Spiritual Reflection Through the Daily Exam
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The Daily Examen is a technique of prayerful reflection on all the things that happened during each day so that we can discover how God was present in our life. St. Ignatius emphasized the importance of finding God in all things and he popularized this prayer technique when he published it in his Spiritual Exercises and required his Jesuit priests to practice it. He asked that we pay careful attention to how the Spirit moves in each moment of our daily lives. When we pause to prayerfully reflect on small moments and encounters of the day, we encounter the Divine.
Through this powerful prayer, we are able to encounter God, express gratitude for each day’s gifts, and ask God for help in being better the next day. Although the recommendation is to do this every night, I practice it a few times a week and I’m always blessed to have devoted 15 to 20 minutes to do it.
The Daily Examen
Before you begin, observe a few minutes of silence with slow deep breaths to quiet the normally overstimulated mind and put yourself in the presence of God.
1. Gratitude: Recall anything from the day for which you are especially grateful and give thanks. Observe the love and support you received and the positive impact you had on others. A spirit of gratitude brings such joy into our lives.
2. Review: Recall the events of the day, from start to finish, and view them in your mind’s eye as if watching a movie, noticing where you felt God’s presence, and where you accepted or turned away from any invitations to grow in love. What moments made you happy, stressful, or peaceful? Recall everything: sights, sounds, feelings, tastes, textures, conversations, thoughts, words, and deeds. As St. Ignatius said, each moment offers a window into where God has been in your day.
3. Sorrow: Recall any actions for which you are sorry.
4. Forgiveness: Ask for God’s forgiveness. Decide whether you want to reconcile with anyone you have hurt.
5. Grace: Ask God for the grace you need for the next day and an ability to see God’s presence more clearly. Ask for the grace that you need to discern God’s will for you in big and small things and to live his will with joy.
May this be a fruitful practice in your spiritual life. God bless you!
