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.
How to Make the Examen Part of Your Day
Variations on the Examen
Reflections on Praying the Examen
Handouts on the Examen
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.
For details about each step of the Examen, read How Can I Pray?
dotMagis Posts About the Examen
From the category archives of the dotMagis blog.
How to Make the Examen Part of Your Day
Lunchtime Examen
Pause to review your day in the presence of God with this six-session series led by Jim Manney, author of A Simple, Life-Changing Prayer: Discovering the Power of St. Ignatius Loyola’s Examen.
Rummaging for God: Praying Backwards through Your Day
By Dennis Hamm, SJ
Fr. Dennis Hamm, SJ, a scripture professor at Creighton University, calls the Daily Examen “rummaging for God.” He likens it to “going through a drawer full of stuff, feeling around, looking for something that you are sure must be there.” That’s an accurate description of what it’s like to pray the Daily Examen. We look back on the previous day, rummaging through the “stuff,” and finding God in it. We know he is there.
Consciousness Examen
By George Aschenbrenner, SJ
Considered a classic. This is a reprint of the original 1972 article by Aschenbrenner exploring the how and why of practicing the Examen.
Reflection and Our Active Lives
By David L. Fleming, SJ
The tools and methods of Ignatian spirituality, particularly the Examen, instill in us habits of prayerful, thoughtful reflection.
The Examen Video
A six-minute video about the Examen, produced by the Jesuits of the California Province.
A Method of Making the General Examen
Simple and clear explanation of the Examen, focusing on what Ignatius intended when composing it.
Daily Examen Video from Strake Jesuit
Audio presentation (with accompanying images) of the Examen as it is presented each day to the students at Strake Jesuit College Prep in Houston.
Into the Examen
This follow-up video to “Examen” from St. Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco features a student trying out the Examen for himself. Several people think it is the best video they have seen about the Examen.
Variations on the Examen
Reimagining the Ignatian Examen Flip Books
Pray with the nitty-gritty of your day with our Reimagining the Ignatian Examen Flip Books. Using prayers from the book by Mark E. Thibodeaux, SJ, the flip books bring the Examen to your desktop, laptop, or mobile device.
Reimagining the Examen App
This free app is based on Thibodeaux’s book, Reimagining the Ignatian Examen, which offers 34 adaptable versions of the Examen.
Review of the Day for Managers
By Paul Brian Campbell, SJ
An adaptation of the Ignatian Examen designed for managers.
From Ashes to Glory
A way of praying the Examen through Lent, with materials by Joseph Tetlow, SJ. Take up the practice of reflecting on your day, its gifts and graces, and the progress you are making in life with Christ.
Ecological Examen (PDF)
By Joseph Carver, SJ
The Examen is presented from an ecological perspective.
A Daily Examen of Consciousness for Diversity
By Debra Mooney and Cheryl Nunez
This adaptation of the Examen invites reflection on one’s experience with diversity.
Reflections on Praying the Examen
Why We Pray the Examen Each Night with Our 11-Month-Old Son
By Clarissa Aljentera
A mother recognizes that while her son may not remember details of evening prayer, the ritual gathers the family to find God in their home.
Examen: The Paradox of Reflection
By Brendan McManus, SJ
Fr. McManus explains the paradox in taking time to look back at our day.
Handouts on the Examen
Examen Prayer Card
A prayer card with the steps of the Examen as described by Jim Manney in A Simple, Life-Changing Prayer; available for online sharing or as a PDF download.
