L'esame di coscienza
The Threefold Examination
The soul is encouraged to review daily failures, identify their roots, and actively cultivate opposing virtues through prayer and self-distrust.
When you examine your conscience, consider three things: the failures you had that day, what caused them, and the resolve and readiness you show in fighting them and developing the virtues that oppose them. As for your falls, do what I told you in chapter 26, where I explained how to handle it when we’re wounded. You'll strive to break down and completely uproot whatever causes these falls. You’ll strengthen your will to do this and acquire virtues by distrusting yourself, trusting in God, praying, and repeatedly acting in ways that help you hate vice and desire the opposing virtue.
Guarding Against Pride
The author warns against dwelling on personal successes to avoid the hidden traps of vainglory, urging instead a focus on divine mercy.
Be suspicious of the victories you've won and the good works you've done. What’s more, I advise you not to dwell much on them, since there’s an almost unavoidable danger that some hidden motive of vainglory or pride is involved. So, whatever these victories and good works may amount to, entrust them all to divine mercy and turn your attention to how much more you still have to do.
Gratitude for Divine Grace
The examination concludes by acknowledging God as the sole source of every victory and hidden blessing.
When the time comes to give thanks for the gifts and favors the Lord has granted you that day, acknowledge him as the source of every good thing. Thank him for freeing you from so many visible enemies, and even more from those that are hidden; for giving you good thoughts and opportunities to practice the virtues; and finally, thank him for every other blessing you don't even know about.
Read the original Latin
Per l'esame di coscienza considera tre cose: le cadute di quel giorno; la loro causa; l'animo e la prontezza che dimostri per far loro guerra e acquistare le virtù ad esse contrarie.
Intorno alle cadute, farai quanto ti ho detto nel capitolo XXVI, dove ho indicato quello che bisogna fare quando siamo feriti.
Ti sforzerai di abbattere e di mandare a terra la causa di esse.
Fortificherai la volontà per fare questo e per acquistare le virtù con la diffidenza di te stessa, con la confidenza in Dio, con l'orazione e con numerosi atti, con i quali tu possa provare l'odio del vizio e desiderare la virtù contraria.
Le vittorie e le opere buone che avrai fatte ti siano sospette.
Inoltre ti consiglio di non considerarle molto, per il pericolo quasi inevitabile almeno di qualche motivo nascosto di vanagloria e di superbia. Perciò, quali che siano, dopo averle tutte affidate alla misericordia divina, indirizza il tuo pensiero al molto più che ti rimane da fare.
Per quanto tocca poi il rendimento di grazie per i doni e i favori a te fatti dal Signore in quel giorno, riconoscilo come artefice di ogni bene e ringrazialo di averti liberata da tanti nemici manifesti e molto più da quelli occulti; di averti dato pensieri buoni e occasioni per praticare le virtù; infine ringrazialo per qualunque altro beneficio che tu stessa ignori.
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