Salesian Literature

Chapter 12:  Fourth Meditation: My Sins

​

Preparation

1. Place yourself in the presence of God.

2. Ask him earnestly to inspire you.

 

Reflections

1. Try to remember when you began to sin.  Note that from this first beginning sins have greatly multiplied in your heart.  Day by day your sins have increased, against God, against yourself, against your neighbour, by deed, by word, by desire and thought.

2. Think of your evil inclinations, and to what extent you have followed them.  From these two points you will realize that your sins are greater in number than the hairs of your head (Ps. 40:12), indeed more than the sand of the sea.

 

Consider by itself the sin of ingratitude to God.  It is a general sin spreading itself to all the others and making them much more serious.  Look at the numerous benefits God has given you which you have all misused against the Giver.  Remember especially the many inspirations to which you have paid no attention, and the many good movements you made useless.  Above all, you have received the Sacraments many times but were are the fruits?  The precious jewels with which your dear Spouse adorned you are all buried beneath your sins.  What preparation did you make to receive the Sacraments?  Reflect on this ingratitude, that while God was running after you constantly to save you, you were always running away from him to ruin yourself.

 

Give vent to Good Movements of the Will and make Deliberate Decisions[1]

1. Be filled with shame  at your wretchedness:  My God, how dare I come in your presence, Alas, I am only the filth of the world and a sewer of ingratitude and wrongdoing.  How thoroughly disloyal I have been.  There is not a single one of my senses or the powers of my spirit which I have not spoilt, misused or soiled.  Not a single day of my life has passed on which I have not done much evil.  What a return I have made for the blessings of my Creator and for the blood of my Saviour.

2. Ask pardon:  Throw yourself at our Lord’s feet like a prodigal child (Lk. 15:18-21), like a sinful woman (Lk. 7;37-38), like a wife who has been most unfaithful to her husband.  Lord, show mercy to me a sinner.  Living fountain of compassion, have pity on me so full of misery.

3. Be determined to live a better life:  No Lord, never again, with the help of your grace.  No, never again will I give myself up to sin. Alas, I have loved it very greatly.  I despise it and hold on to you, merciful Father.  In you I want to live and die.

4. I will confess my past sins with courage so that they will be wiped away.  Every one of them I will drive out.

5. I will completely root out sin from my heart, doing all I can for this, especially such and such that are most troublesome.

6. I will constantly use the means recommended to me in order to realize all the above.  I will never think that I have done enough to make up for such serious faults.

 

Conclusion

1. Thank God who has waited for you till this very hour, and has given you these good desires.

2. Offer your heart to him in order to realize them.

3. Pray to him for strength, and so on.

 

Our Father.  Hail Mary

Make a little spiritual bouquet.

 

​

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1]  As in Second Part Chapter 6.

​

 

Back to Top

​