Examination

Rev. Miller - Love of God (March)

A monthly examination of conscience for March, focused on Love of God.

38 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.14 questions

Have I neglected to fulfill the precept of going to confession at least once a year?

Have I failed to observe the law, which commands me to receive Holy Communion during the Paschal season?

Have I missed Mass on a Sunday or a holyday without a sufficient reason?

Have I, as a mother or father or guardian, caused or permitted my children who are above the age of reason, to miss Mass on Sundays or holydays of obligation?

Have I induced others to miss Mass on Sundays, or approved of their so doing?

Have I without reason come late to Mass, missing the Offertory, or have I left before the Communion of the Mass?

Have I tried to do serious bodily injury to any person consecrated to God?

Have I engaged in servile work, such as gardening, building, repairing, sewing, laundering, etc., for more than two hours on the Lord's Day, when there was no urgent reason for so doing?

Have I made others work on Sunday when it was not necessary?

Have I broken a serious vow made to God, by which I had bound myself under pain of mortal sin?

Have I committed a sacrilege by receiving the Sacrament of Communion, Confirmation, or Matrimony while in the state of mortal sin?

Have I tried to lead a person bound to God by the vow of chastity into sin against his vow?

Have I stolen something valuable from the House of God, whether an article used in divine services or money given to the Church?

Have I deliberately mocked or made fun of the Sacraments or the Mass or any of the liturgical functions?

Venial SinsMatters commonly examined as venial sins or lesser faults.11 questions

Have I been unconcerned and indifferent about acquiring a strong and faithful love of God?

Have I performed my external duties to God, such as hearing Mass, saying my prayers, receiving the Sacraments, in a distracted, impersonal, halfhearted manner?

Have I seldom, if ever, made a real act of love of God, except such as were implicit in the fulfillment of other duties?

Have I been disrespectful to God's very presence in church, by profane and useless talking and worldly actions?

Have I failed to think of the passion and death of the Son of God in my own sufferings, thus permitting myself to grumble and complain instead of making an act of love and submission?

Have I been unfaithful to little promises made to God?

Have I never shown my love of God by means of gratitude for the many favors He has given me?

Have I given in to worldly desires, which I knew in the beginning to be inconsistent with the love of God?

Have I been so fond of some venial sin like petty gossip, or vanity, or exaggerating, that I have made no effort to overcome it?

Have I never made the good intention of doing everything for love of God?

Have I been disrespectful towards, or concerning those, whom God has placed over me and who represent God?

Helps and CounselsCounsels for growth in virtue and preparation for confession.13 questions

Have I made an effort to arouse strong desires of the love of God in my heart?

Have I repeated a direct act of love of God in the morning, at definitely proposed times during the day, in moments of suffering and misery, at night before retiring?

Have I labored to acquire the habit of frequently renewing my intention of doing all things for the love of God?

Have I given any time to the thought of God's goodness, in creating me out of nothing, in redeeming me with His Blood, in raising me to the supernatural state, and surrounding me with means to advance in virtue?

Have I trained myself to see God's hand and God's love in the natural blessings I enjoy - blessings of family, friends, education, surroundings, innocent enjoyments, etc., and then to thank Him by a return of love?

Have I frequently turned my mind to the greatest proof of God's love - His death on the Cross - that I might be inspired to stronger love?

Have I received Holy Communion frequently, realizing that the best proof of love is union with the one beloved?

Have I made special acts of love of God at the time of Mass and Communion, realizing that these bring me closest to God?

After a venial sin, have I made an act of love of God and determined to become perfect in my habit of love?

Have I subjected all my affections to the love of God, trying to make them perfectly conformed to His will so that I can say I love all things and persons in and with God?

Have I readily conformed my will to God's will, not only by keeping His commandments, but also by consenting to His will when He has permitted some misfortune to befall me?

Have I tried to know God better that I might love Him more, by reading, listening to sermons, studying?

Have I realized that the love of God is not necessarily accompanied by emotional feelings and warm sentiments, and that it is more meritorious if, without these things, I continue the practices of love?