The Examen 2: the Practice of Reflecting Back on your Day

And it is popular, and practical, the wisdom of 500 years practiced all over the contemporary world.

There were very few rules for the Jesuits regarding prayer. Ignatius made the requirement for Jesuits to practice the Examen, not once- but- twice a day! So, why the Examen?

I thought the gift to the world from Ignatius was the Spiritual Exercises. The Examen is what came at the very beginning of the Exercises, before anything else.

When did I notice what was tender, generous, good? What do I regret or want to do differently next time, what  calls me to be more of myself, or to love like God loves? What in this world is truly beautiful, a gift to me, that I don’t want to miss?”

“We had the experience but missed the meaning,” says TS Elliot. The Examen, perhaps, is the gift- the way- to help us to not miss it, to not miss the meaning of our lives - everyday.The Examen Roots us in gratitude, invites us into God’s presence, helps us to seek God, find meaning and the depth of our lives, asks us for our humility, where we missed the mark and fell short, helps us seek forgiveness, grace, and to move on

Parker Palmer shares a tale of Rabbi Zusya who said, “In the coming world they will not ask me “Why were you not Moses? They will ask me “Why were you not Zusya?”

Through the Examen, we are invited to be ourselves and lead our own loving life, everyday. A way for God to help us not miss the biggest gift we’ve been given, the beauty and meaning of the life we were made for. This is the practice of the Examen.