There are many different approaches to praying the examen. St. Ignatius described his approach in the Spiritual Exercises and other spiritual directors have developed their own approaches and forms of presenting the examen in their work. Still others add their own personal or unique elements to praying the examen. Below, I humbly offer my own approach…
Archives for July 2012
Sanctified by Crying Children
In my experience, there is nothing more humbling than being a parent. You have to set aside your dreams and aspirations, professional duties and goals, etc. to serve your family. Imagine this scenario: You have tons of work to do. You wake up early to get it done. Then, what do you hear? The kid…
Spiritual Exercise: What Makes You Come Alive?
Take some time to think back on your life both recently and in the last few years and ask yourself: “What makes me come alive?” In other words, what were the moments when time just flew by? When you felt more like you than you ever have before? What events or activities have your participated…
The Hidden Source of the Resistance
Not long ago I suggested a spiritual exercise which I have been implementing in my daily work day. It is an act of introspection. It is simple, yet profound. Here it is: When the Resistance pops up, write it down. The Resistance is a term given by Steven Pressfield in The War of Art to…
The Ignatian Examen
There is an incredibly powerful prayer practice in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola called the Prayer of Examen. While the Ignatian examen has been interpreted and applied in various ways, I have found that looking closely at the origin of the practice and developing my own variation of the examen has had a tremendous effect…
