Consider three things during an examination of conscience: your failings of the previous day; their causes; the spirit and readiness you exhibit to make war on them and acquire the contrary virtues.

Regarding the failings, do as I have counseled in Chapter 26, where I indicated that which you should do when wounded.

Resolve to assail the cause of these failings and to mow them down.

Strengthen your will to do this, and to acquire the virtues with mistrust of self, with confidence in God, with prayer and with numerous works with which you might taste hatred for vice and desire the contrary virtue. Hold suspect the victories and good works that you have performed previously.

I further advise you not to consider them often, at least for the almost inevitable danger of some hidden desire for pride and vainglory. Thus, whatever they may be, after you have entrusted them to the divine mercy, direct your thoughts to the far greater amount remaining to do.

As to giving thanks for the gifts and favors the Lord did for you that day, acknowledge Him:

• as the architect of every benefit you received, and thank Him for having freed you, both from the many enemies you saw as well those unseen;
• of having given you good thoughts and occasions to practice the virtues.

Finally, thank him for whatever other benefit of which you yourself remain unaware.

to mow them down: literally, “to send them to the ground”, but this is an idiom.