Introduction
The Examen was started by St. Ignatius. It helps a person evaluate the movements of the Good Spirit, a person’s own feelings and emotions, and Evil Spirit. There are a couple of things I like about the Examen. First is that it does not take very long to do. The idea is to practice the Examen two times a day (lunch time and in the evening) for 5 to 7 minutes. Second, is its flexibility. A person can stop at any point and focus on that section. For example, if the Gratitude Section is good, they can stay there giving thanks the whole time. This can happen at any section throughout it. Next is a short description of each of the section. Finally, I will conclude with several different one sentence or word descriptors that can be copied to fit in a pocket and taken with you. The Examen is a practice that has helped me learn to pay attention to the movements of God in my life on a deeper level than any other daily Spiritual Practice I have done.
The Examen Movements:
The Beginning: Sit in God’s love
The Examen begins by “centering ourselves in the presence of God.” To put another way, we want to establish ourselves into the existence of God’s love. For me this is not inviting God to be with me. Rather, it is trusting that They are already with me, loving me just as I am, and want to show me how They have and are inviting me into a deeper love relationship. This is to happen even before Step 1 of the Examen. So, start by:
Placing yourself in the reality that God is furiously in love with you and the world.
Phase 1: Gratitude
After centering ourselves in the Love of God we begin the first phase of the Examen, Gratitude. The Examen begins by acknowledging that God is the giver of all good gifts. In addition, and most importantly, we are recognizing that Gods deepest desire is to give us good gifts. God’s most profound longing is to bless us.
Gratitude is, Reviewing the gifts of God’s love you experienced so far that day.
Phase 2: Petition
After Giving Thanks you ask for help in reviewing your day. Next is to Petition the Holy Spirit, Spirit, Eternal Presence, or Light to give you the Grace to Review your day. For me I believe we are asking for the courage and strength to pay attention to the images, thoughts, or behaviors that are brought to your mind and heart. In essence we are Petitioning for help.
Petition: Ask for the light/grace/strength/courage to review your thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors of the day
Phase 3: Review
I have been doing some backpacking and day hiking lately. Occasionally, I turn around and look back in the direction I just came from. I like to do this because I want to remember what the trail looks like when I return the next day. Looking back and exploring your thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors from the day is the third step of the Examen. I believe looking back at the day helps us remember how God felt so we can live into that reality more and more the next day and in the days to come.
Review: Turning around to let God bring pictures of your attitude, behaviors, and thoughts throughout the day
Phase 4: Forgiveness
The second to final step of the Examen is to ask for Forgiveness. According to Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V. the “two pillars that sustain relationships are the joy of togetherness and the readiness, when human limitations emerge, to ask for forgiveness.” (The Examen Prayer, by Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V. page 87). The courage to ask for forgiveness, both from God and other humans, stems from understanding the God loves us no matter what and is eager to embrace us just as we are and not as we should be.
Forgiveness: Facing up to failures and shortcomings and asking God to forgiveness us
Phase 5: Renewal
Renewal is the final step to the Examen. In every other phase of the Examen we are looking back at our life. In Renewal we look forward to the coming day. A person takes the lessons from the day and apply it the rest of the day. It is preparing to authentically love the rest of the day and in the days to come.
Renewal: Renewal: Applying the lessons from earlier in the day in order to love better the rest of the day
Conclusion
Individual Steps
The Beginning: Placing yourself in the reality that God is furiously in love with you and the world.
Gratitude: Reviewing the gifts of God’s love you experienced so far that day.
Petition: Ask for the light/grace/strength/courage to review your thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors of the day
Review: Turning around to let God bring pictures of your attitude, behaviors, and thoughts throughout the day.
Forgiveness: Facing up to failures and shortcomings and asking God to forgiveness us. Renewal: Renewal: Applying the lessons from earlier in the day in order to love better the rest of the day.
Or
1) Pray of light
2) Give Thanks
3) Review the day
4) Face what’s wrong
5) Do something but not just anything.
Or
Transition: I become aware of the love which God looks upon me as I begin this examen
Step One: Gratitude. I note the gifts that God’s love has given me this day, and I give thanks to God for them.
Step Two: Petition. I ask God for an insight and a strength that will make this examen a work of grace, fruitful beyond my human capacity alone.
Step Three: 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 also for those that have not been of God. I review my choices in response to both, and throughout the day in general.
Step Four: Forgiveness. I ask for the healing touch of the forgiveness God who, with love and respect for me, removes my heart’s burdens.
Step Five: 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.
Transition: Aware of God’s presence with me, I prayerfully conclude the examen.
Book:
The Examen Prayer: Ignatian Wisdom for Our Lives Today, by Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V.
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