S
springbreeze
Guest
Dear friends
A meditation I read recently that I thought others may like to take a read at.
For Those With Nothing To Confess!
By the late Father Kilian McGowan, C.P. Used with permission, from the Passionist Priests, to help spiritually guide the layman.
It’s not unusual for the priest-confessor to be told by a penitent that he could think of nothing to tell in the confessional. The following examination of conscience is given for the average person who has trouble in finding matter for Confession. Let us emphasize, however, that most of the faults listed below are only venial sins and do not have to be mentioned in the sacrament of Penance.
If I am striving for Christian perfection, is it because I want to love God perfectly, or rather because I want to be perfect? Do I try to keep the talents of others under wraps lest they outshine me? Do I fish for compliments and then pretend I don’t want them? In my conversation, am I always speaking of myself?
Do I find it easy to forgive, but terribly hard to forget injuries done me? Do I find fault in everything and everyone-excepting myself and the things I have done? Through jealousy, envy, or simply desire to be “in the know” do I repeat injurious gossip? Do I give a way “inside information” that is not mine to divulge?
Am I a “home devil” and a “street angel” - that is, irritable and grouchy at home and a real charmer outside? Do I humbly acknowledge and am I willing to concede when I am proven wrong? Am I too touchy or super-sensitive about anything said about me or done to me? Do I claim to have read books or articles, or been place, or done things when really I haven’t at all? Do I pretend to be something-or to have something that I have not? In speaking of myself do I embellish my successes and cut down on my mistakes?
How often do I pay off my debts of adoration, thanksgiving, and reparation to God? At Holy Mass, am I thinking of just about everything but the great drama happening before my eyes? Do I arrive for Mass late and poorly disposed for the greatest action of the week? Do I pray as did our Lord: “Lord, not my will, but Thine be done.” Do I ask God for the grace to love Him the way He deserves?
Am I honest at the super-market and the shopping center or do I try to get something for nothing? Am I unjust to my employer by “goofing-off” at work, by causing poor morale at the office or plant, or simply failing to put in a decent day’s work? Am I so addicted to TV as to neglect my family, my household duties, or my job?
Do I attend off-color movies or read sexy novels just to get a little “kick” and then refuse to acknowledge my inordinate curiosity-even to myself? Do I make a sincere effort to avoid what I know from the past is an occasion of serious sin to me? Are the certain things I feel I should confess, but I tell myself it is none of the priest’s business?
Have I ever made a serious study of the doctrines of my God-given faith with the intention of making them part and parcel of my everyday life? Do I try to make my ideas and my outlook more Christlike? Have I ever made a wholehearted resolution to love God with my whole heart, mind and soul? Am I convinced that this is the chief reason for my existence?
This examination, brief as it is, should show the average person that he’s far from being perfect. You’d be a rare individual if you didn’t have a t least a few of the above failings. In going to work on yourself, however, don’t try to do everything at once. Concentrate your effort and prayer on your chief weakness. In conquering this one fault, you’ll weaken all the others. Self-indulgence will be weakened and self-mastery will be increased all along the line!
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God Bless you and much love and peace to you
Teresa
A meditation I read recently that I thought others may like to take a read at.
For Those With Nothing To Confess!
By the late Father Kilian McGowan, C.P. Used with permission, from the Passionist Priests, to help spiritually guide the layman.
It’s not unusual for the priest-confessor to be told by a penitent that he could think of nothing to tell in the confessional. The following examination of conscience is given for the average person who has trouble in finding matter for Confession. Let us emphasize, however, that most of the faults listed below are only venial sins and do not have to be mentioned in the sacrament of Penance.
If I am striving for Christian perfection, is it because I want to love God perfectly, or rather because I want to be perfect? Do I try to keep the talents of others under wraps lest they outshine me? Do I fish for compliments and then pretend I don’t want them? In my conversation, am I always speaking of myself?
Do I find it easy to forgive, but terribly hard to forget injuries done me? Do I find fault in everything and everyone-excepting myself and the things I have done? Through jealousy, envy, or simply desire to be “in the know” do I repeat injurious gossip? Do I give a way “inside information” that is not mine to divulge?
Am I a “home devil” and a “street angel” - that is, irritable and grouchy at home and a real charmer outside? Do I humbly acknowledge and am I willing to concede when I am proven wrong? Am I too touchy or super-sensitive about anything said about me or done to me? Do I claim to have read books or articles, or been place, or done things when really I haven’t at all? Do I pretend to be something-or to have something that I have not? In speaking of myself do I embellish my successes and cut down on my mistakes?
How often do I pay off my debts of adoration, thanksgiving, and reparation to God? At Holy Mass, am I thinking of just about everything but the great drama happening before my eyes? Do I arrive for Mass late and poorly disposed for the greatest action of the week? Do I pray as did our Lord: “Lord, not my will, but Thine be done.” Do I ask God for the grace to love Him the way He deserves?
Am I honest at the super-market and the shopping center or do I try to get something for nothing? Am I unjust to my employer by “goofing-off” at work, by causing poor morale at the office or plant, or simply failing to put in a decent day’s work? Am I so addicted to TV as to neglect my family, my household duties, or my job?
Do I attend off-color movies or read sexy novels just to get a little “kick” and then refuse to acknowledge my inordinate curiosity-even to myself? Do I make a sincere effort to avoid what I know from the past is an occasion of serious sin to me? Are the certain things I feel I should confess, but I tell myself it is none of the priest’s business?
Have I ever made a serious study of the doctrines of my God-given faith with the intention of making them part and parcel of my everyday life? Do I try to make my ideas and my outlook more Christlike? Have I ever made a wholehearted resolution to love God with my whole heart, mind and soul? Am I convinced that this is the chief reason for my existence?
This examination, brief as it is, should show the average person that he’s far from being perfect. You’d be a rare individual if you didn’t have a t least a few of the above failings. In going to work on yourself, however, don’t try to do everything at once. Concentrate your effort and prayer on your chief weakness. In conquering this one fault, you’ll weaken all the others. Self-indulgence will be weakened and self-mastery will be increased all along the line!
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God Bless you and much love and peace to you
Teresa
My Mum is from Omagh Co. Tyrone N.Ireland. Beautiful Emerald Isle!
