The Examination of Conscience
1. Remember the key to wisdom: "Know yourself." These words were
written in Greek in golden letters on the fronton of the temple of the
Delphic Apollo. They were the basic rule of the moral doctrine of
Socrates and other philosophers. But if we are to know ourselves well,
we must examine ourselves thoroughly. We must place ourselves before
ourselves without any concealment or
deception and judge ourselves fairly and severely. The examination of
conscience is recommended not only by spiritual writers of the Church,
but also by pagan philosophers. Seneca's famous words in this regard are
worth meditating. "Anger will disappear or subside," he says, "when you
know that you have to present yourself for judgment every day. Is there
any finer custom than this daily examination of conscience? What peace
follows from this examination of ourselves! How tranquil, wise and free
the mind becomes, whether it has been praised or reproved, when it has
acted as its own secret investigator and critic and has examined its own
behaviour. I use this exercise and put myself on trial every day. When
the lights are out and silence has fallen... I look back over the entire
day and review my words and actions. I hide nothing from myself; I omit
nothing. Why should I be afraid of any of my errors when I can say to
myself: Take care not to do this again; this time I forgive you." (De
Ira, III, 36.)
2. Pope St. Pius X holds greater authority for a
Christian. In his "Exhortatio ad Clerum" he strongly recommends the
examination of conscience especially at the close of the day. This
examination, he says, is necessary for priests, but it is no less
necessary for the laity. He recalls the apt words of St. Augustine:
“Judge your own conscience. Demand an account from it. Dig deep and rend
it apart. Discover all the evil thoughts and intentions of the day...
and punish yourself for them.” (Expos. in Ps. 4, n.8) He also quotes the
equally relevant words of St. Bernard. “Be a searching inquirer into
your own integrity of life; examine your conduct every day. See how much
you have advanced, or how much you have fallen back... Learn to know
yourself... Place all your faults before your eyes. Stand before
yourself, as if it were before somebody else, and you will find reasons
to weep over yourself.” (Meditat., Cap. 5 de quotidiano sui ipsius
examine) The saintly Pontiff concludes his inspiring address as follows:
“Experience has proved that anyone who makes a strict examination of
his thoughts, words and actions, is more firmly resolved to hate and
avoid what is evil and wholeheartedly to love what is good.” (Acta Pii
X, IV, p. 257)
3. It is necessary and profitable, therefore, to
end the day with an examination of conscience made in the presence of
God. Enter into ourselves; examine our thoughts, words and actions.
Examine also the motives behind our actions and see whether they have
been distorted or really directed towards God. Examine the sins we have
committed, so that we may beg for pardon and form resolutions to do
better. See whether we have prayed fervently or distractedly and
half-heartedly. See if we have cooperated with the graces and good
inspirations which we have been given. See if we have improved or grown
worse in our efforts to do good. See if we have been dissipated or close
to God. From a close examination of this kind we shall draw an
incitement to humility and repentance, as well as to greater
determination in the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment