Prayers Before Examination of Conscience

O MY Lord and my God, be merciful to me a sinner. I humbly acknowledge in Thy sight that I have been conceived and born in sin, and as all sin is darkness, so of myself I naturally run on in the dark, from one sin to another, pleasing myself for the present, but displeasing Thee, and making myself Thy enemy; but Thou, O God, who hadst caused light to rise from darkness, didst also send in the flesh Thy only-begotten Son, to be our true light, and to enlighten every one that cometh into this world. He has admonished me of my evil inclinations, my unruly passions, and the corrupt dispositions of my heart. He has warned me now, as I hope for life and salvation, not to allow them further sway, but to subdue, eradicate, and destroy them. It is my desire and intention at present, O my God, to examine how far I have given way to them, and to discover what injustice, what ingratitude, and what sins they have induced me to commit. This inclination I acknowledge to be Thy gift. But, O Father of Mercies and of all Light, how miserably shall I deceive myself, if Thou assist me not in this work, by the influences of Thy Holy Spirit! I know that there is nothing hidden from Thy sight. But so far as I am concerned, I must confess that I am involved in error and darkness. Self-love favours my passions, and betrays me into a blind partiality towards them. Though I have many sins that look me full in the face, and cannot be hidden from my sight, yet how many more must there be that are quite unknown to me and forgotten? But do Thou, O Lord, discover even those to me: enlighten this my darkness, this my blindness, and remove every veil that hides my sins from me, that so I may be no longer unknown to myself, nor a stranger to my own failings. Send down Thy Holy Spirit into my heart, and let the beams of Thy Divine Light open my understanding, that I may have a full view of all my sins and imperfections. Thus knowing myself, and sincerely repenting of all my past offences, may I return to Thee once more, and be received again into Thy favour.

II. PRAYER.

O HOLY Ghost, Eternal source of Light! mercifully deign to enlighten my understanding, let nothing escape the exact search I am about. Thou hast created me, and Thou art to be my Judge. Thou fully and truly knowest my heart. Shew me now my sins, clearly as I shall know them, when, quitting this life, I must appear before Thee to hear judgment pronounced. My business at present is to prevent its rigour. If I were to be deficient this day in exactness, or insincere during examination and accusation, Thou wouldst most certainly correct at Thy unerring tribunal the negligence and iniquity of such proceeding. Discover to me then, O God, those secret evil thoughts, those irregular desires, those criminal words or actions, and those omissions in my duty, with all the scandal I may have given. Do not permit that a criminal love for myself should now seduce and blind me. Remove the veil it places before the eyes of my soul, that I may fully know my own state, and then make myself thoroughly understood by a sincere and humble confession to Thy minister.

III. PRAYER.

LIKE the prodigal child I desire to enter seriously into myself, and without delay to forsake my evil ways, in which I have been wearied out, in pursuit of empty toys and mere shadows. I have sought in vain to satisfy my thirst with muddy waters, and my hunger with the husks of swine. I wish to return to Thee, O Thou Fountain of Life. Yet, O my God, though I can stray from Thee far enough of myself, I cannot make one step towards returning to Thee, unless Thy divine grace incite and assist me. Thy grace then, I most humbly implore. Prostrate in spirit before the throne of Thy mercy, I ask it for the sake of Thy Divine Son Jesus Christ, my Redeemer, who died upon the cross for me and for all sinners. Thou hast declared that there is joy in heaven for one sinner doing penance. Give me now Thy grace, that I may truly repent, and let all the saints and angels in heaven rejoice at my conversion. Assist me in this great work. Enlighten me with Thy heavenly light, that I may discover all my imperfections, see all my sins in their true colours, sincerely detest and confess them. I know Thou desirest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he be converted and live. I know Thy manifold mercies are above all Thy works, and often prevent Thy Justice. As in Thy mercy Thou hast spared me so long, and hast now inspired me with this desire of returning to Thee, happily finish the work Thou hast begun, assist me in every part of my preparation, procure for me a perfect reconciliation and pardon for my offences.

Preliminary Directions.—Previous to your Examination of Conscience, endeavour to solve the following questions with diligence and accuracy. How many days, weeks, months, or years since I last made a sacramental Confession? State the particular day, if possible; and this, with a little attention in the discharge of so important a duty, can hardly ever be forgotten. Did I then receive absolution? or was I required by my former Confessor to return again for such a purpose? If able to answer the first part of this question in the affirmative, you are at liberty to make your Confession to any duly qualified director; but if you have not received absolution it would be desirable that you end your Confession with the priest to whom you last went, when it is possible to find him. If this cannot be done, it would be necessary to accuse yourself of the sins for which absolution had not been obtained, and which have not yet been submitted to the consideration of another director. Have I faithfully performed my penance? Recollect it is of special obligation to do so; for otherwise one part of this Sacrament is left incomplete and unfulfilled. Except under very peculiar or unavoidable circumstances, this penance must be fulfilled without delay, and usually before we begin the immediate preparation for a new Confession.

Next put the question to yourself, Was my last Confession a good or a sacrilegious one? Or were any of my previous Confessions bad or defective? Did I in Confession tell any falsehood regarding mortal sin known by me to be mortal? Did I receive the form of absolution from any priest, without having been previously freed from an excommunication, a suspension, a censure, or an interdict, which affected me? Did I omit the Confession of any mortal sins, which might have been remembered had sufficient diligence been used in former Examinations of Conscience? Did I deliberately employ any means to conceal from my director the enormity of mortal sins already confessed? Did I confess without a true sorrow for my sins? Had I no sincere desire or intention to amend my life? Had I no real purpose to avoid all future dangerous and proximate occasions of mortal sin? Did I not intend honestly and faithfully to perform my penance? Did I go to Holy Communion after this bad Confession? In case you cannot answer those questions in a satisfactory manner, your conscience must reprove you with having still to account for a bad and sacrilegious Confession. It will thus become necessary to make a General Confession, so as to repair the defects of former Confessions, and it will be necessary to explain to your director the reason why you are obliged to make such reparation. It will also be requisite, not only to make past Confessions over again, but to acknowledge how often you confessed and communicated in a sacrilegious manner. You must state also if any other Sacraments, such as Confirmation, Matrimony, Extreme Unction, have been received or administered in this bad condition of the soul, and how often such sacrilegious acts have occurred.

Bear all the necessary particulars well in your memory, as it is essential that these material statements be made first to your director, before you begin the enumeration of other sins. Be guided of course in the matter by your spiritual father, whose experience, judgment and knowledge will best direct the method to be observed in proceeding with your accusation. Before scrutinizing the particular sins committed, since you have been last absolved, recite the following preparatory prayer.

A PROTESTATION BEFORE EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE.

O GOD, the searcher of hearts, behold I here protest in Thy presence, that what I now design is sincerely intended for the honour of Thy name. Because I heartily desire to be delivered from the guilt of my sins, therefore I approach this preparation for Confession and Examination of Conscience, that by complying with Thy holy institutions, I may obtain Thy blessing and pardon. Enlighten my mind as to the exact state of my interior. Enable me to recollect all my offences for which I have not yet obtained pardon. May Thy holy grace assist me in the right undertaking of this great duty, as it is Thy mercy which hath called me to its performance.