The Daily Examen

The examen, or examination of conscience, is a quick prayer that I recommend to help people see where God was active in their day.  Usually done for 15 to 20 minutes at the end of a day, the prayer was popularized by St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit Order, in his classic text The Spiritual Exercises. Use the 5 easy steps below to pray the examen every day, and soon you’ll begin to see God’s presence more easily.

1.    Presence: Remember that you are in the presence of God in a special way when you pray. Ask God for help in your prayer.

2.    Gratitude: Recall two or three things that happened today for which you are especially grateful. Savor them. Then thank God for those 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 necessary pray about seeking forgiveness from the person offended, or pray for 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 prayer, ask God’s grace for the following day.

Over time as you pray the examen you will notice God's presence in the moment, rather than just at the end of the day.  You will begin to notice His presence even in the most ordinary of moments, and your whole day can become a kind of prayer.

This is one of many ways to do this prayer. This particular examen was taken mostly from James Martin, SJ (c) 2012 www.cardsbyanne.com.