We all love to find novel ways to practise our faith. New music, books, apps and podcasts can be stimulating to our spirituality. Yet sometimes, the thing we're looking for isn't new at all. It's often very old and has been practised for hundreds of years.
Once such example is called the Examen. It's a simple set of practices to be carried out at the end of the day, which many have come to find an indispensible way of praying before sleep.
The Examen was developed by St Ignatius of Loyola – a Spanish soldier who abandoned his military career once he had converted to Christianity. He developed a series of techniques which he wrote down as The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola.
Examining the conscience was a concept going back to scripture and the earlier years of the Church. But in the 16<sup>th Century, as part of his Exercises Ignatius turned the concept into a simple but effective way of reviewing the day.
What?
In its simplest form, the Examen asks the Christian to review their day, and then pray through it. How did I do the will of God today? How did I fall short today? How can I follow Jesus more closely tomorrow?
The key is that the day's events are put in perspective and brought before God. The aim is not to make us feel proud or bad about our actions but to bring our whole day before God and learn the lessons which will make us better disciples.
The questions we ask ourselves should be simple but should elicit honest answers. One form of Examen goes something like this:
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.
When?
Some who practise Ignatian Spirituality will do the Examen twice per day – at Noon and at night. For those of us with commitments in the middle of the day then the once per day discipline of a nightly prayer time might be more practical.
Why?
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is a keen follower of Ignatian Spirtituality. He sums up well why it is such a treasured tool in his opening remarks as Archbishop, describing the "riches of Benedictine and Ignatian spirituality".
The simplicity of the Examen (and the other Ignatian exercises) can be deceptive. Surely asking yourself a few questions at the end of the day is hardly revolutionary? But think of just how easy it is to forget both the good and the bad things we do during the day.
It's easy for us to blot things out and never bring them up again. Yet for true spiritual growth, we need to think of how we reacted in stressful situations, on difficult family occasions or in response to a sudden piece of news. We sell ourselves short if we don't bring before God the ways in which we have behaved during the day.
Because the exercises are daily, there is little time to forget and always, always, time to change for the following day. People from all Christian backgrounds and denominations use the Examen – it isn't the exclusive property of Jesuits or any particular part of the Church.
How?
There are now a number of very helpful apps and websites offering assistance with following a simple daily Examen. One of them, Developed by the Jesuits in the UK, is a simple app called Pray As You Go. The app has daily Bible readings, questions for reflection and gentle background music to help you consider the day. It also offers a version for young adults and for children – helping parents to pray at the end of the day with their kids.
