By means of the general examination we come to know the ultimate reasons for our behavior; with the particular examination we seek effective remedies to combat certain defects or to grow in virtues. This examination, brief and frequent during the course of the day, at the appointed times, must have a very precise purpose: "With the particular examination you must go directly to acquire a determined virtue or to uproot the defect that dominates you". At times the goal of this examination will be "to bring down the Goliath, that is, the dominant passion," that which stands out most as a defect, that which does the most harm to our friendship with the Lord, to the charity with whom we relate. "When someone is particularly dominated by a defect, he should arm himself alone against this enemy, and try to fight him before others (...), for as long as we have not overcome it, we will spoil the fruits of the victory we have gained over others". That is why it is so important that we know ourselves and that we make ourselves known in the spiritual direction, which is where we will usually set the theme of this examination.
Since we do not all have the same defects, "it becomes necessary for each one to present a battle in consideration of the type of struggle with which he is beset".
It can be the subject of particular examination to increase the presence of God in the midst of work, in family life, while walking down the street; to be more attentive to discover where a tabernacle is and to address to the Lord a greeting or an ejaculatory prayer, even if we cannot approach it at that moment; to take care of punctuality, starting in the morning at the time of rising, at the beginning of prayer, or Holy Mass... patience with ourselves, with the defects of those who collaborate in the same work, or in the family; to suppress from the root the habit of murmuring and to contribute so that people do not murmur in our presence; the brusqueness in the treatment; the disinterest for the needs of the neighbor; to gain in the virtue of gratitude, in such a way that we know how to give thanks even for very small favors and services of ordinary life; to be more orderly in the distribution of time, in the books or instruments of work, in personal things, in the dealings with the Guardian Angels. .. A particular examination that will leave a deep mark on the soul, if we struggle, can be to love and live better the Holy Mass and Communion.
Even if in some cases the goal of the particular examen can present itself in its negative side, as resistance to evil, the best way to fight it will be to practice the virtue contrary to the defect we are trying to uproot: to practice humility to overcome the tendency to be the center of everything or the desire to always receive praise and accolades; to exercise serenity to avoid haste.... In this way the interior struggle becomes more effective and attractive. "The movement of the soul towards the good is stronger than the movement away from evil".
Before pointing out the subject of the particular examination, we must ask the Lord for light so as to know what He wants us to struggle for: Domine, ut videam, Lord, may I see, we can say to Him like the blind man of Jericho. And ask for help in spiritual direction.