Examination of the State of Our Soul Toward God.
1. What is the state of your heart with regard to mortal sin? Are you firmly resolved never to commit it, whatever may befall? And has this resolution endured from the time of your protestation until now? In this resolution lies the whole foundation of the spiritual life.
2. What is the state of your heart with regard to the commandments of God? Do you find them good, sweet, and pleasing? Ah! my daughter, whoever has a sound palate and a healthy stomach loves wholesome food and rejects what is unwholesome.
3. What is the state of your heart with regard to venial sins? One cannot avoid committing one now and then; but is there any that has become a habitual sin in you? And, what would be worse, is there any to which you are attached and for which you have a liking?
4. What is the state of your heart with regard to spiritual exercises? Do you love and esteem them, or do they vex you, and are you weary of them? To which do you feel yourself more or less inclined? Hearing the word of God, reading it, speaking of it, meditating, making aspirations, confessing, consulting your director, preparing for Communion, receiving Communion, restraining your affections: what is there among all these that is repugnant to your heart? And if you find anything to which your heart is less inclined, examine whence this distaste comes, and what may be its cause.
1. What is the state of your heart with regard to mortal sin? Are you firmly resolved never to commit it, whatever may befall? And has this resolution endured from the time of your protestation until now? In this resolution lies the whole foundation of the spiritual life.
2. What is the state of your heart with regard to the commandments of God? Do you find them good, sweet, and pleasing? Ah! my daughter, whoever has a sound palate and a healthy stomach loves wholesome food and rejects what is unwholesome.
3. What is the state of your heart with regard to venial sins? One cannot avoid committing one now and then; but is there any that has become a habitual sin in you? And, what would be worse, is there any to which you are attached and for which you have a liking?
4. What is the state of your heart with regard to spiritual exercises? Do you love and esteem them, or do they vex you, and are you weary of them? To which do you feel yourself more or less inclined? Hearing the word of God, reading it, speaking of it, meditating, making aspirations, confessing, consulting your director, preparing for Communion, receiving Communion, restraining your affections: what is there among all these that is repugnant to your heart? And if you find anything to which your heart is less inclined, examine whence this distaste comes, and what may be its cause.
5. How stands your heart in regard to God Himself? Does it delight in the remembrance of God? Does there not remain therein some pleasant sweetness? _Ah!_ saith David, _I remembered God, and was delighted._ Do you feel in your heart a certain facility in loving Him, and a particular relish in tasting this love? Is not your heart comforted by thinking upon the immensity of God, His goodness, His tenderness? If the remembrance of God come to you amid the occupations of the world and its frivolities, does it not make itself room, does it not take hold of your heart? Does it not seem to you that your heart turneth toward Him, and in some manner goeth forth to meet Him? There are, indeed, souls such as these. When a woman learneth that her husband, after a long absence, is at last returned, when she already heareth his voice, doth she not hasten to leave all and run to throw herself into his arms? Even so it is with souls that love God well: however occupied they may be, if the remembrance of God present itself to them, they almost forget all else, for the joy they feel at seeing this dear remembrance returned; and this is a very good sign.
6. How stands your heart in regard to Jesus Christ, God and man? Do you delight in His company? Honeybees delight in their honey, and wasps in filth; even so good souls take their pleasure in the company of Jesus Christ, and have for Him an exceeding tenderness of love; but evil souls delight in vanities.
6. How stands your heart in regard to Jesus Christ, God and man? Do you delight in His company? Honeybees delight in their honey, and wasps in filth; even so good souls take their pleasure in the company of Jesus Christ, and have for Him an exceeding tenderness of love; but evil souls delight in vanities.
7. What is the state of your heart with regard to the Blessed Virgin, the saints, and your good angel? Do you love them greatly? Have you a particular confidence in their protection? Do their images, their lives, and their praises please you?
8. As for your tongue, how do you speak of God? Do you delight in speaking well of Him, according to your station and ability? Do you love to sing His hymns?
9. As for your works, do you think that you have at heart the glory of God? And do you desire to do anything in His honour? For those who love God love, together with God, the adornment of His house.
10. Finally, do you perceive that you have renounced any affection, or given up anything for God? For it is a good sign of love to deprive oneself of something for the sake of Him whom one loves. What, then, have you given up hitherto for the love of God?
8. As for your tongue, how do you speak of God? Do you delight in speaking well of Him, according to your station and ability? Do you love to sing His hymns?
9. As for your works, do you think that you have at heart the glory of God? And do you desire to do anything in His honour? For those who love God love, together with God, the adornment of His house.
10. Finally, do you perceive that you have renounced any affection, or given up anything for God? For it is a good sign of love to deprive oneself of something for the sake of Him whom one loves. What, then, have you given up hitherto for the love of God?