The Prayer of Examen

Examen, is named after a latin form of the word examine. The prayer was initially introduced by Saint Ignatius as a simple prayer to help us grow and mature through friendship with Jesus.

It is designed to be daily prayer, usually sometime late in the day to reflect back on the experienced of the day. Some, however, use it as a morning prayer to reflect on the day prior.

Though it is a prayer with five different steps, it is designed to be a somewhat brief prayer, lasting up to about 15 minutes.

Here are two modern explanations of the steps. Read through each and adapt them in a way that is most helpful for you to understand these steps as you being your practice:

A modern paraphrase of Ignatius' original instructions from the book Draw Me Into Your Friendship, by David Fleming:

1. giving thanks to God our Lord for all the favors received:
2. asking the help of the Spirit to enlighten me so that I may see with the light of God's grace;
3. going back over the events of the day or of the time since my last confession to see where God has been present in my life and where I have kept God out-the sinful acts, whether in thoughts, words, or deeds, whether it be things I have done or I have failed to do, and the tendencies or roots of such sinful behavior;
4. expressing my sorrow and asking God's forgiving love to heal and strengthen me;
5. praying for the grace to be more totally available to God who loves me so totally.

A simpler alliterative description of the steps by Mark Thibodeaux:

1. Relish the moments that went well and all of the gifts I have today.
2. Request the Spirit to lead me through my review of the day.
3. Review the day.
4. Repent of any mistakes or failures.
5. Resolve, in concrete ways, to live tomorrow well.