Salesian Literature

Chapter 3:  Examination of conscience on one’s progress in the devout life

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The second point of this exercise is rather long. I would suggest that, in order to carry it out, it is not necessary to go through it all at once, but on different occasions.  For instance, examine on one occasion whatever concerns your conduct towards God; take up at another time what concerns yourself; after that what concerns your neighbour; and finally what concerns your passions.  It is not necessary or advisable to kneel down, except at the beginning and at the end which includes the good movements of the will.

 

The other point of the examination can be made profitably while you are walking, and even more profitably in bed, so long as you can be there for sometime without being drowsy and that you are well awake.  In order to do this, you must read them carefully beforehand.  However, it is necessary to complete the whole of this second point of the exercise within three days and two nights at the most.  Make use of some time each day and night according to your possibilities.  If you make this exercise at long intervals, it would lose its effect and would make only feeble impression.  After each point of the examination, note in what you failed, in what you have defects, and the principal disorders you have experienced.  This will enable you to confess them in order to get advice, make deliberate decisions and find spiritual strength.

 

On the days when you make this exercise, it is not necessary to withdraw entirely form the company of others.  But do so to a certain extent, especially towards the evening.  Thus you can go to bed early and take the bodily and spiritual rest so necessary for reflection. In the course of the day make frequent aspirations to God, to our Lady, to the entire heavenly Jerusalem.  Do all this with your heart filled with love of God and of your perfection.

 

In order to begin well this examination: (1) Place yourself in the presence of God.  (2) Pray earnestly to the Holy Spirit.  Ask him for enlightenment and clarity that you may be able to know yourself well.  Pray with St. Augustine who cried out to God in a spirit of humility: “Lord, that I may know you and that I may know myself,” and with St. Francis of Assisi, who asked God: “Who are you, and who am I?”  Affirm that you wish to note your progress not in order to take delight in yourself; it is only to rejoice over it in God; not for your own glory; but for the glory of God and to thank him for it.  (3) Declare firmly that if you seem to have made a little progress, or even fallen back, you will not give way to disappointment or lukewarmness by any sort of discouragement or faint-heartedness.  On the contrary, you are determined to take courage and arouse yourself, to humble yourself and correct your faults with the help of God’s grace.

 

Having done this, consider calmly and peacefully how up to the present time you have behaved yourself towards God, towards your neighbour and towards yourself.

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