The Daily Examen: A Five-Step Prayer of Review

What is the Examen prayer?

The Examen is a method of prayerful reflection on the events of the day, set out by St. Ignatius of Loyola in his sixteenth-century Spiritual Exercises. He considered it so important that he told his fellow Jesuits to keep it even on days when they had time for nothing else. It is not primarily about cataloguing sins; it is a way of finding God in all things by looking back over the hours you have just lived.

Traditionally the Examen is prayed once or twice a day — at midday and again before bed — and takes ten to fifteen minutes. You can pray it anywhere: sitting quietly, walking home, or resting at the end of the day. The five movements below are a guide, not a rigid script, so let the Spirit lead you through them at your own pace.

Step 1: Give thanks for the day

Begin by placing yourself in God's presence and giving thanks. Recall the specific gifts of the day just past — a conversation, a meal, work completed, a moment of beauty or rest. Gratitude is the doorway to the Examen because it trains you to see your life as gift rather than achievement. Do not rush this step; name the concrete graces you actually received today, both large and small.

Step 2: Ask for the light of the Holy Spirit

Before reviewing the day, ask God for the grace to see it as he sees it. On your own you will notice only what flatters or worries you; with the Spirit's light you can look honestly and without despair. This step is what makes the Examen prayer rather than mere self-analysis — you are asking to be shown the truth of your day, not simply trying to remember it.

Step 3: Review the day

Walk back through the day from morning until now, as if replaying it hour by hour. Notice where you felt drawn toward God — moments of love, peace, and freedom that Ignatius called consolation — and where you felt pulled away, into anxiety, resentment, or restlessness, which he called desolation. Attend to your interior movements, not only your outward actions. What were you feeling, and where were you responding to grace or quietly resisting it?

Step 4: Face your shortcomings

Where the review surfaces failure — impatience, a harsh word, a kindness left undone — face it honestly and ask God's forgiveness. This is done in confidence, not shame: you look at your faults in the light of God's mercy, trusting that you are loved even here. For Catholics, a habitual Examen naturally prepares the heart for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but the daily prayer itself is an act of contrition and trust.

Step 5: Look toward tomorrow

Finally, look ahead. Ask for the grace you will need for the day to come — patience for a difficult meeting, courage for a hard conversation, perseverance in some good resolve. Decide concretely how you want to respond to God tomorrow. Many people close the Examen with the Our Father, gathering the whole prayer into the words Jesus taught his disciples.

How do you make the Examen a daily habit?

The Examen rewards repetition. Praying it at the same time each day — most commonly in the evening, before sleep — turns scattered reflection into a steady rhythm of noticing God's presence. Keep it short and honest rather than long and perfect; five faithful minutes are worth more than an occasional hour. Some people find it helpful to journal a line or two, or to use a guided version that walks them through the five steps.

If you would like to be led step by step, Bosko includes a guided Examen that moves gently through gratitude, light, review, sorrow, and resolve, with room to pause and pray in your own words. Whether guided or on your own, the aim is the same: to end each day in God's presence, grateful and unafraid.

Preguntas frecuentes

When should I pray the Examen?

Traditionally once or twice a day — Ignatius suggested midday and again in the evening. Many people today pray it just once, at the end of the day before sleep.

How long does the Examen take?

Usually ten to fifteen minutes, though a shorter five-minute version works well as a daily habit. Consistency matters more than length.

Is the Examen only for Catholics?

No. It grew out of Catholic and Jesuit spirituality, but Christians of many traditions pray it as a simple, Scripture-friendly way to review the day with God.

How is the Examen different from an examination of conscience?

An examination of conscience focuses on identifying sins, often before Confession. The Examen is broader — it reviews the whole day for God's presence with gratitude and discernment, and includes, but is not limited to, facing your faults.

Who created the Examen?

St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, set it out in his Spiritual Exercises in the sixteenth century.

What are consolation and desolation?

They are Ignatian terms for interior movements: consolation draws you toward God (love, peace, hope), while desolation pulls you away (anxiety, discouragement, restlessness). Noticing them is central to the review.