Praying the Daily Examen
by Randy Hain | May 21, 2012 3:56 am
I have had numerous discussions recently about finding time for daily prayer and reflection. People have been interested in how I keep the Jesuit Daily Examen on my calendar, so I am sharing it here along with suggested times. The Examen is one of the most effective (and easiest) ways I know to have scheduled reflection and prayer throughout the day. Save it as an ongoing and daily occurrence on your calendar and try following it faithfully (3-5 minutes for each one)…it will make a real difference in your life!
Daily Examen for Busy Business People
1. Thanksgiving 6:45 am
Begin by relaxing into God’s presence in an attitude of thankfulness. Find one thing to be thankful for-even if you are having a tough time. Allow gratitude to take hold of you.
2. Pray for Insight 10:15 am
Pray to the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what you need at this time. Consciously open yourself to God’s light.
3. Finding God in All Things 1:15 pm
This is the heart of the prayer where you examine very concretely the events of the day.
- What happened since this morning?
- Who have you come in contact with?
- What occupies your thoughts today?
- How are you being drawn to God in your life today? Now?
- Where is God calling you specifically this day?
- Is it time to make a tough decision that will affect the lives of many people?
- Should I simply bask in gratefulness to God for my life, career in family?
This is not a time for searching for faults. Rather it is a chance to take a step back and recognize that God is active in the entirety of the day.
4. Petition 5:30 pm
Express to God your desires. Again be specific and frame your prayer here in a petition: “Dear Lord, at this time I ask….for strength to…for courage to….for the resolve to…to be thankful for…”
5. Resolve for the Future 9:00 pm
Finally, look to the future. “How shall I live the rest of the day?” “What shall I do?
Finish with a prayer, for example, the Our Father.
Randy Hain, Senior Editor for The Integrated Catholic Life™, is the author of The Catholic Briefcase: Tools for Integrating Faith and Work which was released by Liguori Publications in November, 2011. The Catholic Briefcase[1] is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble online and your local Catholic bookstore.
The Catholic Briefcase was recently voted the Best Catholic Book of 2011 in the About.com Catholicism Reader’s Choice Awards.
Please help us in our mission to assist readers to integrate their Catholic faith, family and work. Tell your family and friends about this article using both the Share and Recommend buttons below and via email. We value your comments and encourage you to leave your thoughts below. Thank you! – The Editors
- The Catholic Briefcase: http://www.amazon.com/Catholic-Briefcase-Tools-Integrating-Faith/dp/0764820524/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311008909&sr=1-1
Source URL: https://integratedcatholiclife.org/2012/05/randy-hain-praying-the-daily-examen/