Examination of Conscience: the Manner of Performing It

THE MANNER IN WHICH THIS DUTY SHOULD BE PERFORMED BY US.

FIRST POINT.

LET us adore our LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who sees us as we really are, and Who knows all our sins with their accompanying circumstances. He beholds us in the light of His truth, and therefore He judges us with equity, and not as men do, who are deceived by appearances, and who are misled by their prejudices or by their partialities. Let us return thanks to our Loving SAVIOUR, Who will impart to us, if we ask Him, some portions of this Heavenly light, whereby we may diligently examine our consciences, and thoroughly search out each hidden sin.

SECOND POINT.

LET us ask ourselves whether we take due care to inquire into the state of our conscience, and whether we observe all the rules which are necessary to make our self-examination valid.

Do we place ourselves, with all fitting humility, in the presence of GOD, adoring our Blessed SAVIOUR as our Judge, and beseeching Him to enlighten us as to the number and the greatness of our sins—since nothing but the light of Divine grace can enable us to know them and to examine thoroughly into them without running the risk of recalling evil thoughts or of arousing sinful wishes?

Do we make strong practical resolutions for the amendment of our lives?

Do we endeavour to attain to the frame of mind in which we should desire to be found at the hour of our death?

Has our examination of conscience been made daily, without fail; and made, if possible, at a certain fixed hour of each day?

Do we ever omit or slur over any portion of our examination, in order to shorten the time allotted to this exercise?

Do we examine ourselves minutely, carefully marking the smallest fault, lest we should pass it over, recalling our conversations, our thoughts, and our various employments during the past day; and remembering to note the good which we have left undone, no less than the evil which we have actually committed?

Are we not apt to imagine that it is unnecessary and even wrong to be very minute in self-examination—believing that such minuteness has a tendency to produce scruples, and that it is, besides, unsuited to persons living in the world?

Has our examination been searching and severe?

Do we try to discover both the causes and the consequences of our sins?

Do we neither endeavour to justify ourselves nor to make excuses for our errors?

Do we resolutely shut our ears to the suggestions of self-love, which would fain gloss over all our faults?

Lastly, when, in order to acquire a virtue, or to conquer some sin, we are obliged to confine our examination to one subject in particular, do we not quickly grow weary, and lay down our arms before the battle is won, instead of following the example of the Psalmist, who says, “I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them; neither did I turn again till they were consumed”? (Ps. xviii. 37).

THIRD POINT.

O MY GOD, I know that Thou dost desire that I should strive after holiness of life; and, to make this great aim the easier of attainment to me, Thou hast given me the help of self-examination; should I not then be without excuse if I failed to fulfil this obligation? Grant, O Merciful LORD, that I may never be wanting in correspondence to Thy grace; but may I so profit by the constant practice of this duty, that I may thereby, as Thou designest, root out sin from my heart, and plant therein the seeds of all virtue; thus obeying the command which Thou gavest Thy Prophet, “To root out . . . . and to destroy . . . . to build, and to plant” (Jer. i. 10).