Seeking to scrutinize oneself is injurious to prayer and to internal recollection. Pray and your conscience by grace received through prayer will be pricked with certainty. Yes, we may contemplate hell and death to kindle the light of conscience, however, the conscience when guided by prayer can explore the sins of our body and minds with no words and understand far better in the heart the gravity of wrongs. In this mournful touch and sense, we begin to expiate our sins through contrition.