hostdry.blogg.se - Chart of virtues and vices catholic

Do I make choices based on my will to serve God or my selfish desires?.

Do I treat others as I expect myself or my loved ones to be treated?.

Do I practice chastity in thoughts and actions?.

Do I see that those around me have their needs met, before pursuing things that I only want?.

Do I give God, my employer, and my government their just due?.

Do I desire things that will have no benefit to me?.

Do I seek to die to myself every day, taking up my cross?.

Do I endure trials, even embracing them as they draw me closer to God?.

Do I face my fears to overcome them, or do I seek to avoid them?.

Do I endure suffering and pain without complaint?.

Do I ensure that others have what they need?.

Do I think that my achievements, honors, or actions make me more worthy than any other human being, including my enemies, my friends, my family, celebrities, politicians, and people whose sin I believe I can see?.

Do I think that I have merited my blessings or salvation by what I have done?.

Do I trust God’s word that he will provide for my needs?.

Do I trust God’s word about what is evil and good?.

Do I act upon my fears – including fears of financial loss, death, suffering, and evil?.

Do I think that my actions, efforts, or status will provide for me and my family?.

Do I believe, and act as though God’s will is in my best interest?.

Do I believe, and act as though God will meet my daily needs?.

Do I discount my own life or efforts are unworthy?.

Do I do everything for the love of God?.

Do I waste time wishing that things were other than they are?.

Do I procrastinate, kill time, or watch the clock?.

Do I only tolerate my enemies, or do I show them the same love as I do my friends, as Christ commanded?.Do I think of and treat everyone with love, even those who are hurtful to me?.Like any soldier, drilling and practicing and keeping a vigilant watch is critical to overcoming an enemy on the prowl (1 Peter 5:8). Take time each day, or each week, or on an otherwise regular basis to see how well you are keeping the virtues. However, as Thomas Aquinas wrote, “To stand on the way of the Lord is to move backwards.” Perfection is a goal you will pursue all your life, it will only get harder and more involved as you draw closer to God. I will warn you, though, that it will grow. This is only a start, you should of course use this to develop your own examen. I’ve also included in the heading the traditional vice that opposes the virtue, a pairing made in Dante’s Divine Comedy and elsewhere. Therefore this list of questions for yourself is divided by the 7 heavenly virtues – those three chief virtues identified by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:13, and the four virtues identified in Wisdom 8:7.

The rich young man, for example, was unable to follow Jesus ( otherwise referred to as being a Christian) even though he kept the commandments from a young age (Matthew 19:16-30) Those are good for starting out, but keeping the commandments are a lot simpler than pursuing perfection. There are many examinations of conscience that use the ten commandments as a guide. Franklin was inspired mostly in this endeavor by Aristotle.

Though not particularly a Christian, Franklin chose 13 moral virtues that he wished to not offend, and daily checked that he was keeping those virtues. Ben Franklin kept a daily record of his activities and failings in pursuit of perfection. It is a reflection on one’s thoughts, words, actions, and omissions to identify areas where one can improve. Pursuit of the Christian ideal is more than being simply moral, we are called to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect (Mathew 5:48).Ī daily or regular examination of conscience, sometimes referred to as an examen, is a practice that goes back to the very early days of Christianity.