Brief Circle sss+

I. All the members kneel and the person presiding says:

Veni, Sancte Spíritus, reple tuórum corda fidélium: et tui amóris in eis ignem accénde.

Ꝟ. Emítte Spíritum tuum, et creabúntur.

℟. Et renovábis fáciem terræ.

Oremus. Deus, qui corda fidélium Sancti Spíritus illustratióne docuísti; da nobis in eódem Spíritu recta sápere; et de eius semper consolatióne gaudére. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

℟. Amen.

Ꝟ. In nómine Patris ✠ et Fílii et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

Sancta María, Spes Nostra, Sedes Sapiéntiæ.

℟. Ora pro nobis.

II. Commentary on the Gospel.

III. Reading of the Plan of life (by the person who presides, while all stand to listen).

Plan of life:

Daily: Morning Offering. Mental Prayer (half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the evening). Holy Mass. Communion. Visit to the Blessed Sacrament. Reading of the New Testament and of some spiritual book. Preces. Holy Rosary. Examinations of conscience. Angelus or Regína Cæli.

Weekly: Sacramental Confession. A corporal mortification and the singing or recitation of an antiphon to the Blessed Virgin Mary, on Saturdays.

Monthly: A day of recollection.

Yearly: A retreat.

Always: Presence of God. Consideration of our divine filiation. Spiritual communions. Acts of thanksgiving. Acts of atonement. Aspirations. Mortification. Study. Work. Order. Cheerfulness.

IV. Commentary on some Norm or Custom (or on some aspect of the spirit of the Work, etc.)

V. Examination of conscience:

Have I omitted the meditation, or shortened it, except in the case of illness?
Have I practised presence of God and considered my divine filiation frequently each day?
Do I try to give my first and last thought each day to God?
Have I omitted the particular examination or hurried over the general examination?
In the Holy Mass each day, have I remembered Opus Dei, my brothers, and especially the Directors?
Have I borne the annoying things of each day well?
Have I omitted my usual mortifications?
Do I endeavour to acquire a spirit of penance?
Have I always acted with an upright intention, seeking only the glory of God in everything I do?
Have I recited the Divine Office and the Preces of the Work and the other vocal prayers calmly and with attention?
Have I carried out the apostolates entrusted to me with a spirit of sacrifice?
Have I been docile in accepting advice that refers to my spiritual life and personal apostolate?
Have I diligently carried out the apostolic tasks entrusted to me by the Work?
Have I taken special care to practise charity in my relations with my brothers and with the priests of the diocese?
Do I take particular care to practise charity and prudence, whenever I have to give or receive fraternal correction?
Do I show with deeds, my zeal for winning new faithful for Opus Dei?
Am I conscious of having caused the Church and Opus Dei any definite harm through being careless or imprudent, lukewarm or cold, in attending to my priestly ministry or in carrying out my social duties?
What efforts have I made in my cultural development which is essential to my purpose, in my study or professional formation and in making the best use of my time?
Have I spent money unnecessarily, out of extravagance, carelessness, vanity, laziness, etc?
Have I always been deeply sincere in spiritual direction? Have I combined humility with personal responsibility and a capacity for initiative, and made my own the advice I have received for my spiritual life and personal apostolate?
Have I despised sacrifice in the little things of each day?
Do I try to work in an orderly way so as to be more effective and give greater glory to God?
Do I do my work when I ought (today, now), or do I deceive myself by leaving it for later, which is the same as not doing it at all?
Is there anything odd or annoying in my outward appearance or behaviour which may not be in keeping with my duties and position?
Do I allow myself to be dominated by gloominess, not realising that it is an ally of the enemy?
Do I always work with the happiness that comes from knowing I am a son of God?

Ꝟ. Adiutórium nostrum ✠ in nómine Dómini.

℟. Qui fecit cœlum et terram.

If the person presiding is not a priest, all say at the same time, once only:

Confíteor Deo omnipoténti, beátæ Maríæ semper Vírgini, beáto Michaëli Archángelo, beáto Ioánni Baptístæ, sanctis Apóstolis Petro et Paulo, ómnibus Sanctis, et vobis, fratres (tibi, pater), quia peccávi nimis cogitatióne, verbo et ópere: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa.

Ideo precor beátam Maríam semper Vírginem, beátum Michaëlem Archángelum, beátum Ioannem Baptístam, sanctos Apóstolos Petrum et Paulum, omnes Sanctos, et vos, fratres, (te, pater) oráre pro me ad Dóminum, Deum nostrum.

Then is said:

Ꝟ. Misereátur nostri omnípotens Deus, et, dimissis peccátis nostris, perdúcat nos ad vitam ætérnam.

℟. Amen.

Ꝟ. A vínculis peccatórum nostrórum  absólvat nos omnípotens et miséricors Dóminus.

℟. Amen.

If the person presiding at the Circle is a priest, he says the Confíteor as above. Then all respond:

Ꝟ. Misereátur tui omnípotens Deus, et, dimissis peccátis tuis, perdúcat te ad vitam ætérnam.

℟. Amen.

Then all, except for the priest, say the Confíteor and instead of vobis, fratres, and vos, fratres they use tibi, pater, and te, pater.

Ꝟ. Misereátur vestri omnípotens Deus, et, dimissis peccátis vestris, perdúcat vos ad vitam ætérnam.

℟. Amen.

Ꝟ. A vínculis peccatórum nostrórum ✠ absólvat nos omnípotens et miséricors Dóminus.

℟. Amen.

Then those who have obtained previous permission go by turns on their knees and accuse themselves of their faults (not of their sins or any matter of conscience), saying:

At the beginning: In the presence of God Our Lord, I accuse myself of …

At the end: For these faults I beg pardon and penance.

The person giving the Circle suggests to each one a short prayer or a small mortification according to custom.

VI. Reading and commentary on some spiritual book or talk.

VII. Conversation about matters to do with the Work.

VIII. Preces.