Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Book 4 Chapter 7: On the Examination of Our Conscience and on the Firm Purpose of Amendment

“Examine your conscience carefully and, to the best of your ability, cleanse and purify it by sincere contrition and a humble confession.”

Why is confession so important?  Because it frees us of anything that will cause remorse in our heart when we approach God.  A daily examination of conscience allows us to reflect upon our lives and to determine those things in our lives which separate us from God.  By identifying these things, we can make a conscience effort to avoid these occasions of sin and redirect our lives toward the narrow gate of heaven.  We should take the time to tell God that we are sorry for all the unruly passions that have afflicted our heart that day.  It is in lamenting over our sins that you will realize that you are still attached to the flesh of this world; that our passions are attached to things that create barriers between us and God.  In our examination, we should recognize just how easily we are moved to sin by the temptations of the evil one.  It allows us to understand just how unprepared we are to do battle in this world without the aid of our Father in Heaven.  It is in the examination of our conscience that we begin to understand just how much we are “inclined to relaxation and bodily comforts, so slothful to austerity and fervor of spirit.”  We begin to see just how attached we are to the things of this world. We become so easily distracted from the face of God.  It is in the examination of conscience that we regain our focus and place our sights back on God.  It is in the examination of conscience that our life becomes recentered.  It is in the confession of our sins, that we recognize our faults and ask God to enter into our lives.  It is in our act of contrition that we resolve to amend our lives and to lead a life of holiness.  It is in the complete abandonment of your will that you should offer up everything on the altar of your heart into God’s safe keeping.  It is only in His arms that you will find rest and comfort. “There is no more worthy oblation, no greater means to wash away sin, then to offer yourself purely and wholly to God, together with the offering of the Body of Christ in Holy Mass and Communion.” It is in His arms that all is forgive.  Rest in Him O children of God.

A Simple Prayer

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins, because of Your just punishments, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to
avoid the near occasion of sin.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon