The Evening Exercise and Examination of Conscience


11: “The Evening Exercise and Examination of Conscience”
The practice of examining our conscience and our conduct often leads us to better notice the beauty around us and, more importantly, the presence of Jesus and His Love in all things. (photo P. Smith)


                For De Sales, the evening reflection is in two parts. First, before dinner, he recommends a “light devotional” where you take time for “simple consideration” and “interior glance”. How easily we can instill this habit in our students, most effectively by modeling and coaching a brief moment of silent stillness before the meal blessing. He also tells us to take the time before bed for an examen. His four steps include 1)Thanksgiving 2)Examination of conduct 3) Asking pardon for sins and 4)Asking for God’s Grace. This can be a simple prayer that we do every day in our classes. Perhaps we can make our lunch prayer a simple sixty-second meditation and common prayer, and at the end of the day, we can add the examen for two minutes. If it is routine, it becomes habit, and if it is habit, it can become virtue.

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