“The unexamined life is not worth living.” Those are the ancient words of Socrates, yet they are no less true today.

Saint Sabas wasn’t afraid to examine his life. Sabas is often regarded as a father of eastern monasticism. After a difficult early childhood, he found solace in a monastery at age eight. He ended up founding his own order and inspired over 100 men to join him in a life of contemplation, prayer and self-examination.

Most of us aren’t called to live in a monastery, but we can inject our lives with more intentionality by imitating one special practice that monks like Sabas do every single day: examine your conscience.  

The idea of examining our conscience before going to Confession is a long-standing part of our Catholic tradition. But too often the concept carries with it a negative connotation. In reality, examining ourselves can and should be an incredibly positive experience. Far from being about self-deprecation and self-loathing, it is about peace and liberty, awareness and spiritual growth.

When’s the last time you examined your conscience? 

Paul advised the early Christians, “Let a man examine himself.” (1 Corinthians 11:28) This was particularly in reference to some type of examination before receiving the Eucharist. The hermit Saint Anthony examined his conscience every night before retiring. Over time this became a daily practice in many monasteries, and most founders of religious orders include a daily examination of conscience as a requirement for all members

Today, in an age when people want to think only about their strengths, the practice of taking an honest look at ourselves in order to improve has fallen by the wayside.

One of the real treasures that this practice delivers is an increased awareness of who we are and what is happening in us and around us. This awareness heightens our ability to experience life. That’s right, it actually increases our capacity for life. And in this way, what we are talking about is an examination of consciousness as much as an examination of conscience. This ancient spiritual practice constantly poses the question: How conscious are you? It challenges us to become aware of everything that is happening within us and around us, so that we can live at the height of consciousness.

Very often we wander through a day, a week, a month, or even a year with very little consciousness, almost oblivious to what is really happening inside us and around us. 

Today, Saint Sabas and his fellow monks throughout history invite us to embrace a daily examination of conscience so that we become more fully alive!



Feast Day: December 5

Patron Saint of: Monasticism, Monks, and Hermits

Symbols: A Scroll

Also Known As: Sabbas the Sanctified