Lectio et Oratio

Episode 7 -- Introduction to the Devout Life I.6 -- On the First Purification, from Sin, by means of a General Confession

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Episode 6 -- Introduction to the Devout Life I.5 -- The First Step Must Be Purifying the Soul

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Episode 5 -- Introduction to the Devout Life I.4 -- The Need for a Spiritual Guide in the Spiritual Life

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Episode 4 -- Introduction to the Devout Life I.3 -- Devotion is Suitable to Every Vocation and Profession

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Episode 3 -- Introduction to the Devout Life I.2 -- The Nature and Excellence of Devotion

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Episode 2 -- Introduction to the Devout Life I.1 -- What True Devotion Is

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Episode 1 -- Introduction to the Devout Life -- Preface

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Episode 115 -- Imitation of Christ IV.18 -- A Man Should Not Subtly Pry into the Blessed Sacrament, but Follow Christ, Submitting the Evidence of His Senses to Holy Faith

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Episode 114 -- Imitation of Christ IV.17 -- On Burning Love and Eager Longing for Christ

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Episode 113 -- Imitation of Christ IV.16 -- We Should Tell Christ Our Needs and Beg His grace

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Episode 112 -- Imitation of Christ IV.15 -- The Grace of Devotion is Won by Humility and Self-Denial

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Episode 111 -- Imitation of Christ IV.14 -- On the Burning Desire that Some People have for Holy Communion

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Episode 110 -- Imitation of Christ IV.13 -- The Devout Soul Should Long For Union with Christ in the Blessed Sacrament

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Episode 109 -- Imitation of Christ IV.12 -- On the Great Care that Should be Taken in Preparing to Receive Christ in Holy Communion

Episode 108 -- Imitation of Christ IV.11 -- The Body of Christ and the Holy Scriptures are Most Necessary to a Faithful Soul

Episode 107 -- Imitation of Christ IV.10 -- On Not Staying Away from Holy Communion

Episode 106 -- Imitation of Christ IV.9 -- We Should Offer Ourselves and All that Are to God and Pray for All Men

Episode 105 -- Imitation of Christ IV.8 -- On Offering Ourselves at Mass and Self-Surrender

Episode 104 -- Imitation of Christ IV.7 -- Examination of Conscience Before Mass

Should we examine our conscience before receiving Holy Communion?

Yes! Thomas a Kempis provides a fairly comprehensive examination of conscience in chapter 7. He points out areas of improvement that will touch everyone's lives. He encourages us to be sorry in general for our sins, to be sorry in particular for our daily faults, and to confess to the Lord how wayward our passions are. Of course, if we have serious sins on our souls, we need to go to the sacrament of Confession. "If you forgive the sins of any," Jesus told the Apostles, "they are forgiven."

Episode 103 -- Imitation of Christ IV.6 -- On Preperation for the Holy Eucharist

In chapter 6, Thomas a Kempis prays for the Lord to show him a brief exercise for preparing for Holy Communion. He begs the Lord to show him the right way to dispose his heart before this great moment. Inspired by this chapter, St Philip Neri used to prepare for Communion in this way: "Lord, I am ready, as far as I am concerned, to do all the evil in the world, if you do not help me." Humility and confidence in God's help!