Examine your life with Pope Francis
My booklet aims to help people move beyond ‘a mediocre existence’
Last night, I received an email from a friend who read my article “in the missalette” and expressed an interest in my 32-page booklet, Create in Me a Clean Heart. At first, I was unclear what she was referring to, but I opened my February copy of Living with Christ. Sure enough, there was the introduction I had written to the booklet three years ago when I was interim editor of Living with Christ.
I had purchased a bunch of copies of Create in Me with the idea that I might try to sell them when I would give a talk somewhere. But I forgot about them. When I dug them out of the closet there were 30 copies in pristine condition.
So, if anyone wants to buy a copy, I’ll sell them for $5 apiece. If you want me to mail you a copy, send me a cheque for $7, and I’ll mail you one. Of course, you’ll need my address. To get it, send me an email (glenargan@shaw.ca), and I’ll send you the address. Or you can order the booklet directly through the Novalis website, https://en.novalis.ca.
If you’re not interested in buying a copy, that’s fine. You can read the Introduction I wrote for the booklet below.
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For years, I have been dissatisfied with the standard examinations of conscience which, intending to help people prepare for the sacrament of Reconciliation, provide lists of possible sins. I already know which of those sins I have committed, and the laundry list does not help me dig deeper or more widely. As well, the standard catalogues rarely probe the various milieus of my life – home, work, prayer and engagement with society.
Throughout Pope Francis’ pontificate, he has repeatedly asked questions that explore the spiritual state of one’s soul. I have fruitfully used the section “Our Daily Love” from the pope’s letter Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) to aid my preparation for Reconciliation. In fact, in many of his talks and writings, the pope has offered practical advice for living a better life. Even more than his predecessors, Pope Francis is a spiritual guide for the ordinary Catholic in the pew. His gift to us is a practical attention to the attitudes and decisions of daily life. He also challenges us to overcome our complacency in the face of social injustice and environmental devastation.
Eventually, I decided to bring together some of his pointed analyses to provide a more thorough approach to the examination of conscience. This little book is the fruit of my research and reflection.
The first thing one might note is that while the book is short, its list of potential faults is long. One might stagger under the weight of knowing all that one does wrong or could be doing better. Laying on heavy burdens is not my intention.
Instead, I propose that these reflections be used as part of a regular meditation on the state of one’s life. St. Ignatius of Loyola urged that we conduct a brief examination of ourselves every night. That is a sound practice. But if you see it as too onerous, instead take this book and consider a couple of different meditations two or three times a week. Find a quiet spot where you won’t be disturbed and ask the Lord to be with you during your time of examination. If you wish, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee during the 10 or 20 minutes you spend in reflection. Read the Scripture quote, the quote from Pope Francis and the reflection questions several times. Ask yourself whether the meditation calls you to change some aspect of your life. If it does, resolve how you will do this and commit to taking the matter to a priest in Reconciliation.
Be slow to judge yourself. With each meditation, take note of your feelings and insights, but do not condemn yourself for your failures. Give your thoughts and emotions time to gel. It is difficult to discover, let alone admit, one’s faults. Because you cannot do all that is good and holy, the most basic discernment is whether you fulfill your unique personal responsibilities. To what is God calling you? How have you responded? Which meditations in this book are relevant to that call and which are not?
Most of us have responsibilities in all four milieus on which this book touches – prayer, family, work and society. In particular, all of us have a responsibility to bring the Gospel to bear on society by performing works of mercy and working for social justice. It is that area of life which is most often neglected, either through complacency or through a tone-deafness to the Bible’s insistent call to build a more just and peaceful world. We should not ignore our complicity in structures which produce environmental devastation, an idolatry of consumer goods, and a vast inequality between the rich and poor.
Pope Francis says that Jesus “wants us to be saints and not to settle for a bland and mediocre existence.” (Gaudete et Exsultate [Rejoice and Be Glad], 1) Each person has a unique vocation, one which stands in contrast with the many dehumanizing practices of contemporary life. To follow Jesus is to strive to become a saint. May this little book help you grow in holiness and contribute to the renewal of society.