虔诚地静坐下来至少半个小时,问问自己:
1.
耶稣看见一个病了许久的人,就问他, “你要痊愈吗? ” (修订版和合本约5:6 )
耶稣看见这人躺在那里,知道他已病多时,就向他说:“你愿意痊愈吗?”(思高版若5:6)
我对告解抱着一个什么态度?我准备好了吗?我真心地愿意改变,并生活在福音中吗?
2.
耶稣说: “你们要尽心,尽性,尽意爱主—你的神。这是最大的,且是第一条诫命” (修订版和合本马太22:37-38)
耶稣对他说:“你应全心,全灵,全意,爱上主你的天主。”这是最大也是第一条诫命。(思高版玛22:37-38)
我真正爱天主胜过一切吗?我生活中有其它事情对我来说道更重要吗?我祷告有规律吗?我的祷告生活有进步吗?
3.
耶稣说, “凡在人面前认我的,我在我天上的父面前也必认他.” (修订版和合本马太10:32-33)
“凡在人前承认我的,我在我天上的父前也必承认他,但谁若在人前否认我,我在我天上的父前也必否认他。”(思高版玛22:32-33)
无论在公众场合和在私人生活中,我都愿意被称作基督徒吗?在圣教会中我是一个虔诚的成员吗?
4.
“有人问你们心中盼望的理由,要随时准备答复.” (修订版和合本彼前3:15)
你们但要在心内尊崇基督为主;若有人询问你们心中所怀希望的理由,你要时常准备答复 (思高版伯前3:15)
我花时间阅读,学习和研究我的信仰吗?我思考圣经中天主的话语吗?我有能力并愿意回答关于耶稣基督,教堂和有关我信仰的问题吗?
5.
“要将耶和华的名所当得的荣耀归给他…当敬拜神圣荣耀的耶和华”(修订版和合本历上16:29)
“应将上主的各应的尊荣,归于上主,……以圣洁的华饰敬拜上主”(思高版编上16:29)
为保持礼拜日和斋期的神圣,我尽力参与进去了吗?我注意斋期和节期吗?我为领受圣体用功的准备了吗?
6.
“在存敬畏基督的心彼此顺服” (修订版和合本以5:21)
“又要怀着敬畏基督的心,互相顺从”(思高版厄5:21)
我荣耀和服从我的父母了吗?爱他们,尊重他们,并在物质,感情和精神需要上帮助他们吗?我关爱,耐心,理解我的孩子吗?我适当地规范他们了吗?我尝试通过语言和举例向他们传授我的信仰了吗?我服务我的家人了吗,为他们的和平和精神健康付出我的时间和爱了吗?
在我的工作或专业中,我诚实努力地工作了吗?我把我现在提供的服务看作是对主耶稣的侍奉了吗?我对我员工们的期望公平合理吗?我履行我的合同,承诺和责任了吗?
我尊重和服从法定当权者了吗?我缴税了吗?工作中的我有能力在社区,国家和世界中促进和平,正义,爱与美德吗?我利用我的职责和权利为别人谋福利了吗?
7.
耶稣说, “要爱你们的仇敌,要善待恨你们的人” (修订版和合本路6:27-29 )
但是我给你们这些听众说:“应爱你们的仇人,善待恼恨你们的人;应祝福诅咒你们的人,为毁谤你们的人祈祷。”( 思高版路6:27-29)
我有通过暴力或疏忽对他人的生命,健康,精神或情感幸福,或者物质财产造成伤害吗?
我有和别人吵架,过分发怒,或侮辱过他人吗?我伤害或惹怒过他人吗?我和他们和解了吗?寻求他们的原谅了吗?我宽恕了那些曾经伤害过或惹怒过我的人了吗?我为自己内心的平静而努力了吗?在日常生活中我为自己成为一个和平制造者而努力了吗?
8.
“神的旨意就是要你们成为圣洁,远僻淫行;要你们各人明了,应以圣洁和敬意持守自己的身体” (帖前4:3-4)
“天主的旨意就是要你们成圣,要你们戒绝邪淫,要你们每一个人明了,应以圣洁和敬意持守自己的肉体”(得前4:3-4)
我对我的配偶忠诚吗?我对食物,饮料,药品和性欲望有自我控制吗?我滥用我的性欲了吗?我有用我自己的错误来煽动他人犯罪吗?
9.
耶稣说: “你们要谨慎自守,躲避一切的贪心,因为人的生命不在于家道丰富” (路12:15)
遂对他们说:“你们要谨慎,躲避一切贪婪,因为一个人纵然富裕,他的生命并不在于他的资产” (路12:15)
我嫉妒过别人吗?我尊重他人的财产吗?我把我所拥有的东西分享给那些拥有不多的人了吗?我把我的时间,天赋和金钱慷慨无偿地赠送给需要的人和教会了吗?
10.
“若有人自以为虔诚,却不勒住自己的舌头,反欺骗自己的心,这人的虔诚是徒然的” (雅1:26)
谁若自以为虔诚,却不钳制自己的唇舌,反而欺骗自己的心,这人的虔诚便是虚假的。(雅1:26)
我可否妄称过主的名?我可否使用过亵渎神或不敬神之语言?
我是否说得太多,倾听得太少?
我有过说谎或隐瞒事实吗?我有背后议论过人,散播过谣言吗?我有没有刻薄的,无礼的,不公正的对待或议论过别人吗?
我有沉默安静的时刻吗?
我吹嘘过自己或臆断过别人吗?
11.
“无论你们做什么,都要为荣耀神而做” (哥前10:31)
“或无论做什么,一切都要为光荣天主而作”(格前10:31)
我所做的一切都是首先以对爱的渴望,对侍奉天主和服务于我的邻友为动机的吗?
我觉得自己比其他人更好吗?
我会不声张的行善,做好事,从而荣耀只归于天主吗?
12.
“你要把你的重担卸给耶和华,他必扶持你” (诗篇55:22)
将你的重担卸交上主,他必扶持你,他决对不会让义人永远动摇不止。(咏 55:23 )
我在担心,或焦虑任何事情吗?我有没有问题或痛苦在告解时要带给天主,并祈求我主宽恕,治愈和指引吗?
我们的主告诉我们,“你们所有劳苦有重担的,来我这里,我就给你们安歇”
圣人赫里索斯托姆讲到,“看看天主所召唤的人吧!那些违背律法的人,那些罪责深重的人,那些再也无法抬头的人,那些内心充满羞愧的人,那些不能再自由言论的人。那么为何天主要召唤这些人呢?不是为了审判他们,也不是讨他们的罪,那是为何?是为了接受他们的痛苦,从而卸去他们的重担。因为还有什么比罪更加沉重的负担呢?”
由英国诺丁汉艾德里安和查德教区的大卫神父提供
译者:叶子
原文:
AN EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCETOPREPARE FOR THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION
Sit quietly andprayerfully for at least half an hour, and ask yourself:
1. Jesus attended one who had been sick for a long time. Heasked him, “Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6)
What is my attitudeto confession? Am I prepared for it? Am I sincerely willing to change so that Ican live the life of the Gospel?
2. Jesus said: “ Love the Lord your God with all your heart, andwith all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatestcommandment”. (Matthew 22: 37-38)
Do I really love Godabove all things, or are other things in my life more important to me? Do Ipray regularly? Is my prayer life progressing?
3. Jesus said, “whoever acknowledges me before men, I will alsoacknowledge before my Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33)
Am I willing to be known as aChristian in public and private life? Am I a faithful member of His church?
4“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyonewho asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15)
Do I take time toread, study and learn more about my faith? Do I mediate on God’s word in theBible? Am I able and willing to answer questions about Christ, the Church andmy faith?
5“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name…worship the Lord in the splendor of his Holiness” (1 Chronicles 16:29)
Do I keep Sundaysand Feast Days Holy by participating as fully as possible? Do I observe fastdays and seasons? Do I prepare diligently for Holy Communion?
6.“Submit yourselves to one another out of reverencefor Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)
Have I honored andobeyed my parent, showing them love and respect, and helping them with theirmaterial, emotional and spiritual needs? Have I been loving, patient andunderstanding with my children? Have I disciplined them appropriately? Have I triedto impart my faith to them by word and example? Do I contribute to the peaceand well-being of my family by offering my time, service and love?
In my job orprofession, am I an honest and hard worker? Do I view the service I render asservice done to Christ? Are my expectations of employees fair and reasonable?Have I fulfilled my contracts, promises and obligations?
Have I respected andobeyed legitimate authority? Have I paid my taxes? Do I work as I am able topromote peace, justice, morality and love, in my community, my country and inthe world? Do I use my positions of responsibility and authority for the good ofothers?
7.Jesus said: “Love your enemies. Do good to those whohate you.” (Luke 6:27-29)
Have I caused injuryto another’s life, health, spiritual or emotional well-being or materialpossessions by violence or neglect?
Have I quarreled,been unduly angry or insulted anyone? Have I injured or offended anyone? Have Ibeen reconciled to them and sought their forgiveness? Have I forgiven those whohave injured or offended me? Do I strive for peace within myself and work to bea peacemaker in my daily life?
8.“It is God’s will that you should be holy; that youshould avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control hisown body in a way that is holy and honorable.” (1 Thessolonians 4: 3-4)
Have I been faithful to my spouse?Have I exercise self control with food, drink, drugs and sexual desire? Have Imisused my sexuality? Have I incited others to sin by my own failures?
9.Jesus said: “Be on guard against any kinds of greed;aman’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15)
Have I envied others? Have I respected the property ofothers? Do I share my possessions with those who have less? Do I give freely andgenerously of my time talent and money to those in need and to the Church?
10.“If anyone considers himself religious and yet doesnot keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion isworthless.” (James 1:26)
Have I taken the name of the Lord in vain? Have I blasphemed or used profane language? Do I talk too much and listen too little?Have I lied, or avoided telling the truth? Have I gossiped orspread rumors? Have I spoken harshly, unjustly or insultingly to anyone or aboutanyone? Do I spend time in silence? Have I been boastful about myself or judgmental about others?
11.“Whatever you do do it all for the Glory of God.”(1 Corinthians 10:31)
Is all that I do motivated first and foremost by a desire tolove and serve God and my neighbor?Do I think of myself as better than others? Do I do good works in secret so that the Glory is to Godalone?
12.“Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustainyou.” (Psalm 55:22)
Am I anxious or worried about anything? Is there a problem orhurt I should bring to the Lord in confession for forgiveness, healing andguidance?
Our Lordhas said, “Come to me all you who labour and are burdened and I will give yourest.”
Saint Chrysostomsays “And see who He calls! Those who have spent their strength in breaking thelaw, those who are burdened with their sins, those who can no longer lift uptheir heads, those who are filled with shame, those who can no longer speakout. And why does He call them? Not to demand an accounting, nor to hod court.But why? To receive them of their pain, to take away their heavy burden Forwhat could ever be a heavier burden than sin?
Provided by Fr. David
The Parish of Aidan and Chad, Nottingham