The Examen

“To pray well, I must first find out where I am. Self-knowledge is never procured cheaply. To pray well, I need to face up to realities about myself that I would prefer to ignore: my anxieties, fears, private griefs, failures, lovelessness, and my utter lack of resources. To accept the truth about what I am, as well as the truth about other human beings, demands courage. If I do not pray well, it is usually because I lack that kind of courage.” -From Toward God by Michael Casey

One of the best ways to gain self-knowledge that I know is a form of prayer that comes to us from the 16th-century Jesuit, St. Ignatius of Loyola. This form of prayer is called “Examen” and is an opportunity for peaceful, daily reflective prayer. It invites us to find the movement of God in all the people and events of our day. The Examen is simply a set of introspective prompts for you to follow or adapt to your own character and spirit.

Examen prayers consist of five movements: Thanksgiving, Petition, Review, Response, and A Look Ahead. Below is a short, guided exercise in Examen prayer. I recommend that you try this at the end of your day. You may respond to the prompts mentally, but this is also a great prayer practice to incorporate journaling into.

The Examen
Begin with a pause and a slow, deep breath or two; become aware that you are in the presence of the Holy.

Thanksgiving
What am I especially grateful for in the past day?
What has moved me today?
Where have I received love and grace?

Petition
I am about to review my day; I ask for the light to know God and to know myself as God sees me.

Review
Where have I felt true joy today?
What has troubled me today?
What has challenged me today?
Where and when did I pause today?
Have I noticed God's presence in any of this?

Response
In light of my review, what is my response to the God of my life?

A Look Ahead
As I look ahead, what comes to mind?
With what spirit do I want to enter the next 24 hours?

Amen.

Rev. Ryan Young