L. White, who blogs as the “Still Practising Catholic,” experimented with prayer journaling the Examen. She found it challenging to notice areas of her life that might need to change:
One small example is at the Weekend the alarm goes off in the morning and I cajole my husband into getting out of bed and making me a cup of tea. He doesn’t work at the weekend and I realised that I was cutting his time of equally deserved rest. Going through the examen I realised that this was a behaviour I was not happy with and that I felt was in a small way failing God. So I resolved to get up and make my own tea and one for him as well and I could keep track of these small successes (apparently he thought I was just being impatient…oops!) It also made me dwell on the small moments of the day when I felt blessed such as time with a friend I so often take for granted.
What has been your experience praying the Examen?
For my evening examine I asked “when did I show grace today?” I work as a manager in a retirement and care home. As I pondered the question several of the day’s interactions with residents came to mind. I promptly dismissed the occasions as that is my job that I am paid for. In response to my dismissal came the reply, “just because it is part of your job is it not still grace?”
I have been keeping a daily journal since 1995. My evening prayer starts with the Liturgy of the Hour and ends with my journal. The first time I learned about St. Ignatius’ Examen, I was pleasantly surprised to see how similar it is to what I have been doing for years in my journal. For me, it is a combination diary, examination of conscience and a personal, intimate chat with my Lord. I discuss serious matters with him, all my concerns and anxieties, as well as my joys and pleasures, and occasionally, I share a joke with Him.