Part of the road to perfection, as one has seen in this long series, is the formation of the mind to the Mind of Christ. When I have taught this, some have said to me, "How can I know the Mind of Christ?" The answer is simple, one follows the Teaching Magisterium of the Church, receiving the sacraments frequently, and forming an adult conscience. We must do this. We have no option to ignore the formation of conscience in our lives.
It is the duty of parents to teach this method to their children. The formation of children begins as early as possible, depending on the child, but by seven, when a child can discern good and evil (for many it is earlier), the method of daily examen can begin. Do you want your children to become saints? Do you want them to walk in the way to perfection?
Here is Bellarmine at his Jesuit best
But some one may reply: "What advice do you give to teach us to watch as we ought, and by
watching to prepare for a good death?" Nothing more useful occurs to me, than for us frequently and
seriously to examine our conscience, that so we may prepare for death...
In fine, there are hardly any Catholics, who, when near death, do not confess
their sins. But what shall we say of those who are snatched away by a sudden death?
What of those who are afflicted with madness, or fall into delirium before confession? What of those
who, being grievously afflicted by their disease, cannot even think of their sins ? What of those who
sin whilst dying, or die in sin, as they do who engage in an unjust war, or in a duel, or are killed in
the act of adultery?
It is extremely important for those who live in the world to develop this habit. Do not wait until your children are teens, start when they are in preparation for the sacrament of Confession at the latest.
Prudently to avoid these and other like misfortunes, nothing can be imagined more useful than for
those who value their salvation, , twice every day, morning and night, diligently to examine their
conscience; what they have done during the night, or the preceding day; what they have said,
desired, or thought of, in which sin may have entered; and if they shall discover anything mortal, let them not defer seeking the remedy of true contrition, with a resolution to approach the sacrament of penance on the very first opportunity.
Wherefore, let them ask of God the gift of contrition, let them ponder on the enormity of sin, let them
detest their sins from their heart, and seriously ask themselves who is the "offended and the
offenders." Man, a worm, offends God the Almighty; a base slave, the Lord of heaven and earth!
Spare not then your tears, nor cease to strike your breast: in fine, make a firm resolution never more
to offend God, never more to irritate the best of Fathers. If this examination be continued morning
and night, or at least once in the day, it can scarcely happen that we shall die in sin, or mad, or
delirious. Thus it will be, that every preparation being made for a good death, neither its uncertainty will trouble us, nor the happiness of eternal life fail us.
To be continued...
