Oratio Latina · Translatio
A sober review of the day before God, leading to contrition and amendment.
Loading the liturgical day and its saints…
Veni, Sancte Spiritus, illumina mentem meam, ut peccata mea cognoscam; move cor meum, ut ea sincere doleam; confirma voluntatem meam, ut vitam emendem.
Coram Deo examino: officia erga Deum; officia status mei; caritatem erga proximum; custodiam sensuum et cogitationum; usum temporis; peccata cogitatione, verbo, opere et omissione.
Domine, da mihi veram contritionem, firmum propositum emendandi et gratiam perseverantiae.
Come, Holy Ghost, enlighten my mind that I may know my sins; move my heart that I may truly grieve for them; strengthen my will that I may amend my life.
Before God I examine: my duties toward God; the duties of my state of life; charity toward my neighbour; custody of the senses and thoughts; use of time; sins of thought, word, deed and omission.
O Lord, give me true contrition, a firm purpose of amendment and the grace of perseverance.
Ask for light and recall that conscience needs formation. Catechism §§1783–1785 directs the Christian toward Scripture, prayer, sound counsel and the Church’s teaching. Before deciding that a recurring action is harmless, examine the reason you give for it; before condemning yourself, distinguish an unwelcome thought from a freely chosen act.
Review duties toward God and the people actually entrusted to your care. For example: did I knowingly deceive someone, withhold what I owed, neglect a duty of care, or damage a neighbour’s reputation? Identify the act and the circumstances rather than collecting vague labels such as “I was bad.” These examples guide reflection; they are not a complete examination for every state of life.
A firm purpose concerns a present resolve to turn from sin, not a prediction that you will never be tempted again. If preparing for confession, make a diligent examination and disclose the grave sins you remember; deliberately concealing them differs from honestly failing to recall them. See Catechism §§1451 and 1454–1456. Choose a proportionate act of repair where harm was done and ask your confessor about a persistent doubt rather than trying to settle every difficulty alone.
