Fifteenth Subject. The Employment of Time

Brother Philippe, Subjects for Particular Examen, 1870, pp. 20–22

Time is short.—I. COR. vii. 29.
Let us consider how important it is to make a good use of time, since it passes away with so much rapidity. The wise man compares it to a post which runneth on, to a ship which passeth through the waves, to a bird which flieth through the air, and which leave no trace of their passage.
Have we considered that a single moment may be our salvation, or our perdition? That He who gave us the past, and accords us the present, has not promised us the morrow? That the prince of Apostles, on the contrary, warns us, that the day of the Lord shall come as a thief, who chooses the moment when every one is sleeping to enter and steal?
Have we sought to know the value of time? Have we asked it of the dying who have not profited by it for their conversion, of the saints who knew how to use it, of the reprobates who have abused it?
Far from drawing any advantage from this time, so precious, which was only given us in order to gain Heaven, have we not lost it in many ways?
Have we not lost it in doing nothing, or in doing what amounted to nothing, in trifles, in useless conversation, in satisfying idle curiosity?
Have we not lost it in doing evil, in slandering, in gossiping, in entertaining thoughts of discontent and rancor?
Have we not lost it in useless visits, received, rendered, provoked, or in other distractions dangerous to our particular position?
Have we not lost it in performing acts in themselves indifferent, without referring them to God, and without elevating them by motives cf faith, as our Rule obliges us to?
Have we not lost it even in doing good things, but which interfered with duties prescribed by our Rule?
Have we not lost it even in doing good things which God demands of us, because they were not done with purity of intention, but solely from vanity or hypocrisy, or out of the hour and place designed for that end?
Finally, are we resolved to do all in our power to redeem the time, and to do what good we are able while we have the light?—ST. JOHN xii. 33.
Pause.
ACT OF CONTRITION.—Alas! Lord, how many days, months, years, lost for Heaven, for eternity! how many merits lost, how much wood and straw amassed for the fire! Ah! deprive me not of the time to do better, and to make amends for the past. I am resolved to make a good use of that which I pray Thee to grant me.
I make the resolution to......