The Daily Examen

The examen is St Ignatius of Loyola's daily review of conscience, from his Spiritual Exercises (1548). It takes about fifteen minutes and is usually prayed at the end of the day.

The 5 steps

  1. Give thanks

    Thank God for the good things of the day, large and small, as gifts received.

  2. Ask for light

    Ask for the grace to see your day truly, as God sees it, and to know where you fell short.

  3. Review the day

    Go through the day hour by hour: thoughts, words and actions. Notice where you loved well and where you did not.

  4. Ask forgiveness

    Ask pardon for your faults. An Act of Contrition is a good way to say it.

  5. Resolve

    Resolve, with God's help, to do better tomorrow, and close with an Our Father.

Prayers to use

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

From the Manual of Prayers (1889)

Also on Act of Contrition

The Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Latin

Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen.

Latin from Medulla pietatis Christianae (1868)

Line by line with the English: The Our Father in Latin (Pater Noster)

From the Manual of Prayers (1889)

Also on The Our Father

Questions

When should I pray the examen?

St Ignatius asked for it twice a day, at midday and before sleep. Most people now pray it once, in the evening.

How long does it take?

About 10 to 15 minutes.