separate sin; and unless thy goodness discover them to me, I shall vainly endeavour to remember them as I ought. Help me then, my God, in this examination of my past life. May thy holy light dissipate the darkness of my mind. May thy grace lead me in all my inquiries, and prompt me to discover the truth. May it show me to myself such as I am; the number, the quality, the enormity of all my prevarications; and may it inspire me with a proper hatred for them. May it thus, O Lord, bring every sin so clearly before my mind that, when I present myself before thy minister, I may be enabled truly to declare them such as they are, without disguise, without change, without increase or diminution; without forgetfulness, and without prevarication. Grant me this grace, O my God, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SHORT ASPIRATIONS WHICH MAY BE FREQUENTLY REPEATED BEFORE CONFESSION.

Jesus, reduce into my mind the sins and wickedness, whereby I have offended thee.

Jesus, grant me the spirit of perfect repentance; that by contrition, confession, and satisfaction, I may obtain thy grace and thoroughly clease my conscience.

Jesus, have mercy on me whom thou hast

redeemed with thy precious blood.

Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.

Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

Examine your conscience upon the ten commandments of God, the commandments of the Church, and on the seven deadly sins, and interrogate yourself on your fulfilment of your duties to God, to your neighbour, and to yourself.

ON DUTIES TO GOD.

Have I failed in any part of my last confession, either from carelessness in examining my conscience, or from want of contrition ?

Have I wandered or doubted in any article of faith?

Have I endeavoured to correct my faults, or rejected the proper means of doing so?

Have I been voluntarily distracted during my prayers?

Have I failed to hear mass on Sundays and days of obligation when I had the means of doing so?

Have I talked at church, or given scandal by irreverent conduct ?

Have I been guilty of any acts of superstition, such as consulting fortune-tellers, believing in dreams, and the like?

Have I allowed others to speak profanely, heretically, or immodestly, without shewing, as

much as was in my power, that I did not agree with them?

Have I from sloth and idleness failed in any of my spiritual duties ?

Have I endeavoured to reap advantage from the word of God, heard or read?

Have I neglected the divine inspirations which moved me to good deeds? or have I ridiculed the ordinances of religion or its ministers ?

Have I sworn or taken any oath without need, truth, or reverence?

Have I neglected to fulfil any vow or promise to God?

Have I failed to offer all my acts and inclinations to the glory of God?

Have I felt consent on seeing any one commit a mortal sin ?

Have I felt presumption on the mercy of God, or too much despair?

Have I failed to do good from fear of the ridicule of others?

Have I done good from hypocrisy or vain glory?

Have I feared to sin more from dread than from love of God, without endeavouring to nourish the better feeling?

Have I neglected the service of God on holidays to give up those days to amusements or visits?

Have I murmured against God or his works?

Have I willingly permitted others to offend God or my neighbour ?

Have I sought to promote the spiritual good of my servants, children, or household ?

Have I neglected the service of God from attachment to the world?

Have I exposed myself to temptation and the evident danger of committing sin ?

Have I neglected the counsels of my spiritual directors or superiors ?

ON DUTIES TO ONE'S NEIGHBOUR.

Have I joyed in the distresses, or felt sorrow at the prosperity, of my neighbour?

Have I failed to excuse and pardon the faults committed against me?

Have I kept any animosity or bitterness in my heart?

Have I given bad advice when I could have advised better?

Have I praised any one for anything that he had done wrong?

Have I abused or struck any one in impatience or anger?

Have I turned another aside from any good work on which he was bent?

Have I suspected or judged any one rashly? Have I detracted or taken away from another's character or reputation? or heard others do so willingly, or without trying to stop them?

Have I ridiculed any one, or reproached him with his infirmities?

Have I given scandal, or been the occasion of sin to others, by conversation, bad example, misbehaviour, or otherwise?

Have I despised or disobeyed my parents in matters of importance, or which they judged to be such?

Have I been the cause that others have sworn or blasphemed, or entertained evil or irreligious thoughts?

Have I felt hatred against any one?

Have I demanded payment that was not due to me, or more than was due, or charged more than the just price?

Have I refused to pay that which I justly owed? or involved myself in debt?

Have I been harsh or provoking to those about me?

Have I been uncharitable to the poor?

(If a husband.) Have I been faithful to my marriage vow, loving and cherishing my wife, bearing patiently with any weakness of mind, or temper, or other infirmity, and being kind and frank to her lest I should estrange her confidence from me?

(If a wife.) Have I been wanting in my duty to my husband, in obedience and gentleness? or have I published his faults? or spent more money than he would afford? Have I given him any cause for jealousy, by lightness