THE DAILY EXAMEN
The examen, or
examination of conscience, is a quick time of prayer to help you see where God was
active in your day. Usually done for 15 to 20 minutes at the end of a day, the
prayer was popularized by St. Ignatius Loyola in his classic text The Spiritual
Exercises. Use these five easy steps to pray the examen every day, and soon
you’ll begin to notice God’s presence more easily.
1. Presence:
Remember that you’re in the presence of God in a special way when you pray. Ask
God for help in prayer.
2. Gratitude:
Recall two or three things that happened today for which you are especially
grateful. Savor them. Then thank God for these gifts.
3. Review:
Review your day from start to finish, noticing where you experienced God’s
presence. Notice everything from large to small: from an enjoyable interaction
with a friend to the feel of the sun on your face. When did you love? When were
you loved?
4. Sorrow:
You may have sinned today or done something you regret. Express your sorrow to
God and ask for forgiveness. If it’s a grave sin, pray about seeking
forgiveness from the person offended, or the sacrament of reconciliation.
5. Grace:
You may want to return to a meaningful part of your prayer and speak to God
about how you felt. At the close of the prayer, ask for God’s grace for the
following day.
Over time, as you use the
examen, you’ll notice God’s presence in the moment, rather than just at the end
of the day. You’ll see that your whole day can be a kind of prayer. Soon you’ll
discover that you’ve become, as Jesuits like to say, a “contemplative in
action.”
In Christ's love, Fr. Robert Pax
