Examination of Conscience
Examination of Conscience
Examination of conscience was one of the oldest religious practices, and was developed already in the deserts of the Western Mediterranean. As a monastic practice, it was a foundation of the relations between abbots and monks. In late medieval Western Europe, examination of conscience became popular in devout lay circles, and it was practiced often on a mutual reciprocal setting. In early modern Catholicism, the examination of conscience increased its popularity. It was recommended to laity and clerics, to men and women, and was now a prerequisite for a confession. Ideally, one was to practice it often, and religious people were encouraged to schedule it up to 7 times a day. One can compare the practice to an incessant interiorized mechanism of self criticism and self control, a wonderful example of subjectiviziation in both its meanings.
Keywords: introspective mechanism, truth-telling, interiorization
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