Examination of Conscience for Adults: A Comprehensive Examination of Conscience
By REV. DONALD F. MILLER, C.SS.R.
Imprimatur: Joseph E. Ritter, St. Louis, April 7, 1959
This work (Examination of Conscience for Adults: A Comprehensive Examination Of Conscience Based On Twelve Virtues For The Twelve Months Of The Year, by Rev. Donald Miller, C.Ss.R.), identified by Mater Dei Latin Mass Parish, is free of known copyright restrictions.
Examination of Conscience for Adults: A Comprehensive Examination Of Conscience
Table of Contents
Introduction
January — Faith
Ejaculatory Prayer: Lord, increase our faith! (500 days indulgence.) [28]
February — Hope
Ejaculatory Prayer: Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in Thee. (300 days indulgence.) [195]
March — Love Of God
Ejaculatory Prayer: Jesus, my God, I love Thee above all things. (300 days indulgence.) [57]
April — Reverence For God
May — Love Of Neighbor (Positive obligations)
June — Love Of Neighbor (Negative Obligations)
July — Justice
Aspiration: Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy kingdom come. (300 days indulgence.) [197]
August — Chastity
September — Temperance
Aspiration: O good Jesus, within Thy wounds hide me. (300 days indulgence.) [169]
October — Obedience
Aspiration: All for Thee, most Sacred Heart of Jesus! (300 days indulgence.) [203]
November — Meekness
December — Humility
Bracketed numbers [ ] following prayers indicate the number of the indulgence according to the New Official List of Indulgences, Preces Et Pia Opera, dated December 31, 1937, by The Sacred Penitentiary Apostolic in Rome.
Introduction
Self-examination has always been considered a necessary means of progress in virtue. All Religious Orders and congregations have provision in their rules for at least one daily examination of conscience. While the practice is also necessary for lay people, there have been few booklets offered to them whereby a systematic examination of conscience might be made at definite times. Lists of sins may be found in prayer books and pamphlets, but frequently they lack completeness, or they make no clear-cut distinctions between mortal and venial sin, or they make no reference to the helps and counsels that might build up virtue and prevent sin.
The object of this booklet is to initiate lay people into the practice of concentrating their efforts at self-perfection on one virtue a month. It provides a fairly complete list of mortal sins to be avoided, of venial sins to be corrected, and of helps and counsels that may be practiced. For each month a short explanation of the virtue to be practiced is given, an aspiration is suggested for frequent use, and a prayer is added containing sorrow for the past and resolve for the future.
The division of the obligations of the Christian life into twelve virtues is not one that can be made without some degree of arbitrary arrangement of material. There will be overlapping, some repetition, and not always a strictly logical inclusion of questions under a given head. The practical purpose has been kept in mind, rather than the theoretical; an effort has been made to bring into each month reminders of some of the fundamental obligations every Christian has, as these can be related to given virtues.
A warning should be given to souls who are inclined to scrupulosity. Such souls are frequently disturbed by reading lists of sins, because they erroneously think themselves guilty, where they are not guilty at all. They should have permission of their confessor before they undertake to make a minute examination of conscience, and in every doubt must obey their confessor blindly. Aside from the scrupulous, some persons may find doubts arising from certain questions because circumstances not mentioned may confuse particular issues. It is to be remembered at all times that a mortal sin is not committed unless three conditions are present, viz., sufficient reflection, full consent of the will, and a violation of God’s law in a serious matter. The mortal sins listed represent only objectively serious matter; if one or both of the other conditions necessary for the commission of a mortal sin be lacking in a particular case, the guilt would not be incurred. In prudent doubt, a confessor should be asked for a solution.
It is recommended that once a week during each month, the examen for that month be read carefully and thoughtfully. On some occasions this would be best done before confession. The ejaculatory prayer of the month should be said frequently every day.
