Daily Spiritual Reflection
Copyright material excerpted from William J. Byron, S.J., Answers from Within: Spiritual Guidelines for Managing Setbacks in Work and Life (New York: Macmillan, 1997).
Copyright material excerpted from William J. Byron, S.J., Answers from Within: Spiritual Guidelines for Managing Setbacks in Work and Life (New York: Macmillan, 1997).A Personal Checklist
| Pauline Criteria | Morning | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| Love | Am I prepared to share, serve, and sacrifice for others today? | Did I open up toward others? Where did I hurt anyone or hold back? |
| Joy | Is my will aligned with God's? Do I cherish the graces, the gifts of God to me? Do I recognize the difference between pleasure and happiness? Am I in balance? | Where did I turn in on myself today? When and why did sadness touch me today? Did I lose balance? |
| Peace | What image of tranquility can I carry with me into this new day? | Why was I upset? What grudges am I carrying? Did I disturb the peace of others? Did I make anyone angry? |
| Patience | Am I prepared to suffer today, if God wills it or is willing to permit it? | When and why did I "lose" it today? Did I overreact? Did I lose my temper because I was about to lose face? Do I really believe that everything depends on me? |
| Kindness | Am I prepared to be considerate today? Will courtesy and civility accompany me through the day, and will attentiveness mark my relationship to others? | Did I contribute any rudeness, abrupt demands, or insults to the rubble of the day? |
| Generosity | What will I be today, a giver or a taker? | Was I petty, ungiving, or unforgiving in any way today? Did meanness enter the world today through me? Did I make anyone smile? Did I listen generously? |
| Faithfulness | If God is God, he cannot be anything but faithful to me today and always. I resolve to remain faithful to God today and, with God's help, to keep all my commitments in faith and friendship, in dependability and reliability. | Was anyone let down by me today? Did I lose any faith in God or in myself? Did I violate any trusts? |
| Gentleness | I am capable of being rude, rough, and domineering. I want to be gentle. I hope the source of all gentleness will work through me today. | Was I harsh toward anyone today? Did I hurt anyone in any way? |
| Self-Control | I may have to say no to myself today; am I ready? | Did I leave any space for others today? Was I selfish or indulgent in ways that diminished the world' s supply of human dignity? |
Previously (12/14/2008) included on my wiki at http://www.devriesonline.net/pmwiki.php/Main/PaulineCriteria-APersonalChecklist (site retired in October 2018)