Training the Conscience

Have mercy on me, O God, in your faithful love, in your great tenderness wipe away my offences; wash me clean from my guilt, purify me from my sin (Psalm 51:1).

King David used frequent examination of conscience to maintain his close relationship with God. Psalm 51 and many other psalms bear witness to this fact.

How often should we examine our conscience? Because conscience is the compass through which we know what is right or wrong, we must train it so that we can trust it. Jesus warns us: "Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life" (Luke 21:34). It is through frequent examination of conscience that we maintain our watchfulness. When we form our conscience to depend on the Word of God rather than on the opinion of man, it becomes reliable and we trust it to lead and guide us.

How do we train our conscience? Begin by asking the Holy Spirit for light. Examine your thoughts, words and actions during the day. Look at four areas of your life: Your relationship with Christ, family, work and social life. Look for the good and the bad during the day. Thank God for the positive response to His graces during the day and ask for pardon for the shortcomings and the grace to do better. Five minutes spent reviewing the entire day, will reap a harvest of deep peace for the night.

A habit of examination of conscience is like the daily weeding of our garden. No unwanted weed will have the chance to develop deep root. Examination of conscience helps us to be alert and proactive in our lives. As the Book of Proverbs tells us: "For in vain is the net baited while the bird is looking on" (Proverbs 1:17). Instead of reacting to crisis, we see danger signals through the practice of frequent examination of conscience.