The Examen Prayer

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A short guide to the Examen Prayer from the Ignatian tradition.

The Examen is a prayer developed by St Ignatius of Loyola designed to help a person reflect on their day. It’s part of a daily habit to help us explore the Ignatian idea that God is in all things and so help us to recognise where God has been at work in our day. I find it helpful to do the Examen in the evening to think over the day that’s ending and to look forward to the day to come.

Find a quiet space, sit or stand as you feel comfortable. If it’s helpful begin by lighting a candle and taking a few deep, slow breaths. Allow your feet contact with the floor and let your hands find rest. Be mindful of how your body feels, where you are tired, where you are holding tension.

Be still and let God look at you. Open up the experiences of your day to the God who loves you. Become aware of God’s presence with you and acknowledge your presence before God. Ask God for the light to view your day with God’s eyes, to see things as they truly are.

Look back over your day, trying to see things as honestly as you can. Feel the texture, the taste and the smells of your day. Be open to God about the things you have done, thought or felt. Be aware of the things that have brought you joy, given you hope or life.

Think of something today for which you are grateful. Try to be aware of the graces you have received today, the good things which have come to you freely from God. Focus on one thing for which you are especially grateful, it could be a thing, an event or a person. Hold on to it, savour its qualities, relive a little of its joy and thank God for this good thing.

Call to mind something about your day which has caused you pain, sadness or anger. Try to face whatever shortcomings you have with respect to this moment. Try to do so without shame or unkindness, attempting to view your experience through God’s eyes. Be honest with yourself and with God about your actions and motivations. Examine what brought you to this moment, try to identify what has been the cause of your pain. Hold this before God, offer up any negative emotions and any sense of regret you may be feeling.

Allow God to hold both your experience of joy and of sadness. Allow them to sit in the silence of your heart.

Look forward to the day to come. Ask God to show you the way onward. Make a decision to carry on, following God’s call to you. Entreat God for the gifts to do differently those things you wish to change. Listen to your experiences and desires, attempt to discern God’s voice speaking through them. Hold a moment of stillness.

In your own time, blow out your candle, find rest in God.