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Views from the Choir Loft

General and Particular Examen

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · December 12, 2013

NE OF MY FAVORITE spiritual books is Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard’s The Soul of the Apostolate.

In company with countless writers, Chautard strongly recommends the “particular and general examinations of conscience,” but seems to assume that the reader simply knows what this is all about. One doubts that many laypeople, especially after the Second Vatican Council, would have a clue about how to carry out this double examination. And one hesitates to google about it, for fear of finding random and superficial material.

When I first came across this passage, I consulted a venerable priest whose opinion has never failed me, and he explained it as follows.

The distinction between general and particular examinations of conscience is made by Saint Ignatius in the first week of his Spiritual Exercises. Put simply, the general examination surveys all the morally significant actions of the day, so far as we can recall them, while in the particular examination we focus our attention on one particular fault against which we are struggling and the corresponding virtue we are trying to cultivate (because the positive cultivation of a virtue is the most effective way of fighting against the vice that is opposed to it). Saint Ignatius tells us that we should make the particular examination three times a day—morning, after lunch, and after dinner; the general examination, in contrast, is best done just before we go to bed.

This is a simple and lucid template for self-awareness and continual conversion of life. We are all in danger of forgetting or even being totally ignorant of the areas of our lives in which we stand in need of conversion; we are all, in the best of circumstances, notoriously lacking in self-knowledge; we can all use more humility and even humiliation to get the point across that we are far from perfect and yet capable of improvement, with God’s help. The particular and general examinations provide a kind of spiritual scaffolding around the day that can help us pay attention to our defects and make progress in correcting them. There does not need to be anything fussy or time-consuming about it: a few concentrated moments of reflection may suffice. But what an opportunity we are missing when we do not pay any attention to how the day has gone and what we might have done differently or better!

Is it fanciful to see, in Pope Francis’s numerous recent course corrections, the outward signs of a Jesuit who, in the best tradition of his founder, is serenely accustomed to making these examinations and has discovered in himself certain faults or at least areas of improvement? We will never have a sinless or a perfect pope, but we can have a holy one who sets us a good example of continual conversion.

Further recommended reading:
Fr. John Hardon, S.J., “Examination of Conscience”

URL for course corrections:
Even the Pope Critiques Himself. And Corrects Three Errors.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Pope Francis Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Dr. Peter Kwasniewski

A graduate of Thomas Aquinas College (B.A. in Liberal Arts) and The Catholic University of America (M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy), Dr. Peter Kwasniewski is currently Professor at Wyoming Catholic College. He is also a published and performed composer, especially of sacred music.

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Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant:

“Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and our Lady working in our lives. The wide range of education—from Gregorian Chant, jazz modes in organ improvisation, to ‘staying sane’ while leading a choir—were certainly first-class knowledge from the best teachers of the art. However, the most powerful lesson was learning how to pray as a choir. The sacrifice of putting songs together, taking time to learn the sacred text, meditating on the church teaching through the chants, and gaining the virtues required to persevere in these duties were not only qualities of a choir but of a saint. The sanctification of the lives of the attendees was a beautiful outcome of this event … and that in itself is worth more than a beautifully-sung Solesmes style chant!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
PDF Download • Trinity Sunday (22 pages)

Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“For any member of laity, who is at least somewhat literate, the ignorance of the Latin tongue, which we can call a truly Catholic language, indicates a certain lack of affection towards the Church.”

— Pope Pius IX

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