The examination of conscience should be faithfully practiced. A good time for this is each night before Night Prayer. During this examination consider:
sins
evil tendencies
progress that has already been made
favorable results that have been attained
inclinations to good
Self-knowledge is important for everyone and St. Teresa of Jesus often exhorts the necessity of this for those who pray. In the Interior Castle she writes, “Knowing ourselves is something so important that I wouldn’t want any relaxation ever in this regard, however high you may have climbed into the heavens. While we are on this earth nothing is more important to us than humility.” (I, 2:9)
After considering the points above in the examination of conscience each of us can say to ourselves:
-These are the inclinations I must watch more carefully to
avoid falling into sin:
-These are the weak points which I must strengthen:
-These are the virtues that I must practice most of all:
Faults against charity, patience, obedience and sincerity should also be the focus of our examination. There is a struggle in all this, because we are striving to work against our predominant fault. And none of us is any better than our worst fault! Therefore, “Let us look at our own faults and leave aside those of others” (III, 2:13)
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