What is the daily examination of conscience?
We can always advance. We can always improve: in our prayer, in our spirit of sacrifice, in the way we work, in our concern for others, in our apostolate. And not in some vague way, but in quite definite points, namely those suggested in our “spiritual coaching,” or those we have discovered in our prayer.
Making our struggle very specific helps our prayer of petition, and we will not acquire a "passive" approach to the spiritual life.
“We should not wait for another New Year to make resolutions. Every day is a good day for good decisions. Those who wait for the New Year before they start again are defeatists." Our constant starting again constitutes a true ascetical struggle, which has to be undertaken and continued each day with optimism and enthusiasm. We need supernatural enthusiasm, which does not always show externally, since it is compatible with weariness and sorrow. This kind of enthusiasm is forged from our good intentions, from our fortitude, and from the knowledge that God loves us and seeks us out.
“Rectify. A little each day. This must be your constant task, if you really want to become a saint." A sure way to advance: trusting God more, and trusting ourselves less. We achieve this in the particular examination.
At the end of the day, make a brief examination of conscience before going to rest at night. Two or three minutes are enough.
- Place yourself in the presence of God, recognizing his strength and your weakness. Tell him: “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”
- Ask your guardian angel for light to acknowledge your defects and virtues and examine your conscience with sincerity:
"What have I done wrong? Forgive me, Lord.
What have I done well? Thank you, Lord.
What could I have done better?" - and a resolution.
It just takes two minutes, or half a minute.
- Then, sorrow. Make an act of contrition, asking our Lord’s pardon.
- Resolution. Make a specific resolution for tomorrow.
- Pray three Hail Marys to the Virgin Mary, asking for the virtue of purity for yourself and your loved ones.
“In this adventure of love, we should not be depressed by our falls, not even by serious falls, if we go to God in the sacrament of Penance contrite and resolved to improve. A Christian is not a neurotic collector of good behavior reports. Jesus Christ, our Lord, was moved as much by Peter's repentance after his fall as by John's innocence and faithfulness.
“Jesus understands our weakness and draws us to himself up an inclined plane. He wants us to make an effort to climb a little each day. He seeks us out, just as he did the disciples of Emmaus, whom he went out to meet. He sought Thomas, showed himself to him, and made him touch with his fingers the open wounds in his hands and side. Jesus Christ is always waiting for us to return to him; he knows our weakness."
Oct 22 Wed