Examen Prayer

Spiritual Disciplines: Prayer | An Inward Discipline

What is The Ignatian¹ Examen? A 500-year-old practice of “rummaging through your day” to find where God was present.

How long does Examen take? 10-15 minutes

Meditate and pray

Pause for a moment of silence to turn your affections to the Father, and become aware of God’s presence.

1. RELISH

   • Start by noticing small joys from the last 24 hours (a good coffee, a laugh, a sunset).
     Thank God for them.

2. REQUEST
   Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see your day clearly—not through your own self-criticism, but through God’s eyes.

3. REVIEW
   Replay your day like a movie.

   • Where did you feel Consolation (peace, love, energy)?

   • Where did you feel Desolation (anxiety, anger, draining)?

TIP

Focus on how you felt, not just what you did. Treat the review like a movie you are watching with a friend, rather than a courtroom where you are prosecuting yourself.

4. REPENT
   Acknowledge the moments you “missed the mark” or turned away from love. Receive forgiveness and let it go.

5. RESOLVE
   Look at tomorrow. What do you need? Ask for the specific grace (patience, courage, rest) to meet the next 24 hours.

Examen Prayer Modified Spiritual Disciplines Prayer

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Feel free to download, print, and share this guide for personal or group study. Learn how to practice the Ignatian Examen, a 500-year-old daily prayer routine focused on mindfulness and reflection. Discover the five steps—Relish, Request, Review, Repent, and Resolve—to find spiritual clarity, recognize moments of consolation or desolation, and connect deeply with God's presence.

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1. Ignatius of Loyola, The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius: A Translation and Commentary, trans. George E. Ganss (St. Louis: Institute of Jesuit Sources, 1992).