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(Photo©Michael Seagriff) |
[We need to
examine our conscience daily]. That the general examination of conscience
produces its full effect, namely self-knowledge and self-reform, it should
consist of five parts, namely: thank God for His benefits; ask grace to know
and root out our sins; demand an account of our souls concerning thoughts,
words, actions and omissions, from the time of our last examination to the present;
implore God's pardon for our trespasses; and make a firm purpose of
amendment. In the general examination
the different thoughts and actions since our last general examination are
reviewed. How we have acquitted
ourselves in: our duties to God (prayers and exercises of piety); our duties
toward our neighbor (kindness, charity, obedience and truth); our duties toward
ourselves (patience, humility, temperance, purity, duties of our state [in
life]). This general examination is ended by asking pardon of God and promising
Him that we shall do better in the future.
Father Charles Hugo Doyle