Ignatius' Examen (continued)
Ask, Be Grateful, and Be Patient
We continue this week to practice the Examen on events of our lives, while we also sustain our daily prayer period with careful review and journaling.
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There are five steps to the Examen as it appears in the Spiritual Exercises (n.43) of St Ignatius Loyola:
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Give thanks - Spend a few moments in gratitude for the gifts and blessings of the day
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Ask for light - Ask God to enlighten you, showing where he has been at work and present in your day through events, people and places.
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Examine the day - Review the moments of the day, noticing what has led to consolation and what has led to desolation and my reactions to these events, people and places (see below on consolation and desolation).
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Seek forgiveness - Ask God's forgiveness for the times when you have acted, spoken or thought contrary to his grace and calling for you.
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Resolve to change - Decide what in your behavior or attitude you will try to improve tomorrow.
Each day keep the pattern of two 15-minute considerations of your daily life and the “signs of the times” in your life. Do this about 5 or 6 hours apart. (morning and early afternoon or noon and after supper etc. Carefully follow the steps outlined on the website sent last week or the formula sent to you by email.
BRIEFLY journal what is important that flows from the prayers of Examen. Don’t beat yourself up or pat yourself on the back. Credit God with helping and informing you and leave judgement about you to God. Do identify the graces and moments of movement away from God, however.
