One of the most simple and profound prayers St. Ignatius encouraged us to use is the Examen.  It provides a way for us to look back over our lives and notice the presence and action of God there.

The Daily Examen has its roots in Ignatian Spirituality and is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day. An individual makes time to pray the Examen by pausing to consider God’s presence and discern where God calls us.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, 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 requiring the Jesuits to 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 - we hope this video will be helpful in your own Examen practice.