The Daily Examen Prayer

What is it?

The Daily Examen is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence and discern his direction for us.  The Examen is an ancient practice in the Church that can help us see God’s hand at work in our whole experience.

The method presented here is adapted from a technique described by Ignatius Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises. St. Ignatius thought that the Examen was a gift that came directly from God, and that God wanted it to be shared as widely as possible. One of the few rules of prayer that Ignatius made for the Jesuit order was the requirement that Jesuits practice the Examen twice daily—at noon and at the end of the day. It’s a habit that Jesuits, and many other Christians, practice to this day.

This is a version of the five-step Daily Examen that St. Ignatius practiced.

1. Become aware of God’s presence.
2. Review the day with gratitude.
3. Pay attention to your emotions.
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it.
5. Look toward tomorrow.

In using the Examen prayer each day we can see, over time, the ways in which God touches our lives. We can recognise patterns and influences which affect us in prayer and in our relationships with others.

To help you in this daily prayer I have produced a booklet which gives you a structured way of doing and noting your daily reflections. It is a great way to see how God has been at work in your life over the course of a month.

The booklet is £3 a copy incl postage in UK, and lasts you a month.
Use this link to pay from your paypal account https://paypal.me/reubenjamespreston/3

or send your payment to reuben@ignatianspiritualdirection.org.uk using your debit/credit card on paypal

To buy a year's supply the cost is £30 incl postage in UK.se email Reuben to order the booklet.
Use this link to pay online https://paypal.me/reubenjamespreston/30

or send your payment to reuben@ignatianspiritualdirection.org.uk using your debit/credit card on paypal