Session Six: The Examination of Conscience

Throughout the previous sessions, this course has focused on the life of intimate prayer. It hasn't focused on the sacramental life; but it has taken for granted that there is a link. Both regular reception of the sacraments (most obviously Confession & the Eucharist) and intimate prayer are encounters with God which allow us to grow in love for God.

A principal fruit of regular encounter with God is a growth in self-knowledge. As we come nearer to the supernatural light of God, we come to see ourselves as we more truly are, and this increases the nearer we move to God. This process can be slightly unnerving and cause some souls to pull back from God. Therefore, it can be very helpful to engage in an examination of conscience.

Spending a short time at the end of each day looking at what has been going on in our lives, we can come to a more honest place of self-knowledge. This can reduce some of the shock factor, when we come to our prayer and begin to see ourselves in the supernatural light of God. Aspects of our character that we do not like, but we which we have acknowledged and faced up to, are less likely to rock our relationships with others when they are pointed out, than character flaws which are unknown to us and shock us when they are pointed out.

The exercise proposed here is something that will therefore run parallel to your life of prayer. If you already engage in an examination of conscience, and it is working for you, then simply continue with that. However, if you are not currently engaging in a regular examination of conscience, then the following exercise might help.

(1) Take a brief period towards the end of the day of about 2 - 5 minutes.

• As with your daily prayer, look at your lifestyle and consider where you could situate the examination in your to day to make sure it is regular.
• You may do it before or after your regular prayer; but make sure it is an extra exercise.

(2) Look back over your day and for the grace to find three things to thank God for.

• These may be particular graces from that day.
• You may have become aware (again) of some general graces God has given you in your life.
• Thanksgiving is very important in the spiritual life, and often neglected.

(3) Now, ask for the grace to find three things which you want to say sorry to God for.

• There will be at least three things ... unless you are a saint ... and even then there would probably be three things! If you find more than that, then obviously confess them to God and give thanks. (Cf. Luke 15:7)
• Sometimes you will observe specific thoughts, words, deeds or omissions (things you should have done, but didn't). Other times it may be that small events show up the state of your soul - pridefulness, selfishness etc. These can be fruitfully confessed to the Lord.

(4) Make some brief notes.

• This is not obvious to most people, but can be a very fruitful practice. Obviously, it needs to be done in a secure place where nobody can access or read the notes.
• Using notes, when we come to examine our conscience before celebrating the sacrament of Confession, we are able more accurately see the state of our souls, and thus make a more honest and fruitful Confession.
• Making notes we may begin to see patterns. You may find at the end of the day to gossiped about Mrs. Smith ... and at the end of the next day ... and the day after that. Gossip is a small and thoughtless sin in itself. However, you may observe from the pattern that actually you are harbouring a deep anger or resentment against Mrs. Smith - and actually the Lord in interested in you acknowledging this, and bringing it before Him.

(5) Finally, as a fruit of your examination, make a simple resolution for the next day. This may be to avoid a particular sin, to exercise a particular virtue or to do, out of love for God, something you hae been putting off. Ask Jesus to guide you in making a resolution.

• We cannot make ourselves perfect - that is the role of God's grace.
• Invariably, God's grace does not perfect us overnight - we are too closed to His grace and resistant to His work in us.
• By making a simple resolution, however, we are seeking to do the little bit that we can. If we struggle to improve ourselves in a little way each day, we show willing, we demonstrate to God that in spite of all the obstacles we place in His way, deep down we want to love Him, and we want to do His will. Like little children offering to fix a window they can't possibly repair, this little act of willing, we know, will draw down God's Fatherly mercy in abundance.

The Examination of Conscience, when practised regularly helps to keep a check on how our relationship with God is. By daily acknowledging our sinfulness, and also acknowledging the fact that all that is good in our lives comes from God, we constantly call to mind the essence of our human dignity. We are nothing in ourselves, but because we have been loved by a great, infinite and merciful God we are creatures of infinite value.


Next Step 
1. Can I answer the questions on the handout?
2. Listen to the short audio discussion of this material.
3. Now spend 20 minutes (or more) in silence using the prayer exercise on the Ignatian Examen on the handout.