Could you not watch one hour with

me? Watch ye: and pray that ye enter

not into temptation. (Matthew 26:40-41)

Holy Hour
It is best if one leads the Holy Hours prayers, the other responding Amen, when
appropriate. These prayers are arranged for private or community use.

Opening Prayer
+ In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. R/ Amen.
Let us join in making our offering of this Holy Hour.
O Lord, open Thou my mouth to bless Thy Holy Name; cleanse my heart from all
vain, evil and wandering thoughts; enlighten my understanding, kindle my affections, that
I may be able to take part in this Holy Hour worthily, attentively, and devoutly, and may
deserve to be heard in the presence of Thy Divine Majesty. Through Christ our Lord. R/
Amen.
O Lord, in union with that divine intention, wherewith Thou Thyself didst praise
God whilst on earth, I offer this hour unto Thee.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, I consecrate to Thee this next hour for the conversion of
sinners, the restoration of family life and for my own special intentions. Intentions may
be mentioned here. I offer this Holy Hour to Thee, the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the
Immaculate Heart of Mary, as taught by Saint Louis de Montfort. R/Amen.

METHOD OF MAKING A PERFECT

ACT OF CONTRITION
O Lord, help me to remember my sins, so that I can be sorry for them and root out
their cause and resolve to sin no more. R/Amen.
Now make an examination of conscience, be sorry for your sins and resolve to sin
no more. When resolving to sin no more take one sin and make a specific resolve to work
on it until the next Holy Hour.

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 EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
“If you love Me keep My Commandments”, (John 14:15)
FIRST AND GREATEST COMMANDMENT: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with thy whole heart, with thy whole soul, with thy whole strength, and with thy whole
mind.
1. Study catechism
“We shall find out at the day of judgment that the greater number of Christians
who are lost were damned because they did not know their own religion.”, Saint John
Vianney.
2. Spiritual reading
“Therefore, one thing I recommend to you with singular insistence is that you
never let a day go by without reading some spiritual book for half an hour.”, Saint John
Eudes.
3. Meditation
“And, further, he who does not meditate, does not know his failings, and thus,
says Saint Bernard, he does not detest them; so, also, he does not see the dangers of his
state; and therefore does not think of avoiding them. But when we meditate, our failings
and our perils quickly come to mind; and when we see them we seek to get rid of them.
Saint Bernard said that meditation regulates our affections, directs our actions, and
corrects our defects.”, Saint Alphonsus.
“Mental prayer is morally necessary for all.”, Saint Alphonsus.
4. Prayer
“By reading and meditating we learn our duty; but by prayer we obtain the grace
to do it.”, Saint Alphonsus.
“Be assured, my brethren, that as the body becomes weakened by want and
hunger, and wastes to a mere shadow, so the soul that is not nourished by the word of
God, becomes shrunken, worthless and unfit for any good work.”, Saint Augustine.
“Devotion consists in being ready to accomplish in ourselves whatever God
demands of us.”, Saint Thomas Aquinas.
“Whoever prays shall be saved, whoever does not pray shall be lost.”, Saint
Alphonsus

FIRST COMMANDMENT “I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt not have strange
gods before Me.” Luke 11:28: “Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.”
SECOND COMMANDMENT: “Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy
God in vain.” If we mean what we say in the “Our Father, “Hallowed be Thy Name”, it
would be impossible to be careless with the Name of God.
In 1846 when the Blessed Virgin appeared at LaSalette She said in part, “Those
who drive carts cannot speak without putting the Name of My Son in the middle”
THIRD COMMANDMENT: Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath Day
In 1846 when the Blessed Virgin appeared at LaSalette She said in part, “I gave
you six days for work, I kept the seventh for Myself and no one wishes to give it to Me.”
“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
FOURTH COMMANDMENT: “Honor thy father and thy mother”

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 If anyone has not care of his own, and especially of those of his house, he is
worse than an infidel., I Timothy5:8
“Character in parents is terribly important because of the influence it exerts.”,
Sins of the Parents, page 172
Saint John Vianney: A father and mother can serve God by bringing up their
children as good Christians.
Praise not any man before death, for a man is known by his children.,
Ecclesiasticus 11:30
FIFTH COMMANDMENT: “Thou shalt not kill.”
“It is also a sin willfully to produce any serious illness, by eating to excess, or by
eating food injurious to health; for we are bound to preserve our life, and to avoid all
danger of death.”, Saint Alphonsus in his Catechism.
SIXTH AND NINTH COMMANDMENTS “Thou shalt not commit adultery”
and “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors wife.”
“O my children, if there were no some pure souls here and there, to make amends
to the good God, and disarm His justice, you woula see how we would be punished! For
now, this crime is so common in the world, that ills enough to make one tremble. One
may say, my children, that hell vomits forth its abominations upon the earth, as the
chimneys of the steam-engine vomit forth smoke.”, The Cure of Are
SEVENTH AND TENTH COMMANDMENTS: “Thou shalt not steal” and
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors goods.”
St. Ambrose: “He who spends too much is a robber.”
EIGHTH COMMANDMENT: “Thou shalt not bear false witness” especially
against thyself.
“He who complains, sins.”, Saint Francis de Sales.

SEVEN DEADLY SINS

“Pride is an untrue opinion of ourselves, an untrue idea of what we are not.”, Saint
John Vianney.
Proverbs 16:5 “Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord:”
Ecclesiasticus 1O:15: “Pride is the beginning of all sin.”
“Covetousness is an disordered love of the goods of this world.”, Saint John
Vianney.
Proverbs 30:8-9: “Remove far from me vanity, and lying words. Give me
neither beggary or riches: give me only the necessaries of life: Lest perhaps being
filled, I should tempted to deny, and say: Who is the Lord? or being compelled by
poverty, I should steal, and foreswear the name of my God.”
“Gluttony is a disordered love of eating and drinking.”, Saint John Vianney.
Ecclesiasticus 37:34: “By excess many have perished: but he that is
temperate, shall prolong life.”
Ecclesiasticus 31:23: “Watching and diseases are with the intemperate
man.”
“Lust is the love of the pleasures that are contrary to purity.”, Saint John Vianney.
I Corinthians 15:33: “Be not led astray, evil communications corrupt good
manners.”

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 “Envy is a sadness which we feel, on account of the good that happens to our
neighbor.”, Saint John Vianney.
Wisdom 2:24-25: “By the envy of the devil, death came into the world:
and they follow him that are on his side.”
“Anger is an emotion of the soul, which leads us violently to repel whatever hurts
or displeases us.”, Saint John Vianney
“This emotion, my children, comes from the Devil: it shows that we are in
his hands: that he is the master of our heart: that he holds all the strings of it, and
makes us dance as he pleases.”, Saint John Vianney
Ecclesiasticus 27:33: “Anger and fury are both of them abominable, and
the sinful man shall be subject to them.”
Matthew 5:22: “But I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother,
shall be in danger of the judgement. ... And whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall
be in danger of hell fire.”
“Sloth is a kind of cowardice and disgust, which makes us neglect and omit our
duties, rather than do violence to discipline ourselves.”, Saint John Vianney,
“We will not discipline ourselves; we wilt not put ourselves to any
inconvenience. Everything makes us tired, everything revolts the slothful person.
... O my children! how miserable we are in losing, in this way, the time that we
might so usefully employ in gaining heaven, in preparing ourselves for eternity!”
“Since base slothful spirits given over to external pleasures are neither
used to combat nor trained in spiritual arms, they rarely preserve charity and
usually let themselves suffer a mortal blow. This happens more easily because by
venial sin the soul has been prepared for mortal sin.”, Saint Francis de Sales.
Ecclesiasticus 33:29: “For idleness has taught much evil.”

TIME
“No time must be lost, but every moment must be employed in prayer, in reading
or in performing the duties of your state of life.”, Saint Alphonsus.
“Nothing is so precious as time; and yet comes it that nothing is so little valued?
Men will spend hours in jesting, or standing at the window (or sitting in front of the TV)
or in the middle of the road, to see what passes;and if you ask them what they are doing,
they will tell you they are passing away the time. O time, now so much despised! you
will be of all things the most valued by such persons when death will have surprised them
What will they not be willing to give for one hour of so much lost time! But time will no
longer be available to them, when it is said to each of them: ‘Go forth, Christian soul, out
of this world:’ hurry to be gone, for now there is no more time for you. How they will
holler, sadly Alas! I have wasted my whole life; during so many years I might have
become a saint; but how far I am from being one; and shall I become one now, now that
there is no more time for me! But to what purpose will such lamentations be, when the
dying man is on the verge of that moment on which eternity depends?”, Saint Alphonsus.

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 Nine Ways of Cooperating in the Sin of Another
1. Advising one to sin.
2. Commanding a person to sin. (Note we also sin, when we obey a sinful
command.)
3. Giving consent to sin.
4. Provoking a person to sin.
5. Praising or flattering a sinner.
6. Concealing a sin from the lawful authorities.
7. Sharing in the sin.
8. Defending the sins of another as being permitted for some extenuating
circumstance, some reason. THERE IS NEVER A REASON TO SIN!
9. By silence.

CLOSING QUESTION
Finally, am I really honest with myself?
Do I accept the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, especially when it
is a hard saying? Do I accept the truth about myself COMPLETELY and then do what
the truth tells me I must do? Do I know what my pet sin or pet sins are? Am I truly honest
about this most important point to salvation?

PRAYERS
All/ I confess to almighty God, to the blessed Mary every Virgin, blessed Michael
the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the
Saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed., through my fault,
through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech the blessed Mary,
ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles
Peter and Paul, all the Saints, to pray to the Lord our God for me.
All/ May almighty God be merciful to us, and forgive us our sins and bring us to
life ever lasting. Amen.
May the almighty + and merciful Lord grant us pardon, absolution and remission
of our sins. Amen.

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins,
because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they
offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of my love. I firmly resolve with
the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.
O my God, I resolve with the help of Thy grace to avoid sin and the near
occasions of sin. Amen.
ACT OF CONTRITION (from St. Robert Bellarmine’s Catechism): O my God, I
am exceedingly grieved for having offended Thee, and with my whole heart I repent of
the sins I have committed: I hate and abhor them above every other evil, not only
because, by so sinning I have lost heaven and deserved hell, but still more because I have
offended Thee, O infinite Goodness, Who art worthy to be loved above all things. I most

5
firmly resolve, by the assistance of Thy grace, NEVER more to offend Thee for the time
to come, and to avoid those occasions which might lead me into sin.

For Forgiveness of Sins

O God, Who doesn’t reject anyone that comes unto Thee, but in pity are appeased
even with the greatest sinners who repent, mercifully regard our prayers in our
humiliation, and lighten our hearts, that we may be able to fulfill Thy commandments.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

SHORT BREAK FOR SERMON OR READING

Here read a meditation point. (If there will be sermons given, a meditation point
will be read here.)

Mass of Saint John

Accept, O Holy Father, Almighty and Eternal God, this spotless host, which I,
Thy unworthy servant, offer unto Thee, my living and true God, to atone for my
numberless sins and offenses, and negligences; on behalf of all here present and likewise
for all faithful Christians living and dead, that it may profit both me and them as a means
of salvation unto life everlasting. Amen.
We offer Thee, O Lord, the chalice of salvation, humbly begging of Thy mercy
that it may arise before Thy divine Majesty, with a pleasing fragrance, for our salvation
and for that of the whole world. Amen.
Who, the day before He suffered, took bread into His holy and venerable hands
and having raised His eyes to heaven, unto Thee, O God, His Almighty Father, giving
thanks to Thee, He blessed it, broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying: Take ye all
and eat of this:

For this is My Body

Ring the bell three times

In like manner, when the supper was done, taking also this goodly chalice into His
holy and venerable hands, again giving thanks to Thee, He blessed it, and gave it to His
disciples, saying: Take ye all, and drink of this:

For this is the Chalice of My Blood of the new and

eternal covenant; the mystery of faith, which shall be

6
 shed for you and for many unto the forgiveness of
sins.
As often as you shall do these things, in memory of Me shall you do them.

Ring the bell three times

Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst come under my roof; but only say the
word, and my soul shall be healed. Three times

Now pause so that all can make a private spiritual communion, and short
thanksgiving.
The following may be used: My Jesus, I believe that Thou art in the Blessed
Sacrament. I love Thee above all things and I long for Thee in my soul. Since I cannot
now receive Thee sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though Thou
art already come, I embrace Thee and unite myself entirely to Thee; never permit me to
be separated from Thee.

A Eucharistic song may be sung now, such as O Lord, I am not Worthy.

Prayer for the Restoration of the Mass

Oh Lord Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest and Immaculate Lamb of God, crucified
for us on the altar of Calvary, Thou art both Victim and Priest, offered eternally before
the throne of Thy Father in Heaven. Have pity on us, dear Jesus, and beseech Thy Father
to shorten the times, for what was foretold by the Prophet Daniel has been fulfilled in our
day. 1Because it is the Truths of Holy Faith that have been cast upon the ground, We
promise to learn and to revere these truths, conforming our lives to these most holy
teachings. Grant us the grace to turn away from sin, for it is our sins which enabled
Antichrist to suspend the Continual Sacrifice. 2 With the help of Thy grace, we promise
to return to Thee, as the Prophet Isaias instructed, and to remove any obstacle in
ourselves that could prevent the worthy reception of Thy Sacred Body and Blood in the
Most Holy Eucharist. Until that blessed day arrives when we can participate once more in
the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, may we communicate spiritually with Thee in Heaven,
and offer as reparation for our sins the inability to receive Thee Bodily upon this earth.
Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Who livest and reignest forever and ever. R . Amen.

1
Daniel 9:27
2
Daniel 8:12

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 Prayers for the Conversion of Russia
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To
thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning
and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of
mercy towards us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb,
Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
V/ Let us pray. O God, our refuge and our strength, look down in mercy on Thy
people who cry to Thee; and by the intercession of the glorious and Immaculate Virgin
Mary, Mother of God, of St. Joseph her spouse, of Thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul
and of all the Saints, in mercy and goodness hear our prayers for the conversion of
sinners, and for the liberty and exaltation of our holy mother the Church. Through the
same Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
V/ 3 Holy Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our safeguard against the
wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do Thou,
Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God cast into hell Satan and all the evil
spirits, who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. R/ Amen.
V/ Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. R/ Have mercy on us. Three times

SERMON

Or meditation time

PREPARATION FOR DEATH

Act of Resignation to the Divine Will

O Lord my God, I now at this moment readily and willingly accept at Thy hand
whatever kind of death it may please Thee to send me, with all its pains, penalties and
sorrows.

FROM THE RACCOLTA: O my adorable Creator, I ask of Thee the greatest of

all Thy graces, that is to say, a holy death. No matter how greatly I have hitherto abused
the life Thou gavest me, grant me the grace to end it in Thy holy love.
Let me die, like the holy Patriarchs, forsaking this valley of tears without sadness,
to enter into the joy of eternal rest in my own true country.
Let me die, like the glorious Saint Joseph, in the arms of Jesus and Mary,
repeating in turn each of these sweet Names which I hope to bless throughout eternity.
Let me die, like the immaculate and blessed Virgin, in the purest love and desire
to be reunited to the only object of my love.

3
This is said by the Pope (or other leader) alone.

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 Let me die, like Jesus on the Cross, with the most lively sentiments of hatred for
sin, of charity towards Thee, O heavenly Father, and of perfect resignation in my agony.
Holy Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Be merciful unto me.
Jesus, who didst die for me, grant me the grace of dying in an act of perfect love
for Thee.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me now and at the hour of my death.
My Guardian Angel, my holy Patron Saints, forsake me not at the hour of my
death.
Saint Joseph, obtain for me the grace of dying the death of the just.
O my God, sovereign Lord of life and of death, Who, by an immutable decree for
the punishment of sin, hast determined that all men must die, behold me humbly kneeling
before Thy dred Majesty, resigned and submissive to this law of Thy justice. With all my
heart I detest my past sins, by which I have deserved death a thousand times; and for this
cause I accept death in reparation for my sins and in obedience to Thy holy will. Yes,
great God, send death upon me where Thou wilt, and in what manner Thou wilt.
Meantime I shall avail myself of the days which it shall please Thee to bestow upon me,
to detach myself from this world and to break every tie that holds me in bondage to this
place of exile, and to prepare myself with sure confidence before Thy judgement seat.
Wherefore I surrender myself without reserve into the hands of Thy fatherly Providence.
May Thy divine will be done now and for evermore! Amen.

CHRISTIAN ACTS

Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us an increase of faith, hope and charity;
and that we may deserve to obtain that which Thou dost promise, make us to love that
which Thou dost command. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Act of Faith: O my God! I firmly believe that Thou art one God, in three Divine
Persons, Father, Son and Holy GHost: I believe that Thy Divine Son became Man, and
died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these
and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because Thou hast revealed
them, Who can neither deceive nor be deceived. Amen.
Act of Hope: O my God! relying on Thy infinite goodness and promises, I hope to
obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace , and life everlasting, through the merits
of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen.
Act of Charity: O my God! I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and
soul, because Thou art all good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for
love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have
injured. Amen.

SERMON Or meditation time

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 CLOSING PRAYERS
Renewal Of The Consecration Of The Family To The Sacred Heart Of Jesus 4

Most sweet Jesus, humbly kneeling at Thy Feet, we renew the consecration of our
family to Thy Divine Heart. Be Thou our King forever. In Thee we have full and entire
confidence. May Thy Spirit penetrate our thoughts, our desires, our words, and our
works. Bless out undertakings; share in our joys, in our trials, and in our labors. Grant us
to know Thee better, to love Thee more, to serve Thee without faltering.
By the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of Peace, set up Thy kingdom in our
country. Enter closely into the midst of our families and make them Thine own, through
the solemn Enrollment of Thy Sacred Heart, so that soon one cry may resound from
home to home: May the triumphant Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved, blessed, and
glorified forever! Honor and glory to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
Sacred Heart of Jesus, protect our families.

Prayer to Saint John Eudes

Saint John Eudes, who promoted devotion to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and
Mary, teach me to love those Hearts, which love me so much. Amen.

Prayer to Saint Margaret Mary

Saint Margaret Mary, Jesus brought His Most Sacred Heart to us through you;
bring us to His Most Loving Heart. Amen.

Closing Prayer

In taking leave of Thee, O King of Love, Heart of my God and God of my heart,
I enter confidently through that wound caused by my sins, into the ark of divine and
infinite tenderness which is Thy loving Heart. And here will I stay forever, to repeat to
Thee through all time that I love Thee and long to make Thee loved - and to sing
throughout Eternity the infinite mercies of Thy Sacred Heart. R/ Amen. (Fr. Mateo)

4
This goes with the Enthronement to the Sacred Heart.

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 Other Spiritual Communion Prayers
At thy feet, O my Jesus, I prostrate myself and I offer Thee the repentance of my
contrite heart, which is humbled in its nothingness and in Thy holy presence. I adore
Thee in the Sacrament of Thy love, the ineffable Eucharist. I desire to receive Thee into
the poor dwelling that my heart offers Thee. While waiting for the happiness of
sacramental Communion, I wish to possess Thee in spirit.
Come to me, O my Jesus, since I for my part, am coming to Thee! May Thy love
embrace my whole being in life and in death. I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love
Thee. Amen.

My Jesus, I believe that Thou art present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love Thee
above all things and I desire Thee in my soul. Since I cannot receive Thee Sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart. As though Thou wert already there, I embrace
Thee; permit not that I should ever be separated from Thee. Amen.

Prayer of St. Bonaventure

Pierce, O most sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and
healthful wound of Thy love, with true, tranquil, and most holy apostolic charity, that my
soul may ever languish and melt with love for Thee. Grant that my soul may hunger after
Thee, the bread of angels, the comforting nourishment of holy souls, our daily and
supersubstantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delight of taste; let my
heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, upon whom the angels desire to look, and
may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor; may it ever thirst after
Thee, the source of life, the fount of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of everlasting
life, the flood of pleasure, the richness of the house of God; may it ever compass Thee,
seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, attain to Thee, meditate upon Thee, speak of Thee, and
do all things to the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love
and delight, with ease and affection, and with perseverance unto the end; and mayest
Thou alone ever be my hope, my entire assurance, my riches, my delight, my pleasure,
my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my fragrance, my sweet savor,
my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession
and my treasure, in whom may my mind and my heart remain fixed and firm and rooted
immovably for ever more. Amen.

Spiritual Communion of Saint John Eudes

O Most Good and Lovable Jesus, I am not worthy to think of Thee, nor that Thou
should think of me; still less am I worthy to appear before Thee, or that Thou should
deign to become present to me. Yet Thou dost not only think of me and become present
to me in the Holy Eucharist, but Thou dost even long to give Thyself to me, with an
infinite desire of abiding in my heart and in my soul. O dearest Lord, how wondrous are
Thy mercies and how great is Thy kindness! Alas, what is there in me, wretched creature
full of filth and sin, what is there capable of attracting Thee to me? Surely it is nothing

11
but the excess of pure charity that urges Thee to come to into my soul. Come, come then,
O dearest Jesus, for I love and desire Thee beyond measure! Would that I were utterly
transformed into aspirations, desire, longing and love for Thee! Come, my sweet light,
come, my dearest love, hasten and do not delay to come into my heart which renounces
all else and desires nothing but Thee alone. O Thou King of my heart, O Thou life of my
soul, O my treasure beyond all price, my only joy, my most dear, most desired and most
beloved Jesus! O my all, come into my mind, come into my heart and into my soul!
Annihilate my pride, my self-love, my self-will and all my other vices and imperfections.
Come and establish Thy humility, charity, sweetness, patience, obedience, zeal and all
Thy other virtues. Come to me, there to love and glorify Thyself and perfectly unite my
spirit with Thy divine spirit, my heart and Thy Sacred Heart, my would with Thy holy
soul. Grant that this heart, this soul and this body, which are often so closely and so
intimately united with Thy Heart, Thy Soul and Thy Body by the Blessed Eucharist, may
never have any other ideas, affections, desires or emotions except those of Thy holy
Heart, Thy sacred Body and divine Soul. Come, my Jesus, enter into me there to live and
reign absolutely and forever. Veni, Domine Jesu. (Come Lord Jesus.)

Another Examination of Conscience

AGAINST THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

The First Commandment

Have you doubted in matters of faith? Consulted fortune-tellers? Believed in

dreams? Made use of superstitious practices? Gone to places of false worship and
taken an active part in the religious services of a false church? Belonged to
Masons, Communists, of some other forbidden society? Read anti-Catholic books
or papers? Neglected religious instruction? Omitted religious duties through fear
or ridicule? Murmured against God, or despaired of His mercy? Have you rashly
presumed on His goodness in committing sin? Did you pray in time of temptation?
For your family? Have you neglected your daily prayers? Have you recited them
carelessly, without devotion, thoughtlessly? Have you missed spending a
reasonable amount of time in thanksgiving after Holy Communion? Have you
been irreverent toward God, sacred persons, places or things? Have you associated
with people who might have a bad influence upon your life? Have you refused to
place signs of faith in your home, such as a crucifix, picture of the Blessed Mother
or the saints?

The Second Commandment

Have you taken the name of God in vain? Laughed at the profane use of the
name of God or irreverent speech by others? Given bad example to children by
such speech in their presence, or by neglecting to correct a child when irreverent

12
or profane language was used? Spoken disrespectfully of the saints or holy things?
Allowed others in your household to do the same? Sworn falsely, that is, called
upon God to witness the truth of what you were saying, when you were in reality
telling a lie? Sworn rashly, or in slight and trivial matters? Have you cursed
persons, animals, or things? Have you blasphemed, that is, used insulting language
expressing contempt for God, His saints or sacred things? Have you caused others
to do so? Have you criticized God's mercy or justice, or murmured against His
providence?

The Third Commandment

Have you assisted at Mass on Sundays and Holydays? Have you been late for
Mass? Behaved properly in Church? Have you performed or commanded
unnecessary servile work, bought or sold without necessity, or in any other way -
gambling, drinking - profaned these holy days?

The Fourth Commandment

Have you shown due honor, love, gratitude and obedience to your parents?
Have you shown due honor and obedience to your pastors and other lawful
superiors? Have you asked their pardon when you hurt them? Have you been
disrespectful to your parents by speaking angrily to them, saying unkind, harsh
words to them and about them, or by being ashamed of them? If you are a parent,
have you shown this lack of honor, love and gratitude to your parents in the
presence of your children? Have you criticized them and rejected some of their
orders? Have you corrected and punished your children for serious transgressions,
or forbidden them to enter serious occasions of sin? Have you cooperated with
teachers in the education of your children? Have you refused to send your children
to Catholic school when you could have done so and had no permission from
bishop or pastor to do otherwise? If there is no Catholic school in your vicinity,
have you sent your children to catechism faithfully? Have you taken an interest in
their catechism lessons? Have you cooperated with the Pastor and the Sisters in
the projects sponsored by them to stimulate the children's interest in the faith?
Have you trained and corrected your children in regard to chastity? Have you been
disrespectful to aged persons? Have you had proper care for children and those
dependent on you - both in physical and religious matters? Above all, have you
given them a good example? If you are a child, have you refused to speak to your
father or mother? Have you resented them? Have you disobeyed your parents
when they gave you orders to avoid bad companions or dangerous occasions to
sin? Have you obeyed the rules they made concerning persons to be brought into
the house, the hours to be kept at night, or the conduct within the home? When
earning money, while living at home or while still subject to your parents, have
you refused them part of your earnings when they needed it or demanded it? As a

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citizen, have you obeyed laws of the city and country made for the safety and
well-being of all?

The Fifth Commandment

The fifth commandment forbids: Murder, suicide, criminal neglect that might
cause serious injury or death to another, serious anger and hatred, abortion, mercy
killing, the use of narcotics, sterilization, drunkenness, help extended to another to
commit a mortal sin, fighting, anger, hatred and revenge.
Have you procured, desired, or hastened the death of any one? Have you been
guilty of anger, hatred, quarreling, revenge? Used provoking language, insulting
words, ridicule? Refused to speak to others? Caused enmities? Given scandal? Did
you eat or drink too much? Have you been unkind, irritable, impatient? Have you
provoked others to anger offended them, hurt them by anger or impatience? Have
you entertained thoughts of jealousy, revenge, aversion, resentment or contempt of
others? Have you kept company with those who drink to excess? Have you
encouraged them to drink? Have you jested about their drunkenness? Have you
neglected your health or endangered your life? Have you neglected to take care of
the health of your children or those subject to you? Have you endangered the life
of others by driving an automobile while intoxicated or caused real danger to the
safety of others in any other way?

The Sixth and Ninth Commandments

These two commandments demand purity and modesty in our life: in our
thoughts, words, and actions, whether alone or with others.
In general, these commandments forbid: adultery, fornication, self-abuse,
indecent dressing, necking, impure kisses, impure dancing, impure talk, sins
against nature, birth control, impure touches, petting, looking at impure pictures,
dances, floor shows, movies, or reading impure books or magazines.
Have you been guilty of impure or immodest thoughts, words or actions - alone
or with others? Have you spoken words or phrases of double meaning? Have you
told suggestive stories? Have you encouraged others to do so? Have you taught
others to do this? Have you avoided occasions of sin in this matter? Have you
guarded your sight, or allowed your eyes to wander in curiosity over obviously
dangerous objects? Have you put yourself in an occasion of sin by reading bad
books, looking at indecent pictures, keeping bad company, attending immoral
performances, watching indecent movies or television programs, singing lewd
songs, and the like? Have you distributed obscene books or magazines? Have you
informed others of places of distribution? Have you encouraged others to read
them? Have you desired to do impure things? Have you been an occasion of sin to
others, by your conversation, dress, appearance, or actions? Have you touched
yourself impurely? If you are married, have you committed sins of impurity with

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another married or single person? Taken part in prolonged kisses and embraces
with others beside your partner in marriage? Have you used contraceptive means
in performing marriage duties? Have you, without good reason, refused or
neglected to render the marriage obligation when seriously asked?

The Seventh and Tenth Commandments

These commandments forbid: robbery and burglary, graft, bribes, stealing and
damaging the property of others. These commandments forbid not merely stealing
but every type of dishonest dealing, such as, cheating, unjust keeping of what
belongs to others, unjust damage to property of others, graft on the part of public
officials. These commandments are also violated by merchants who use false
weights, measures, who make exorbitant profits or lie about the essential qualities
of their goods; by those who obtain money from others by persuading them to
make unsound investments with the assurance of gain; by those who knowingly
pass counterfeit money, or take undue advantage of the ignorance or necessity of
another; by employers who defraud laborers; by employees who waste time during
working hours, perform careless work or neglect to take reasonable care of the
property of their employers; by employers who charge customers exorbitant
prices; by those who do not return what they borrowed; by running up a charge
account and not paying it; not returning found articles; selling articles with hidden
defects for the usual price; not paying one's bills; by depriving one's family of
necessities by gambling, drinking or foolish spending.
Have you stolen or retained ill-gotten goods? Damaged or wasted the property
of others? Accepted bribes? Neglected to make restitution, or to help the poor?
Have you desired the goods of others? Squandered their goods? As a parent, have
you taught your children a strict sense of honesty and justice, punishing any slight
theft or deceit? Have you sinned in any way mentioned above?

The Eighth Commandment

This commandment forbids: lies, calumny, detraction, perjury, unjust and

unnecessary criticism, fault-finding, gossip, backbiting, insults, rash judgment, the
telling of secrets one is bound to keep, cheating, tale-bearing.
Have you borne false witness for or against another? Been guilty of detraction,
flattery, hypocrisy, lying, rash judgment?
Have you entertained unkind thoughts of others? Have you harbored suspicions,
nursed resentments, refused to forgive others when they expressed their
contrition? Have you spread unkind remarks others make to you? Do you discuss
the faults of your parents, wife, husband, children with others who have no
business knowing anything about them? At home are you given to nagging,
complaining, arguing, refusing to talk, calling names, petty quarreling?
Have you brought any harm to your neighbor and have you tried to repair it, as

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far as you were able? Have you tried to destroy the good work performed by
another, or to hinder it seriously? Have you been sensitive, hurt, cool, thoughtless
with others?

AGAINST THE PRECEPTS OF THE CHURCH

I. Have you observed all Sundays and Holydays as commanded by the Church?

II. Have you kept the fast? Eaten meat on prohibited days? Encouraged others to
violate the precepts of the Church? Scandalized others by your failure to obey the
Church in this matter? Have you nibbled between meals?

III. Have you gone to confession at least once a year? Received Holy
Communion during Easter Time?

IV. Are you a member of any forbidden society? Are you a Communist?

V. Have you contributed to the support of the Church, school, pastor? Have you
prevented others from fulfilling this obligation? Have you fomented rebellion
against proper Church authority? Have you given bad example to your children by
refusing to support the Church? Have you tried to teach your children to give their
share for the support of the Church? Have you ridiculed those who are doing their
share and often times more than their share for the support of the Church?

VI. Have you married contrary to the laws of the Catholic Church, or aided
others in doing so? Are you keeping such company that may some day prove
dangerous for you and lead you to a violation of this precept of the Church? Are
you encouraging others to keep such company?

OBLIGATIONS OF ONE'S STATE IN LIFE

Duties of Children

Have you disobeyed your parents? Have you caused them to be angry? Have
you grieved them? Used insulting language to them? Kept or wasted your wages
you should have given them for their support? Incited your brothers and sisters or
others against them? Neglected to write them or send them help? Neglected them
in sickness and death?

Duties of Husbands

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 Have you grieved, abused, struck your wife, or accused her wrongfully? Have
you neglected to provide for your family? Given your children bad example?
Failed to correct their faults? Have you interfered with their religious vocation?

Duties of Wives

Have you disobeyed your husband? Caused your children to disobey and
dishonor him? Spoken of his faults to your children or neighbors? Neglected to
correct your children? Have you given them bad example? Have you instructed
them in their religion? Have you interfered with their religious vocation?

Examination of Conscience
These are the commandments which God gave to man to guide him to happiness
in this life and in the next:
I. I AM THE LORD THY GOD: THOU SHALT NOT HAVE STRANGE GODS
BEFORE ME.
Commands: faith, hope, love, and worship of God; reverence for holy things;
prayer.
Forbids: idolatry, superstition, spiritism, tempting God, sacrilege, attendance at
false worship.
II. THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN.
Commands: reverence in speaking about God and holy things; the keeping of
oaths and vows.
Forbids: blasphemy, the irreverent use of God's name, speaking disrespectfully of
holy things, false oaths, and the breaking of vows.
III. REMEMBER THOU KEEP HOLY THE SABBATH DAY.
Commands: going to Church on Sundays and holy days, keeping the day holy by
prayer, Holy Hour, spiritual reading, studying catechism and instructing one’s family in
the catechism.
Forbids: missing Church through one's own fault; unnecessary servile work;
public buying and selling; court trials.
IV. HONOR THY FATHER AND MOTHER.
Commands: love, respect, obedience on the part of children; care on the part of
parents for the spiritual and temporal welfare of their children; obedience to civil and
religious superiors.
Forbids: hatred of parents and superiors; disrespect, disobedience.
V. THOU SHALT NOT KILL.
Commands: safeguarding of one's own life and bodily welfare and that of others.
Forbids: unjust killing, suicide, abortion sterilization, dueling, endangering life
and limb of self or others.
VI. THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.
Commands: chastity in word, and deed.
Forbids: obscene speech; impure actions alone or with others.
VII. THOU SHALT NOT STEAL.

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 Commands: respect for the property and rights of others; the paying of just debts;
paying just wages to employees; integrity in public officials.
Forbids: theft; damage to the property of others; not paying just debts; not
returning found or borrowed articles; giving unjust measure or weight in selling; not
paying just wages; bribery; graft; cheating; fraud; accepting stolen property; not giving an
honest day's work for wages received; violation of contract, usury.
VIII. THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST THY NEIGHBOR.
Commands: truthfulness, respect for the good name of others; the observance of
secrecy when required.
Forbids: lying, injury to the good name of others, slander; talebearing, rash judg-
ment, contemptuous speech, and the violation of secrecy.
IX. THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR'S WIFE.
Commands: purity in thought.
Forbids: willful impure thoughts and desires.
X. THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR'S GOODS.
Commands: respect for the rights of others.
Forbids: the desire to take, to keep, or to damage the property of others.

Prayers prepared and compiled by Pope Michael in 1995-6 as an aid to making

Holy Hours.
http://www.popespeaks.vaticaninexile.com/requests/15weeklyholyhour.html

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 Children’s Examination of
Conscience
1st Commandment. Have I neglected my prayers — said them in a
careless and irreverent manner?
2nd Commandment. Have I used the name of God in a disrespectful
way? I lave I used any other kind of bad language?
3rd Commandment (with Commandments of the Church). Have I
neglected to attend Mass on a Sunday or holyday, or come too late to Mass,
through my own fault? Have I eaten flesh meat on days of abstinence? Have
I behaved badly in church talked, laughed, disturbed others?
4th Commandment. Have I been disobedient to parents or any one I
ought to obey? Have I been disrespectful towards them — spoken evil of
them?
5th Commandment. Have I given way to anger or had temper, or
sulkiness? Have I been envious or jealous of others, or wished any harm to
them? Have I inflicted. pain or injury on others spoken ill of them? Have I
led others into sin? (If the sin was grievous, say what it was.)
6th and 9th Commandments. Have I deliberately had any thoughts or
any desires contrary to holy modesty and purity? Or done anything contrary
to these virtues - - alone or with others? Have I sinned against them by looks
or by words?
7th and 10th Commandments. Have I stolen anything (how much?)
Have I injured the property of others? Have I neglected to give things found
to the owner?
8th Commandment. Have I told lies? Have I thought evil of others
without sufficient reason? Have f laid blame on them unjustly? Have I talked
about their faults to people who did not know these faults, and who had no
right to know them?
Act of Contrition.
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest
my sins above every other evil, because they displease Thee, my God, who
art so deserving of all my love; and I firmly resolve, with Thy holy grace,
never more to offend Thee, and to amend my life.

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