Examination

Rev. Miller - Humility (December)

A monthly examination of conscience for December, focused on Humility.

31 questions in total

Source: Examen for Laymen, Rev. Donald F. Miller, C.Ss.R., Catechetical Guild, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 1942. A comprehensive examination of conscience based on twelve virtues for the twelve months of the year.

Mortal SinsGrave matters that may be mortal sin when joined to full knowledge and deliberate consent.15 questions

Have I considered myself capable of reading forbidden books without permission - books dealing with things contrary to my faith or destructive of morals - because I thought my judgment about these things was better than that of God and His Church, which forbids such reading?

Have I decided that it could do me no harm to attend non-Catholic services even though God's law and the law of His Church forbid it?

Have I made light of or even ridiculed certain doctrines or laws of the Catholic religion, as if I knew more than Christ or His Church?

Have I, with but a shallow and mediocre training in religious teaching, presumed to make quick judgments about doctrines I hardly even understood?

Have I shown my independence of God by missing Mass on Sunday without a reason, by eating meat on Friday, refusing to fast on days appointed?

Have I practically expressed the conviction that I know more than God and His Church by refusing to send my children to a Catholic school, or by saying that I do not believe a Catholic education is necessary for a Catholic child?

Have I drawn others into sins of impurity on the ground that God's law in this matter is old-fashioned, impossible, unimportant, or harmful?

Have I practiced any form of preventing conception in marriage because I maintained that God's law could not be kept, or, if kept, would result in too much hardship?

Have I refused to forgive someone who wronged me because I considered my honor a more valuable thing than that of God, who forgave His enemies and commanded me to forgive mine?

Have I slandered others because I thought revenge against them was necessary for my honor even though it is forbidden by God?

Have I used unjust methods in business because I deemed it more important for me to make money and "to get ahead" than to be obedient to God?

Have I used sinful means to attain social or political power because I would rather be above my fellow-human beings than subject to God?

Have I rebelled against superiors and the serious commands they gave because I thought my knowledge and dignity freed me from the necessity of obedience?

Have I failed to confess certain mortal sins I had committed because I said they were "my own affair," that "they were no business of the priest," that "I could get along without God's forgiveness"?

Have I maintained either in word or action, that it is unnecessary for a man to pray?

Venial SinsMatters commonly examined as venial sins or lesser faults.10 questions

Have I been guilty of the form of pride called vanity, by considering myself more intelligent, more learned, more handsome, even more charitable than others?

Have I bragged about my accomplishments, my virtues, my abilities?

Have I given in to anger against others because I thought myself better than they were, and that they should know better than to cross me?

Have I shown my pride in the form of sensitiveness, resentment, pouting, peevishness?

Have I talked about the faults of others, as if to say: "I have no faults at all"?

Have I complained about God's providence in permitting me certain trials, as if I were deserving of better treatment from Him?

Have I looked down on others who were less wealthy, less cultured, less learned, less prominent, less gifted than I?

Have I been too proud to take second place in any work or activity, withdrawing from it or hindering it because I could not be first?

Have I shown my pride in constant disobedience to my superiors in small things, or by stubbornness and disrespectful language to those who had a right to command me?

Have I neglected daily prayer as if I were strong enough and good enough to get along without God's help?

Helps and CounselsCounsels for growth in virtue and preparation for confession.6 questions

Have I realized that humility is the foundation of all other virtues because it keeps me mindful of my complete dependence on God and the need I have of perfectly accepting and accomplishing His will?

Have I learned to detest pride as the cause of all sin, the reason for the creation of hell, and the source of all the evil in the world?

Have I a consciousness of the just deserts of my sins - so that I am ready to accept any trial or hardship from God to atone for those sins?

Am I convinced how foolish it would be to set up my judgment and my little knowledge against the teachings of Christ and of His Church, and against God's knowledge of the past, present and future?

Do I meditate often on the humility of Christ, who emptied Himself of all honor and became a servant to show me what I must be in the eyes of God?

Have I adopted this as one of my favorite prayers: "O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine"?