The Daily Examen
OPENING PRAYER
To Come Home to Yourself
May all that is unforgiven in you be released.
May your fears yield their deepest tranquilities.
May all that is unlived in you blossom into a future
graced with love.
Amen.
Source: John O'Donohue (d. 2008), To Bless the Space Between Us:
A Book of Invocations and Blessings
"THE DAILY EXAMEN"
"Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." (Lk 23:34)
An unexamined life is not worth living”
—Socrates
Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.”
(Romans 12:2)
How often do you reflect on your life?
An ancient, spiritual practice found in most religions applies our gift and ability of self-reflection to consider or review our relationship with God. St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, taught in his Spiritual Exercises that we can find God in all things and at every moment, even in the ordinary experiences of our daily lives. St. Ignatius offered the Examen as a daily practice of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence, to discern God’s direction for us, and to grow in our relationship with God.
There are many different adaptations of the Examen, but they are generally centered around the following five-step practice offered by St. Ignatius:
1. Quiet yourself and your mind, and become aware of God’s presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to bring clarity and understanding as you look back on the events and experiences of your day.
2. Review the day with gratitude, which is a foundation of our relationship with God. Recall and experience those events which brought you joy and delight. Focus on those particular experiences with people and events, many of which may, at first, seem insignificant such as something that caused you to smile, or a kind word someone may have said to you. Express gratitude and thanksgiving to God for these experiences.
3. Pay attention to your emotions. Share with God the feelings and desires you experienced during the day such as love, joy, peace, confidence, compassion, sadness, anxiety, regret, resentment, anger, boredom, frustration, and the like. God will show you where you may have fallen short during the day to act or respond with love. Ask for forgiveness and healing and for direction to guide you in the future.
4. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to see one thought, feeling, or experience—positive or negative—that is important for you to consider at that moment and pray to God about it, and whether you are being called to give praise, express gratitude, repent, or offer intercession for others.
5. Look toward tomorrow. Ask God to guide you with tomorrow’s challenges and to be open to God’s presence. Pay attention to the emotions you experience. Express your desires to God. Ask for wisdom, understanding, and help to guide you.