SR
A Brief Form of Confession/Book 1 · Breve forma de confesarse
Chapter 3BreveConf.1.3

Para con Dios

The Theological Virtues and Interior Integrity

A guide for examining one's conscience regarding faith, hope, charity, and the purity of one's intentions toward God.

Toward God we are bound to hold those three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity; and of each of these a person can accuse himself in the following way. Regarding charity, let him accuse himself of not having loved God with all his heart and soul as he was bound to do, but instead having set his love in a disordered way on creatures and the vanities of this world, forgetting his Creator. Regarding faith, let him accuse himself if he hasn't held as firm a faith as he should, and hasn't cast off as promptly as he ought the fantasies and thoughts the devil has brought him about this. Regarding hope, let him accuse himself if, in the trials and needs that have come his way, he hasn't turned to our Lord with the security and trust he should have had, and has grown faint and fretted over them too much; because this comes from a weakness of trust. Regarding purity of intention, let him accuse himself that he doesn't do the works of our Lord's service with the pure intention for God alone that he should, but sometimes only to get them done, other times by mere habit, and other times because they suit his own tastes, appetites, and similar interests.1 Let him also accuse himself of having been very slack and negligent in answering our Lord's inspirations and callings, often resisting the Holy Spirit in this because he wouldn't force himself or take on a little effort. This is a very spiritual and very hidden fault, and one well worth always making a matter of conscience. Likewise, let him accuse himself of not having been as grateful for God's gifts as he should have been, nor having given as much thanks for them, nor having used them to love and serve the Giver of all more deeply.2

Living in the Presence of God

An examination of how one maintains the presence of God through daily trials, gratitude, and reverence for sacred worship.

He should also accuse himself of forgetting our Lord, often treating him as if he were banished from his heart, when he ought to walk in his presence and keep him before his eyes. As for patience in adversity, he should accuse himself if he has not borne with due endurance the trials God sends him, nor recognized that they are sent from his hand for his good, nor given him the thanks he owes for them.3 This can be explained more fully if something in particular pricks the conscience. He should also accuse himself of not having attended Mass and the divine offices, and of not having been in sacred places in the presence of the Most Holy Sacrament with the devotion and reverence he ought to have had.

Read the original Latin

Para con Dios somos obligados a tener aquellas tres virtudes teologales: fe, esperanza y caridad; y de cada una destas se puede el hombre acusar en la forma siguiente. De la caridad, se acuse de no haber amado a Dios con todo su corazón y ánima, como era obligado, sino antes puesto su amor desordenadamente en las criaturas y vanidades deste siglo, olvidándose de su Criador. De la fe, se acuse si no ha tenido tan firme fe como debiera y no ha desechado de sí tan presto las fantasías y pensamientos que el demonio acerca desto le ha traído. De la esperanza, se acuse si en los trabajos y necesidades que se han ofrecido no ha recurrido a nuestro Señor con aquella seguridad y confianza que debiera, y se ha desmayado y congojádose demasiadamente con ellos; porque esto nace de flaqueza de confianza. De la pureza de intención, acúsese que las obras del servicio de nuestro Señor no las hace con aquella pureza de intención por solo Dios, como debía, sino algunas veces por cumplimiento, otras por sola costumbre, otras porque son conforme a su gusto y apetitos y otros semejantes intereses. Acúsese también de haber sido muy flojo y negligente en responder a las inspiraciones de nuestro Señor y a sus llamamientos, resistiendo en esto muchas veces al Espíritu Santo, por no hacerse fuerza y ponerse a un poco de trabajo. Esta es una culpa muy espiritual y muy secreta, y muy digna de hacer siempre conciencia de ella. Asimismo, de no haber sido tan agradecido a los beneficios divinos, como debiera, ni dado tantas gracias por ellos, ni aprovechádose dellos para amar y servir más al Dador de todo.

También se acuse del olvido de nuestro Señor, trayéndolo muchas veces como desterrado de su corazón, habiendo de andar en su presencia y traerlo ante los ojos. De la paciencia en las adversidades, se acuse si por ventura no ha tenido aquel sufrimiento en los trabajos que Dios le envía, ni conocido que son enviados de su mano para su bien, ni dádole aquellas gracias que debe por ellos. Esto se puede especificar más, si particularmente nos remuerde la conciencia de algo. Acúsese también de no haber asistido en la misa y los oficios divinos, y en los lugares sagrados en presencia del Santísimo Sacramento, con aquella devoción y reverencia que debiera.

Scripture echoes

  1. Gen.17.1;Ps.16.8When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless.' Ps.16.8 — I have set the LORD before me always; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
  2. Rom.8.28And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good — for those who are called according to his purpose.

Notes

  1. 1Rendered as 'only to get them done' (formal compliance / going through the motions), not as public show.
  2. 2Here 'gracias' is thanksgiving (gratias agere), not sanctifying grace; rendered as 'thanks'.
  3. 3sufrimiento here means patient endurance under trial, not mere pain; trabajos means hardships/trials rather than ordinary work.

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