Examen Prayer
“The examen makes us aware of moments in our lives that at first we might easily pass by as insignificant, moments that ultimately can give direction to our lives.” —Dennis Linn
“So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus would be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.” — Philippians 1:9-11 (MSG)
The daily examen is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of your day, a way to use your head and test your feelings in dialogue with God. Engaging in the examen offers a way for you to detect God’s presence and discern his direction for your life.
St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, developed the examen (also known as the “examination of consciousness”) as a prayer discipline for encouraging followers of Jesus to live more consciously in and of the presence of God in their daily lives. This prayer practice offers us an opportunity to slow down and notice where God shows up amidst the hurriedness, distractions, deadlines, heartache, pain, and even joy of the day. The examen opens us up to both the beautiful and the difficult moments in our lives, giving us a way of reflecting on what God might be saying to us in seemingly insignificant moments such as a meeting, an interaction with a stranger, a meal, grocery shopping, a conversation with your child, or taking the dog for a walk through the neighborhood. This prayer practice helps us discover how God might be speaking to us not only through our mental state, but also our emotions and bodily feelings. It is easy to suppose that God only speaks to us in thought and word but in actual fact he has created us to be holistic beings, therefore it makes perfect sense that God would use our emotions and bodily sensations to communicate to us as well. Learning how to pay attention to these parts of ourselves can help us discover where God is at work, discerning his direction for our lives, and learning how to trust more deeply in him.
There are a variety of ways that you can practice the examen; here I will offer up just one and provide some other resources for you to explore if you wish. Ultimately though, as with breath prayer, praying the examen is about opening yourself to the presence of God already in you and with you, and pondering his nearness to you throughout your daily encounters and activities.
This is a version of the 5-step daily examen that St. Ignatius practiced:
Gratitude: I note the gifts that God’s love has given me this day, and I give thanks to God for them.
Petition: I ask God for insight and a strength that will make this examen a work of grace, fruitful beyond my human capacity alone.
Review: With my God, I review the day. I look for the stirrings in my heart and the thoughts that God has given me this day. I look for those that have not been of God. I review my choices in response to both.
Forgiveness: I ask for the healing touch of the forgiving God, who with love and respect for me, removes my heart’s burdens.
Renewal: I look to the following day and, with God, plan concretely how to live it in accord with God’s loving desire for my life.
The prayer of examen is usually practiced at the end of the day (although can be practiced throughout the day as well). Adele Ahlberg Calhoun in her book Spiritual Disciplines Handbook notes that some of the god-given fruit which can grow out of engaging the examen includes keeping company with Jesus throughout all the highs and lows of the day, recognizing God’s presence in your experiences, developing more discernment and receptivity to God’s voice, being aware of your growing edges, and being aware of your god-given desires.
So I invite you to join me in introducing the prayer of examen into the flow of your days and weeks as you seek to attune your spirit to the presence of God living and moving in you. May you discover more of God’s love and delight for you as you abide in Christ and He in you.
In Him,
Rose
Further Resources:
Sleeping with Bread by Dennis Linn, Sheila Fabricant Linn, and Matthew Linn
The Examen Prayer: Ignatian Wisdom for Our Lives Today by Timothy Gallagher, OMI
“The Examen with Fr. James Martin S. J.” [Podcast]