The Examen

                              THE EXAMEN – Prayer of Awareness
                       “Yahweh, you examine me and know me” (Psalm 139:1)
The daily examen of consciousness allows us to discover how God has been present to us and how we have responded to that presence through the day. As we practice this, our consciousness or awareness of God’s presence and action in our lives will grow.

St Ignatius taught that were there time in our day for only one prayer, the examen would allow us to stay connected to the Divine Presence in our lives.

The examen is a tool for the integration of our relationships with God, self and others; also with the natural world around us. The general dynamic movement of love at work is reflected in the method:
                 Thank you → Help me → I love you → I’m sorry → Stay with me

METHOD

    1.  Be relaxed and ask God, ‘Lord, let my whole being be directed to your praise and service.’
    2. Let the day play back to you in any order. Avoiding any self- judgment or moralising, look first at those moments of the day you have enjoyed. Relish and thank God for them. They are God’s gift to you, signs of God’s love. 
    3. Pray for enlightenment – ‘Lord, that I may see’.  Now look at your moods and inner feelings during the day, but without judging them. Moods and inner feelings arise from our desires. When our desires are satisfied, we are content; when they are frustrated, we become irritable. We are praying to know the desires and attitudes underlying our moods. Are my desires and/attitudes directed to God’s Kingdom – am I living to praise, reverence and serve God; or are my desires directed to my personal kingdom, to my comfort, wealth, status, honour – wanting creation to praise, reverence and serve me?
    4. Express sorrow if you have not been responding to God in the events of the day, knowing God always forgives. Thank God, too, for the times you have responded.
    5. Ask God’s guidance for tomorrow and entrust yourself to God’s goodness,_‘like a child in its mother’s arms’ (Psalm 131:2)

Prayer of Trust – Psalm 131
”I am as a child in it’s mother’s arms … “

Yahweh, my heart has no lofty-ambitions,
my eyes do not look too high.
I am not concerned with great affairs
or marvels beyond my scope.
Enough for me to keep my soul tranquil and quiet
like a child in it’s mother’s arms,
as content as a child that has been weaned.
Israel, rely on Yahweh,
now and for always!
(Jerusalem Bible)

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