This document examines the Vincentian virtues of humility, simplicity, meekness, mortification, and zeal. For each virtue, it poses reflective questions about how one lives out that virtue in their actions and relationships with others. The purpose is for self-examination based on the virtues exemplified by St. Vincent de Paul. It encourages humility in recognizing gifts and limitations, simplicity in having an undivided heart for God, meekness in gentle compassion, willingness to sacrifice oneself, enthusiasm for service balanced with contemplation, and treating all with dignity.

1. V I N C E N T I A N V I R T U E S
A N E X A M I N A T I O N O F C O N S C I E N C E B A S E D O N T H E

2. H U M I L I T Y
• Do I recognize my dignity as a child of God, having the
humility to see the gifts God has given me, and do I
use those gifts for his glory or for my own vanity?
• Am I able to recognize my own limits, my weaknesses,
my shortcomings, my failings before others?
• Am I able to forgive others and ask forgiveness for my
offenses?

3. S I M P L I C I T Y
• Is my heart only for God?
• Am I transparent, sincere in my dealings with others?
• Do I seek the truth or do I sometimes hide the truth so
that my real nature will not be known?

4. M E E K N E S S
• Am I gentle in my dealings with others or am I
aggressive and offensive?
• Am I easily approachable or do I shut the door of my
heart to others?
• Am I truly compassionate, able to suffer with others?

5. M O R T I F I C AT I O N
• Am I willing to die to myself?
• Am I willing at times to forget about my needs and
sacrifice myself for others?
• Do I at times do for others in a begrudging manner?

6. Z E A L • Am I enthusiastic in my apostolic works?
• Do I inspire hope in others and for others?
• Is my action refreshed with contemplation or do I
fall into activism?
• Am I showing signs of burnout and an
indifference in my dealings with others?
• Do I truly see the poor as my “Lords and
Masters,” treating them with love and all due
respect, or do I fall into the trap of treating them
like objects, as stepping stones to “my own
greater honor and glory”?

7. P R E S E N TAT I O N B Y
Source:
Letter of G. Gregory Gay, CM. to the Congregation
of the Mission. Original Publication: Vincentiana
2005-01, January-February 2005.