The Daily Examen: A Practical Guide to Ignatian Prayer
What Is the Daily Examen?
The Daily Examen is a short, structured prayer from St. Ignatius of Loyola that helps you review your day with God. It is not an examination of conscience in the narrow sense of listing sins, but a prayer of awareness: noticing where God has been present, how you have responded, and how you are being invited forward.
Many people pray the Examen in 10–15 minutes once or twice a day—often at midday and/or before going to sleep. It can be adapted for beginners, seasoned pray-ers, spiritual directors, and those simply curious about Ignatian spirituality.
Why Pray the Examen?
The Examen helps you:
- Grow in awareness of God’s presence in the ordinary events of your day.
- Notice patterns in your desires, choices, consolations, and desolations.
- Discern where God may be inviting you to greater freedom and love.
A Simple Daily Examen You Can Start Tonight
Here is a concise, 10–15 minute version of the Daily Examen based on the teaching above. You can pray it exactly as written until it becomes natural.
1. Become Aware of God’s Presence (1–2 minutes)
Sit or stand comfortably. Slow your breathing.
Pray quietly:
- “God, you are here.”
- or “Lord, help me see this day as you see it.”
Rest for a moment in that awareness. You are not trying to feel something; you are simply acknowledging that God has been with you all day and is with you now.
2. Review the Day with Gratitude (2–3 minutes)
Gently walk through your day from waking until now.
Ask:
- “What am I genuinely grateful for today?”
Name specific things, large or small:
- A conversation, a meal, a moment of beauty, a task finished, a kind word, a laugh, a bit of rest.
For each one, pause and:
- Remember it.
- Let yourself feel the gratitude again.
- Say, “Thank you, Lord, for this.”
3. Pay Attention to Your Emotions (3–4 minutes)
Now review the day again, but this time notice your interior movements.
Ask:
- “Where did I feel most alive, peaceful, loving, or free today?” (consolation)
- “Where did I feel most anxious, angry, empty, resistant, or cut off today?” (desolation)
Do not judge or fix anything. Simply notice:
- What was happening?
- Who was I with?
- What changed my mood—for better or worse?
You are learning how your heart responds to God’s presence and to the things that pull you away.
4. Choose One Moment and Pray About It (2–3 minutes)
Let one specific moment from the day rise to the surface:
- It might be especially joyful, painful, confusing, or persistent in your memory.
Then talk to God about that one moment as you would to a trusted friend:
- If it was good: “Thank you for this. Why was this so life-giving?”
- If it was painful: “This hurt. Where were you in this? Please heal what needs healing.”
- If it involved failure: “I’m sorry for this. Show me what was going on in me. Help me receive your mercy and choose differently.”
Listen briefly in silence. You may sense peace, insight, or nothing at all. The prayer is real either way.
5. Look Toward Tomorrow (1–2 minutes)
Glance at the day ahead.
Ask:
- “What am I looking forward to?”
- “What am I dreading or anxious about?”
- “Where will I especially need your help, Lord?”
Name one concrete intention for tomorrow, for example:
- “Help me be patient with ___.”
- “Help me notice your presence in small things.”
- “Help me be honest and kind in that conversation.”
Offer tomorrow to God:
- “Lord, be with me in all of it. Give me the grace to notice consolation and desolation, and to respond to you with freedom and love.”
Close with a simple prayer (e.g., the Our Father) or a moment of quiet.
If You’re Short on Time: The Two-Question Examen (5 minutes)
On very busy days, use this abbreviated form:
- For what moment today am I most grateful?
- For what moment today am I least grateful?
Talk with God briefly about each, then look toward tomorrow with one simple intention.
How to Begin Practicing
- Pick a time: Aim for the same time every day (after dinner, before bed, or during your commute).
- Start small: Even 5 minutes is enough to begin.
- Be honest: Bring the real day you actually lived, not the one you wish you had lived.
- Be patient: The fruit comes over weeks and months as patterns slowly emerge.
Prayed faithfully, this small daily practice will steadily train you to recognize God’s presence in the ordinary flow of your life—and that awareness will quietly reshape how you live.