Examination of Conscience for the Common Priesthood
Each year priests renew their priestly commitment at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday. To help them prepare for this. Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P., developed an Examination of Conscience before Renewing One's Priestly Commitment, which is included in the Magnificat publication just before Holy Thursday. As I read through it, I realized that around 80% of it applies to all members of the common priesthood of all disciples, and the remaining 20% is related to celebrating the sacraments, preaching the Gospel, celibacy, and other topics that apply only to consecrated priests.
Here is everything applies to all disciples of Christ - the common and the consecrated priesthood:
Do I proclaim daily my sincere desire and intention to be fully surrendered to God?
Do I desire only God’s will for His kingdom and His glory?
Have I devoted myself to the Word of God?
Is my love of God evident in my conversations and actions?
Am I faithful to praying throughout each day?
Do I live in a recollected manner?
Do I seek periods of silence each day?
Have I shown charity to those seeking my advice?
Am I generous with my time?
Have I been present and generous to those God leads me to help?
Am I available to serve in the religious education of children?
Am I generous in showing special concern for the poor?
Am I obedient to my pastor and other church staff?
Do I live with missionary zeal?
Am I faithful to Church teaching and to the Magisterium?
Do I witness to the Gospel through a modest lifestyle?
Do I make time each day for spiritual reading and study?
Do I have a firm commitment to holiness?
Is my life one of loving, self-sacrificial service?
Do I welcome the cross in my life?
Have I applied myself to ongoing formation?
Have I made time this past year for a retreat?
Have I been a good listener to those in need?
Have I been open, patient, kind, friendly, caring, and loving to God’s people?
Am I committed to giving a good example to others as another Christ?
Do I stoop to wash the feet of others?
Do I live in intimate friendship with Jesus?
Do I live the grace and gifts of ministry with a sense of unending thanksgiving?
Am I devoted to becoming more like Jesus Christ in every way?
Have I lived up to the title of “disciple of Christ”?
Have I made visible the love of the Heart of Jesus to all those I meet?
Litany of Thanksgiving for the Common Priesthood
R./ Lord, you know that I love you.
For giving me the desire to work for the Kingdom of God, R./
For the capacity to teach the faith, R./
For making me a man/woman of prayer, R./
For proposing me, despite my unworthiness, as an example of holiness, R./
For the strength you provide in times of trial and distress, R./
For the desire to reach out to the poor and the alienated, R./
For compassion, tenderness, and generosity, R./
For transforming me in my weakness and sins, R./
For helping me to live in unfailing dependence upon you, R./
For making me ardent in self-sacrificing love, R./
For making me an instrument of grace, R./
For the countless graces with which you bless my life, R./
- I am resolved, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to discharge without fail the lay offices of priest, prophet and king as a conscientious fellow worker with all other Christians;
- I am resolved to participate in the mysteries of Christ faithfully and religiously as the Church has handed them down to us, for the glory of God;
- Please strengthen my resolve and perfect my efforts to live in conformity with Your will as you conform me to Your Son Jesus Christ.
Each year priests renew their priestly commitment at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday. To help them prepare for this. Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P., developed an Examination of Conscience before Renewing One's Priestly Commitment, which is included in the Magnificat publication just before Holy Thursday. As I read through it, I realized that around 80% of it applies to all members of the common priesthood of all disciples, and the remaining 20% is related to celebrating the sacraments, preaching the Gospel, celibacy, and other topics that apply only to consecrated priests.
Here is everything applies to all disciples of Christ - the common and the consecrated priesthood:
Do I proclaim daily my sincere desire and intention to be fully surrendered to God?
Do I desire only God’s will for His kingdom and His glory?
Have I devoted myself to the Word of God?
Is my love of God evident in my conversations and actions?
Am I faithful to praying throughout each day?
Do I live in a recollected manner?
Do I seek periods of silence each day?
Have I shown charity to those seeking my advice?
Am I generous with my time?
Have I been present and generous to those God leads me to help?
Am I available to serve in the religious education of children?
Am I generous in showing special concern for the poor?
Am I obedient to my pastor and other church staff?
Do I live with missionary zeal?
Am I faithful to Church teaching and to the Magisterium?
Do I witness to the Gospel through a modest lifestyle?
Do I make time each day for spiritual reading and study?
Do I have a firm commitment to holiness?
Is my life one of loving, self-sacrificial service?
Do I welcome the cross in my life?
Have I applied myself to ongoing formation?
Have I made time this past year for a retreat?
Have I been a good listener to those in need?
Have I been open, patient, kind, friendly, caring, and loving to God’s people?
Am I committed to giving a good example to others as another Christ?
Do I stoop to wash the feet of others?
Do I live in intimate friendship with Jesus?
Do I live the grace and gifts of ministry with a sense of unending thanksgiving?
Am I devoted to becoming more like Jesus Christ in every way?
Have I lived up to the title of “disciple of Christ”?
Have I made visible the love of the Heart of Jesus to all those I meet?
Litany of Thanksgiving for the Common Priesthood
R./ Lord, you know that I love you.
For giving me the desire to work for the Kingdom of God, R./
For the capacity to teach the faith, R./
For making me a man/woman of prayer, R./
For proposing me, despite my unworthiness, as an example of holiness, R./
For the strength you provide in times of trial and distress, R./
For the desire to reach out to the poor and the alienated, R./
For compassion, tenderness, and generosity, R./
For transforming me in my weakness and sins, R./
For helping me to live in unfailing dependence upon you, R./
For making me ardent in self-sacrificing love, R./
For making me an instrument of grace, R./
For the countless graces with which you bless my life, R./
- I am resolved, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to discharge without fail the lay offices of priest, prophet and king as a conscientious fellow worker with all other Christians;
- I am resolved to participate in the mysteries of Christ faithfully and religiously as the Church has handed them down to us, for the glory of God;
- Please strengthen my resolve and perfect my efforts to live in conformity with Your will as you conform me to Your Son Jesus Christ.