God
Faith
I was just giving direction to Duncan on how to perform an examination of conscience, and thought I would share with others too:
Start by getting into a comfortable position, then close your eyes. Feel God's presence there, with you. Feel peace. Open your eyes, and read the Ten Commandments, stopping after each one for reflection.
Have I been putting things of this world in a more important place in my heart than God? Something doesn't have to be a pagan symbol or a statue of Zeus to be an idol; it could even be a celebrity, a car, a house, and so forth. Have I been treating the Lord's most holy name with respect? Continue through the list.
Next, do the same process, but this time with the Beatitudes. Have I been childlike, and uncomplicated, knowing that I need God's grace to accomplish even the smallest of tasks? Have you had a true spirit of humility and mercy towards others? And so forth.
After that, read through the seven Lively Virtues. Pause after each one, and reflect: let God reveal to you if you've been performing the duties of your station in life; if you've been arrogant or felt superior, versus putting yourself last; regarding sexual sin, it's easy to overlook the related virtue of Temperance, and the overall regulation of the sense appetite. And so on.
Next, ask yourself: have I been loving God with all of my heart? When are times when I did not do that? Recall that God requires two things of us in every moment; in which moments did I not operate according to this standard? Which is: to allow His grace to operate in me freely (passive), and to do His will in every moment (active).
Finally, close your eyes once again. Feel God's light shining on you. Think of the Divine Mercy image, and the rays of Jesus's heart melting you, making you amenable and malleable. Not hard, like pharaoh's heart, but soft, and supple.
Then ask yourself: is there any great shame I have, deep inside of me? It could be something which was done to me; or something I did to someone; or maybe simply a deep compulsion to a specific sin-- a horrible temptation? Whatever it is, bring that shame to God through the sacrament as well, and offer it up to Him.
Start by getting into a comfortable position, then close your eyes. Feel God's presence there, with you. Feel peace. Open your eyes, and read the Ten Commandments, stopping after each one for reflection.
Have I been putting things of this world in a more important place in my heart than God? Something doesn't have to be a pagan symbol or a statue of Zeus to be an idol; it could even be a celebrity, a car, a house, and so forth. Have I been treating the Lord's most holy name with respect? Continue through the list.
Next, do the same process, but this time with the Beatitudes. Have I been childlike, and uncomplicated, knowing that I need God's grace to accomplish even the smallest of tasks? Have you had a true spirit of humility and mercy towards others? And so forth.
After that, read through the seven Lively Virtues. Pause after each one, and reflect: let God reveal to you if you've been performing the duties of your station in life; if you've been arrogant or felt superior, versus putting yourself last; regarding sexual sin, it's easy to overlook the related virtue of Temperance, and the overall regulation of the sense appetite. And so on.
Next, ask yourself: have I been loving God with all of my heart? When are times when I did not do that? Recall that God requires two things of us in every moment; in which moments did I not operate according to this standard? Which is: to allow His grace to operate in me freely (passive), and to do His will in every moment (active).
Finally, close your eyes once again. Feel God's light shining on you. Think of the Divine Mercy image, and the rays of Jesus's heart melting you, making you amenable and malleable. Not hard, like pharaoh's heart, but soft, and supple.
Then ask yourself: is there any great shame I have, deep inside of me? It could be something which was done to me; or something I did to someone; or maybe simply a deep compulsion to a specific sin-- a horrible temptation? Whatever it is, bring that shame to God through the sacrament as well, and offer it up to Him.