What is the examen of Ignatius?
St. Ignatius invites us to find God in all things. That means we have to pay careful attention to how the Spirit is moving in each moment of our daily lives. We have to take a magnifying glass to the seemingly ordinary, seeking to encounter the Divine. That’s why the Examen is such a powerful prayer.
What is the examen?
The Examen is an ancient practice in the Church that can help us see God’s hand at work in our whole experience. The method presented here is adapted from a technique described by Ignatius Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises.
What is the Examen prayer?
That’s why the Examen is such a powerful prayer. In it, we’re invited to encounter God, express gratitude for the gift and gifts of each day, and to commit to make up for any mistakes we may have made. The Examen is a flexible prayer, too, responding to the signs of the times.
Why do Jesuits pray the examen twice a day?
St. Ignatius thought that the Examen was a gift that came directly from God, and that God wanted it to be shared as widely as possible. One of the few rules of prayer that Ignatius made for the Jesuit order was the requirement that Jesuits practice the Examen twice daily—at noon and at the end of the day.
What are the 5 steps of the Ignatian Examen?
5 Steps of The ExamenBecome aware of God's presence. Look back on the events of the day. ... Review the day with gratitude. ... Pay attention to your emotions. ... You may be shown and remember some ways that you fell short. ... Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. ... Look toward tomorrow.
Why did St Ignatius create the Examen?
The prayer of the daily Examen originated in 1522 when St. Ignatius of Loyola began writing the Spiritual Exercises. St. Ignatius believed this method would help us develop discipline, ask for God's grace, and see how God works through us and among us daily.
How do I practice the daily Examen?
The Daily ExamenPrepare your heart and mind. Center yourself by lighting a candle or taking a few deep breaths. ... Review the day with gratitude. Think back through the events of your day, noting the joys and delights. ... Pay attention to your emotions. ... Select a part of your day to pray over. ... Pray for tomorrow.
How do you pray nightly Examen?
Steps of the Examen As you begin, invite God into your prayer and ask for the grace to see yourself honestly as you review your day. Then, at a meditative pace, review your day using the five steps below as a guide. You can prayerfully meditate on your responses or journal as you move through the reflections.
What are the two purposes of the examen?
St. Ignatius Loyola's Examen 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.
What are Ignatian prayers?
Ignatian Contemplation is prayer with Scripture. It is meeting God through story. The prayer develops as you “live into” a Scripture story with all your senses and imagination. You become a participant in the story, and you continue in the story in your heart, mind, imagination, spirit and body after the reading ends.
Why is the examen important?
The Examen, a prayer of awareness that Ignatius of Loyola taught in his Spiritual Exercises, helps one notice God's presence in our daily lives. This modern adaptation invites reflection upon five points for spiritual thanksgiving, grace, and introspection.
Who created the examen prayer?
Ignatius of LoyolaThe Examen is a reflective prayer practice which allows children to reflect on the day's events and to become more aware of the presence of God in their lives. It was developed by Ignatius of Loyola, a 15th Century Basque, who became the founder of the Jesuit Order of priests.
What is a daily examination of conscience?
Examination of conscience is a review of one's past thoughts, words, actions, and omissions for the purpose of ascertaining their conformity with, or deviation from, the moral law.
What is Ignatian Spirituality summary?
Ignatian Spirituality is a spirituality of action: to labor with Christ in building the Kingdom of God. Once a person responds to the call, St. Ignatius invites a person to pray to come to know Christ more intimately, love him more ardently and follow him more closely.
Why is communal prayer important?
Communal prayer means to pray with others. This can take place during church services, or it could be a structured meeting of Christians who have arranged to pray together. This type of prayer can help Christians connect with each other as well as God and help to strengthen the Christian community.
What is the Ignatian examen?
Ignatius invites us to find God in all things. That means we have to pay careful attention to how the Spirit is moving in each moment of our daily lives. We have to take a magnifying glass to the seemingly ordinary, seeking to encounter the Divine. That’s why the Examen is such a powerful prayer.
Why is the examen important?
That’s why the Examen is such a powerful prayer. In it, we’re invited to encounter God, express gratitude for the gift and gifts of each day, and to commit to make up for any mistakes we may have made. The Examen is a flexible prayer, too, responding to the signs of the times.
How to pray for the exam?
1. Place yourself in God’s presence. Give thanks for God’s great love for you. 2. Pray for the grace to understand how God is acting in your life. 3. Review your day — recall specific moments and your feelings at the time. 4.
Ask God for light
If we attune ourselves to look and listen, we may find God present within us, all around us, and speaking to us constantly. But if we don’t bother to look, it will seem that there is nothing to be seen.
Give thanks
Our gifts and talents differ, and as a result the harvest produced will differ. But such differences do not make some people better in the eyes of God. Whatever talents or gifts we have are just that—gifts. And gratitude is the only proper response to the reception of gifts.
Review the day
I was once sitting in a little park in the small town of Loyola in Spain. Behind me was the imposing basilica of St. Ignatius, who was born there. Its edifice at that time was covered in scaffolding and under renovation. In front of me was a small kiosk selling newspapers, chocolate, and other small items.
Face your shortcomings
We have not always made choices that lead us to praise, honor, and serve God. We have not always acted as if we believe that we are loved. We have not always treated everything in our lives as a gift.
Look toward the day to come
We need to act wisely, as God would have us act. The question to ask yourself is “What will I do today ?” I have a long to-do list written on a sheet of paper that lies next to my keyboard. I work in two different offices, and I carry the list around with me.
What is the purpose of the Examen?
The examen is an opportunity to review how well I am doing as a disciple of Jesus. One of the fruits of the examen is to begin to notice patterns of consolation and desolation in my life and their causes. This is only achieved if the examen is used regularly, even daily. Adults do not always have to lead the examen.
What is consolation in St. Ignatius?
Consolation is when something is deeply and genuinely good for us, good for our souls, leads us towards God and away from our selfish preoccupations.
What is the exam in Jesuit life?
The examen is a prayerful reflection from the Spiritual Exercises which has become a key part of Jesuit life and which can have a powerful impact on the lives of those who use it. It consists of setting time aside each day (for Ignatius twice a day, at midday and the end of the day) to reflect prayerfully on the events of ...
Who painted the spiritual exercises?
Spiritual Exercises Week 1 Painting. This painting by Catalan artists Gemma Guasch and Josep Asuncion hangs in the entrance to the spirituality centre at Manresa where, in the cave above which it is built, St Ignatius prayed and wrote the beginnings of the Spiritual Exercises in 1522.
What is the Action Plan of the International Congress of Education Delegates held in Rio in 2017?
The Action Plan from the International Congress of Education Delegates held in Rio in 2017, calls for "the delegates commit to promote the Examen of Consciousness in each of the schools to help students listen to their inner voice and learn the path of interiority.". The Rio Papers (pdf) Leading the Examen in Schools.
The Examen
Here is the Ignatian Examen as it appears in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola:
Guided Examen Prayer Experiences
If you looking to pray the Examen in a new way, or learning to pray it for the first time, these 15-20 minute videos guide you through the prayer. Each one is unique and led by people experienced at helping others pray.
