In honour of the Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola on July 31, we are blessed to hear from Dylan, a seminarian of Holy Spirit Seminary, who leads us in a guided Daily Examen, an exercise cherished by St Ignatius himself. St Ignatius believed the Examen was a gift bestowed directly from God, intended to be shared with all the faithful. This prayerful reflection, rooted in five simple steps, invites us to discern God’s presence in our daily lives. We invite you to join us in this cherished spiritual practice and unite with us in prayer.
Transcript
Hello, my name is Dylan Asmus and I’m a Seminarian at Holy Spirit Seminary. Today, I’ll be guiding you through a Daily Examen, a technique of prayerful reflection to detect God’s presence and discern His direction for us. The method I will guide you through today is adapted from a technique described by Saint Ignatius of Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises. Saint Ignatius thought that the Examen was a gift that came directly from God, and that God wanted it to be shared as widely as possible. Through each of the five steps, I will pose a question to you to reflect on. Perhaps you’d like to journal through this process, light a candle or meditate, but please find a comfortable space. Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Begin by quieting your mind and body, acknowledging God’s presence with you. Reflecting on your day.
What moments are you most grateful for? Where did you feel God’s presence most fully?
Turning your attention to your emotions. Reflect on the emotions you experienced throughout the day, both positive and negative.
When did you feel most content or like yourself? When did you feel the least content or uncomfortable?
Think about what God is saying to you through these feelings.
Now, choose one feature of your day and pray from it. This could be a moment of joy, a struggle or an encounter with another person.
What is God inviting you to do or learn from this experience? How can you respond in love?
Looking ahead to tomorrow, consider these questions.
What is God calling you to in the world? How can you use your gifts and talents for others?
When you’re ready, please join me in ending this prayer.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Thank you for praying with us today. We hope to see you again soon.