St. Sabas
“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 the 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?
Few of us share Sabas’ yearning for a cave in the desert, but most of us sometimes resent the demands others place on our time. Sabas understands that. When at last he gained the solitude for which he yearned, a community immediately began to gather around him, and he was forced into a leadership role. He stands as a model of patient generosity for anyone whose time and energy are required by others—that is, for all of us.
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!
O God, who led Saint Sabas into the desert to seek You with all his heart, grant that through his prayers we may grow in simplicity, purity, and love for You. Help us to find You in silence and to remain faithful in times of trial.
Saint Sabas, holy father of the desert, pray for us.
Amen.
