Prayer for Daily Neglects
Brother John Raymond
February 27, 1994
Lent is a time for conversion. Many times in reading about the
lives of great sinners who converted one is led to believe they had
to change once and that was it. How many times have I read about
someone going to confession after 20, 50 or 40 years and then the
story ends. Did these people have one conversion and that was it?
I think the answer to this question has to do with how the word
conversion has come to be understood. It has come to mean either
someone who is converted to the Faith or converted from a life of
serious sin. As I write this a humorous true story comes to mind.
When I entered the monastery I had to change my driver's license
from one state to another. At the license bureau I was talking to
the clerk about this problem. She looked at Brother Craig Driscoll
standing beside me and said, "Are you converting also?" Although she
had been referring to the drivers license when we realized how it
sounded we all started to laugh. Anyway the point is that conversion
has taken on a very particular meaning.
Really conversion involves much more than this restricted use. A
big conversion is just the beginning of a process of conversion - a
life long process. Contrary to popular belief the saints were not
born saints. They had to convert little by little, day by day. But
conversion to what? A conversion to conformity of our lives with the
life of Christ, as learned from the New Testament, the teachings of
the Church and inner promptings of the Holy Spirit.
One great help to a daily conversion is to examine oneself at the
close of the day. Three areas for examinations are: 1) Have I
willfully done anything wrong which would offend God? 2) Have I
neglected to do something that I should have done which we call
omissions? 3) Have I done something good but did it poorly? By
reflecting over these questions one can discover not only times of
failure but areas for improvement. Concentrate on the areas that
occur repeatedly. Ask God for help and make a conscious effort
throughout the day to improve in that area. Try to practice the
virtue opposed to this area of weakness or practice a weak virtue
more zealously. We cannot be static in our spiritual growth. God
wants and can help us all to become saints. We would like instantly
to become a saint. This can happen by God's grace, but normally
sanctity is a slow process.
The Church definitely encourages this practice of examining
oneself daily. In the Liturgy for Compline, Night Prayer for the
Liturgy of the Hours, the instructions give the option of an
examination of conscience to precede it. Also it has been the custom
of many religious to make an examination of conscience at midday.
Besides being beneficial for one's daily conversion this practice
allows one to make peace with God and one's conscience for failures
made during the day. Tell Jesus you are sorry for them. The
following prayer is a good conclusion to one's examination of the
day. I pray it every night. I read that a nun who prayed this every
day went straight to Heaven!
Prayer for Daily Neglects
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Sacred Heart of Jesus with all
Its Love, Suffering and Merits:
First, to expiate the sins I have committed this day and during
all my life. Glory be to the Father. . .
Second, to purify the good I have done badly this day and during
all my life. Glory be to the Father. . .
Third, to supply for the good I ought to have done this day and
during all my life. Glory be to the Father. . .