brand-new session from this screen by tapping the + button.

Delete a saved session

On the Saved Sessions screen, tap the trash icon on the session card you want to remove. A confirmation dialog will appear — tap Delete to confirm. This cannot be undone.

Overwrite a saved session

Sessions are saved automatically as you make changes. Every time you check or uncheck a sin, add a custom sin, or change your state in life, the current session is updated in the background. There is no need to manually save after each change — just use the save icon when you want to set or update the session name.

Personal Examen

The Personal Examen lets you keep a personal collection of custom sins that you can reuse across sessions.

Open Personal Examen

Open the navigation drawer and tap Personal Examen.

Add a sin to Personal Examen

• From the Personal Examen screen, tap the + button, type a description, and tap Add.
• From the Sins tab, tap the bookmark icon next to any custom sin to save it to your Personal Examen.

Include a Personal Examen sin in your session

On the Personal Examen screen, check the box next to any sin to include it in your current session. Uncheck it to remove it. You can also enable the Personal Examen section in Settings so that its sins appear directly on the Examine tab.

Delete a sin from Personal Examen

Tap the trash icon next to the sin you want to remove. A confirmation dialog will appear — tap Delete to confirm. Removing a sin from your Personal Examen does not affect past sessions.

Edit a sin in Personal Examen

Tap the pencil icon next to the sin you want to change. An edit dialog will appear pre-filled with the current text — update it and tap Save. If the sin is already included in your current session, the session is updated automatically.

Resume Where You Left Off

The app automatically remembers your position when you leave. Your expanded and collapsed sections and your scroll position are saved, so when you reopen the app you pick up exactly where you stopped.

You can also long-press any section header to place a bookmark on it. A bookmark icon will appear on the header as a visual reminder of where you left off. Long-press the same header again to remove the bookmark. Only one section can be bookmarked at a time.

Clear Session

To clear all selections and start fresh, tap the refresh icon in the top bar. A confirmation dialog will appear — tap Clear to confirm.

Last Confession Date

The app can track your last confession date. Go to Settings > Confession to set or change it. This date is used to calculate the time shown in the Walkthrough (for example, “It has been 3 weeks since my last confession”).

The first time you open the app, you will be prompted to set this date. You can skip it or tap Don’t Ask Again to stop the prompt permanently. If you change your mind, you can reset the prompt from Settings.

Password Protection

You can optionally protect the app with a numeric PIN so that others cannot open it.

Enable password protection

Open the navigation drawer and tap Settings. Under Security, turn on the Password Protection switch. You will be asked to choose a PIN of at least 4 digits and confirm it.

Unlock the app

When password protection is enabled, you will see a lock screen each time you open the app or return to it from the background. Enter your PIN and tap Unlock.

If your device has fingerprint or face recognition set up, the app will automatically offer biometric unlock. You can also tap the fingerprint icon below the Unlock button to try again. Biometric unlock is available only when your device supports it and you have enrolled at least one fingerprint or face — no extra setup is needed in the app.

Change your PIN

Go to Settings and tap Change PIN. Enter your current PIN, then choose and confirm a new one.

Disable password protection

Go to Settings and turn off the Password Protection switch. You will need to enter your current PIN to confirm. Once disabled, the app will open without a lock screen.

Block Screenshots

Under Settings > Security, you can toggle Block Screenshots to prevent screenshots and screen recording for enhanced privacy. This requires an app restart to take effect.

Appearance

Color Scheme

You can choose from five color schemes under Settings > Appearance > Display Settings:

• Classic — Warm confessional tones with wood brown, candlelight gold, and aged parchment (default)
• Royal Purple — Rich purple with ivory and gold
• Forest — Earthy green with warm stone tones
• Dark — Dark surfaces with blue accents
• Midnight — True black for OLED screens with muted gold
  Your selection applies immediately and is remembered across app launches.

Font Size

Under Settings > Appearance > Display Settings, you can adjust the font size to make text larger or smaller throughout the app. Choose from Small, Default, Large, or Extra Large.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my data stored securely?

All session data is stored only on your device and is never transmitted anywhere. The database is encrypted with SQLCipher. The app also prevents screenshots and screen recording by default to protect your privacy.

What does the Walkthrough tab do?

The Walkthrough tab is designed to be used inside the confessional. It shows your list of sins and guides you step-by-step through the Rite of Penance.

Can I have multiple sessions?

Yes. Each session represents one preparation for confession. You can start a new session at any time from the Saved Sessions menu. Old sessions are retained for reference.

What is a ‘custom sin’?

If a sin you committed is not already in the examination questions, you can add it using the + button. Type a brief description and it will appear in your Sins list.

What do ‘state in life’ options mean?

Different states of life carry additional moral responsibilities. For example, a Parent bears duties toward their children that a Single Adult does not. Selecting your state shows questions tailored to your situation beyond the universal Ten Commandments.

What is the difference between Standard and Comprehensive?

The Standard examination covers the Ten Commandments, Precepts of the Church, and Capital Sins. The Comprehensive examination is organized by twelve virtues across twelve months, with mortal and venial sin sections for each. You can enable both at the same time to see all questions together.

What are Examination of Conscience Modules?

Examination of Conscience modules are additional sets of examination questions created by third parties. You can import them from a file or by scanning a QR code. Once imported, they appear alongside the built-in types in the Examine tab and can be enabled or disabled in Examination Settings.

The app feels slow — what can I do?

The first load builds a local database. Subsequent launches are faster. If issues persist, please use Provide Feedback in the menu to let us know.

Will I lose my place if I close the app?

No. The app remembers which sections were expanded or collapsed and where you were scrolling. When you reopen it, you return to the same position. You can also long-press a section header to bookmark it as a visual reminder.