Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Practicing the Examen

Our November SFMT prayer time used the Examen, an Ignatian practice, to guide our time together. The Examen was recommended by Ignatius of Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises and has been popularized by the book "Sleeping with Bread" by the Linns (see below).

The examen is prayed this way.
  • Once a day -- or more or less often, if you choose -- we are invited to begin by offering prayers of thanks for our day.
  • Then we ask two simple questions as we prayerfully review the experience of our day in the light of God's great love for us: Where have I noticed God's presence? When have I been aware of ignoring/not including God in my day?
  • If I am led to ask for forgiveness, I do so.
  • The time is closed with a prayer of thanksgiving for the day that has been and prayers for God's guidance for the day to come.
The Linns offer this as a family practice, inviting us to share with one another the best part of our day, and the worst part of our day, offer forgiveness to each other, and close with prayer together.

The examen is a simple, but powerful tool for self discovery. It can help us notice patterns of behavior that lead us away from God, as well as patterns that nourish our relationship with God.

References:
Dennis, Sheila & Mathew Linn "Sleeping with Bread: Holding What Gives You Life" Paulist Press, 1995.
The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, as translated by David L. Fleming. S. J. in "Draw Me Into Your Friendship: The Spiritual Exercises, a literal and a contemporary reading" The Institute of Jesuit Sources, 1996