POINT II. Consider the principal causes of sins.
1. One general cause is our thoughtlessness; we are unmindful of the great truths of religion, the supernatural light of which is allowed to grow dim amid the distractions of a busy or a frivolous life. Ecclesiasticus warns us, saying: “In all thy works remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin” (vii, 40). Now the remedy of this thoughtlessness is provided for us in our spiritual exercises: our meditations, examinations of conscience, spiritual readings, etc. The religious who is accustomed to perform these faithfully and fervently is not likely to commit many sins, and he will gradually become more and more virtuous.
2. Another copious source of sins consists of unmortified passions. When any passion is aroused, it blinds us to the dictates of reason and the whisperings of grace. You see this in the conduct of an angry man: he says and does things which he is afterwards ashamed of and sorry for. It is so with all unrestrained passions. Consider what are your most frequent faults and what are their causes. What passions need particularly to be watched and checked. The triduum is just the time for self-introspection, examinations of conscience, and for the ordering of our spiritual exercises.
POINT III. Consider some faults in particular, against which a religious should be guarded.
1. Violation of fraternal charity, whether in word or thought; ever remember the words of Christ: “Amen, I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me” (St. Matth. xxv, 40).
2. Irreverence in prayer: disrespectful posture, wilful or careless wandering of the mind, want of proper preparation, etc.
3. Sensuality in food and drink, or in the indulgence of superfluous sleep.
4. Immodesty of touch or look, effeminate softness of manner or language, imprudent familiarity.
5. Human respect, more anxiety to please men than to please the Lord, and therefore doing or saying what is unlawful or imprudent, or omitting to do what conscience dictates to be our duty.
Colloquy. Earnestly beg pardon for faults committed and resolve to avoid the occasions of sin.