[Editor’s note: Today’s article is by Mark Manassee, the Senior Minister of the Culver Palms Church of Christ. In it, he discusses the “prayer of examen,” a practice of prayerful self-reflection that invites God more deeply into our lives.]
I have been especially blessed lately by reading “The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life” by James Martin, SJ. Ignatius of Loyola was the founder of the Society of Jesus otherwise known as the Jesuits. Ignatius was interested in developing a practical spirituality that would help everyone along the Christian journey. According to Martin the spirituality that Ignatius encouraged could be defined first of all as finding God in all things.
One of the practices Ignatius developed helps believers notice God’s presence in everyday life. In his book “Spiritual Exercises” he popularized a prayer he called the “examination of conscience.” The word conscience can sound a little foreboding and so the prayer has often gone by is Spanish name—the examen. In English we might use the word “examine”—examining your day for signs of God’s presence.
The examen is a simple prayer in five steps. It can be done once a day before going to bed but can also work during the day as well. James Martin offers a slight modification of the examen for our modern world:
Before you begin, as in all prayer, remind yourself that you’re in God’s presence, and ask God to help you with your prayer.
- Gratitude: Recall anything from the day for which you are especially grateful, and give thanks.
- Review: Recall the events of the day, from start to finish, noticing where you felt God’s presence, and where you accepted or turned away from any invitations to grow in love.
- Sorrow: Recall any actions for which you are sorry.
- Forgiveness: Ask for God’s forgiveness. Decide whether you want to reconcile with anyone you have hurt.
- Grace: Ask God for the grace you need for the next day and an ability to see God’s presence more clearly.
The examen works from the assumption that it is easier to discern God’s presence in retrospect than in the moment. Furthermore, the examen is something that is done with God. If you have ever asked, “Why doesn’t God answer my prayers?” the examen may show that God indeed has answered your prayers, though maybe not in the way or at the speed in which you had hoped.
I want to encourage you to join me in practicing the examen. I am excited about seeing how God will use it. Martin tells the story of guiding some New York actors through the examen. One actor admitted he had a hard time meditating. But after going through the guided examen, he confessed, “I never knew that my yesterday was so beautiful.”
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