MIRACULOUS MIRACLES^™

Prayer — Penitential Prayers

The Daily Examen of Conscience

by St. Ignatius of Loyola

St. Ignatius's five-step daily review of the soul — the prayer he ranked above almost every other spiritual practice.

The Prayer

English (the five movements) · Original

1. Place yourself in God's presence.
   Acknowledge that the day you are about to review has been a gift,
   and that the Lord is with you as you look at it.

2. Review the day with gratitude.
   Walk through the hours.
   Where were the gifts? — large and small.

3. Pay attention to your emotions.
   What did you feel, and where?
   Where was God in those feelings?

4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it.
   A sin? Bring it to the Lord for forgiveness.
   A grace? Thank Him.
   A failure? Ask for the wisdom to do better.

5. Look toward tomorrow with hope.
   Ask the Lord for the help you need
   for the day that is to come.

When the Prayer is Said

Twice daily in the traditional Jesuit practice; once daily (at evening) is the common lay practice.

History & Background

St. Ignatius developed the Examen during his recovery at Manresa (1522) and codified it in the Spiritual Exercises (1548). To his sons in the Society of Jesus he said: when forced to choose between Mass and the Examen, choose Mass; when between the Office and the Examen, choose the Examen.

The Examen has no fixed text. It is a daily review of the soul in five movements: (1) recall you are in God's presence; (2) review the day with gratitude; (3) note your emotions and where God was present in them; (4) choose one feature of the day to pray over — failure, gift, or grace; (5) look toward tomorrow with hope.

Modern Ignatian renewal — Pope Francis is a Jesuit — has restored the Examen as a centerpiece of lay spirituality. Many lay Catholics and religious communities pray it twice daily, at midday and before sleep.

All Prayers