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25. Have I taken bribes for the use of my
authority either in business or public life, to give unjust preferences or awards to others?

26. As an official of the people, have I accepted bribes on condition that I would permit evil
or allow it to go unpunished?

27. Have I cheated in gambling, or offered fixed devices for gambling to others, thus winning
valuable stakes to which I had no right?

28. Have I evaded paying any just and grave debt I had incurred?

II. VENIAL SINS

1. Have I deliberately stolen anything of small value, even though it was worth very little?

2. Have I used the property of others without their permission?

3. Have I damaged things belonging to others by carelessness and misuse?

4. Have I borrowed things from others, such as books, articles of clothing, etc., and never
returned them?

5. Have I kept lost articles of small value when I knew or could find the owner?

6. Have I accepted small things from others which I knew were stolen?

7. Have I given away small things that were not mine to give?

8. Have I lied my way out of small debts
and obligations?


II. VENIAL SINS

1. Have I deliberately stolen anything of small value, even though it was worth very little?

2. Have I used the property of others without their permission?

3. Have I damaged things belonging to others by carelessness and misuse?

4. Have I borrowed things from others, such as books, articles of clothing, etc., and never
returned them?

5. Have I kept lost articles of small value when I knew or could find the owner?

6. Have I accepted small things from others which I knew were stolen?

7. Have I given away small things that were not mine to give?

8. Have I lied my way out of small debts and obligations?

9. Have I been guilty of petty cheating in games of chance, thus gaining by dishonesty?

10. Have I induced people to give me things by lying about the extent of my property?

11. Have I failed to reveal to others the mistakes they inadvertently made in giving me too much
change or more of a commodity than I paid for?

12. Have I neglected to make restitution for small articles I had stolen or unjustly acquired?

III. HELPS AND COUNSELS

1. Have I trained myself to remember that "every penny " of stolen goods will have to be repaid in
some way before I can enter heaven?

2. Have I a deep conviction that without justice the world would soon become a battlefield where
might would always conquer right?

3. Have I tried to cultivate a spirit of detachment from riches and possessions, which is the best
preventive of temptations to injustice?

4. Have I, as a parent, inculcated a strict sense of honesty and justice in my children, punishing
every slight theft or deceit?

ASPIRATION : Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy kingdom come. (300 days indulgence.) [97]


PRAYER: O Lord, who didst impose upon all men the commandment: ''Thou shalt not
steal,'' who will demand a strict account of all who have been unjust in their dealings with their
neighbor, I am profoundly sorry for every sin and fault whereby I have wronged my fellow-man,
and promise to make full reparation. Thy greatest praise of Thy foster­ father, St. Joseph, was
contained in the simple words that ''he was a just man.' ' Give me the strength to imitate his
praise: to be just in

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