Helps and Counsels to Avoid Faults and to Grow in Virtues
Lord, increase my faith. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in Thee. Jesus, my God, I love Thee above all things.
Helps and Counsels to Grow in Faith
Faith is the theological virtue, infused by God, by which we firmly assent to all the truths that God has revealed to mankind because God cannot deceive or be deceived. Every Catholic must pray for the preservation and increase of his faith. Since faith is the greatest grace, one who has received it must pray for its perseverance and strengthening. All sins against faith center around either the denial of one’s faith or the neglect of preserving and increasing it, or by deliberately entering into occasions which might destroy it.
To grow in faith and to avoid sins against faith:
Frequently thank God for your faith.
Pray for a stronger faith every day.
Purchase or borrow books that can enlighten your faith.
Read Catholic newspapers or magazines that can increase your knowledge of your faith.
Think about the important truths of faith: death, judgment, heaven and hell.
Tip your hat or bow your head when you pass by a Catholic Church.
When you meet a priest, greet him as a representative of Christ.
Visit the Blessed Sacrament when you have the opportunity to.
Sacrifice time and self-interest to attend devotions and sermons.
Invite non-Catholics to attend Catholic services or read Catholic literature.
Place signs of faith in your home, such as a crucifix and picture of the Blessed Virgin.
Carry a Rosary, wear a medal, or have something on your person that shows your faith.
Contribute prayers, service or money to Catholic missionary organizations that labor for the spread of the faith.
Try to see in others, not their faults and sins, but the image of God and the souls for which He shed His blood.
Every day, recall at set intervals the presence of God near you and within you.
After a serious sin, realize that as long as that sin remains on your soul, you are an enemy of God and deserving of hell.
Aspiration: Lord, increase my faith!
Helps and Counsels to Grow in Hope
Hope is a theological virtue by which we confidently expect the help of God in attaining our eternal happiness, and anything we need as a means to that end. The virtue of hope demands that we firmly believe that God will provide us with sufficient grace to avoid sin, with sufficient strength to fulfill the obligations imposed on us, and the sufficient comfort to make every cross bearable. The virtue of hope forbids two things: 1) presumption, when we expect God to help us without doing our part, or when we persist in sin and put off renunciation because we expect to have an opportunity to confess and be forgiven before death; and 2) despair, when we give up trying because we do not think God’s grace is sufficient to help us overcome our own weakness or to forgive us.
To grow in hope and to avoid sins against hope:
Pray for the grace of a firm and strong hope of eternal happiness.
Read or meditate on the happiness that God has in store for those who are faithful to Him.
Increase your hope of heaven by thinking now and then of the pains of hell and being determined to escape them.
Gaze at a crucifix to remind yourself that, since Christ died for you, He will not refuse you anything you need.
Pray every morning and evening, and during the day, knowing that every prayer will be heard and will make salvation easier.
Frequently receive Holy Communion, the pledge of immortality.
Accept sorrows and trials as reminders that we must suffer on earth to earn Heaven.
Practice daily devotion to the Mother of God, with childlike confidence that she will help you.
Trust in God’s grace, and at the same time, be determined to work for your salvation as if it depended on your efforts.
After a fault, join an act of sorrow to an act of hope, that God will give you the grace not to fall again.
Aspiration: Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in Thee!
Helps and Counsels to Grow in Love of God
Love of God is the infused theological virtue by which we love God above all other things because of His infinite perfection and lovableness, and manifest that love in thought, word and deed. The love of God is the highest and strictest obligation binding on all men. The love of God forbids the neglect of duties and obligations that spring from love, as well as the misuse or degrading of things given by God or dedicated to Him.
To grow in love of God and to avoid sins against love of God:
Make an effort to arouse strong desires of love of God in your heart.
Say an Act of Love in the morning, at proposed times during the day, in moments of suffering and misery, and at night before bed.
Labor to acquire the habit of frequently renewing your intention of doing all things for the love of God.
Give time to think of God’s goodness in creating you out of nothing, in redeeming you with His Blood, in raising you to the supernatural state, and in surrounding you with the means to advance in virtue.
Train yourself to see God’s hand and God’s love in the natural blessings that you enjoy - your family, friends, education, surroundings, innocent enjoyments, etc., and thank Him by returning love.
Frequently turn your mind to the greatest proof of God’s love - His death on the Cross - that you might be inspired to a stronger love.
Receive Holy Communion frequently, realizing that the best proof of love is union with the one beloved.
Make special acts of love of God at the time of Mass and Communion, realizing that these bring you the closest to God.
After a venial sin, make an act of love of God and determine to become perfect in your habit of love.
Subject all your affections to the love of God, trying to make them perfectly conformed to His will so that you can say you love all things and persons in and with God.
Readily conform your will to God’s will, not only by keeping His commandments but also by consenting to His will when He has permitted some misfortune to befall you.
Try to know God better that you might love Him more, by reading, listening to sermons, and studying.
Realize that the love of God is not necessarily accompanied by emotional feelings and warm sentiments, and that it is more meritorious if you continue the practice of love without these things.
Aspiration: Jesus, my God, I love Thee above all things!
Source:
Extracted from Examination of Conscience for Adults by Rev. Donald Miller, CSSR. You can read it online for free here, or purchase a paperback copy here. This is a wonderful, thorough and extremely helpful examination of conscience that I highly recommend.
My favourite examination of conscience, such a gem! Thanks Emily :)
This is so great. Thank you!