The first Examen that Mark proposes is the Traditional Ignatian Examen.
St. Ignatius himself recommends these five steps: Relish the good, Request the Spirit, Review the day, Repent from any wrongdoing, and Resolve to live well tomorrow.
1. I begin in my usual way. [If you need help, see here]
2. First, I relish. I ask God to reveal to me all the gifts and graces he has given me this day, from the really big ones (my life, safety, love) to the really small ones (a good night’s sleep, an affirming phone call from a friend, a task completed, a compliment paid to me). For each gift that comes to mind, I spend a moment giving thanks and praise.
3. Second, I request. Knowing that I need God’s help to see my darker side realistically but from the perspective of God’s merciful love, I ask God to fill me with his Spirit. I ask God to be the leader and initiator of this prayer time, rather than letting me make it an obsessive brooding over the things I don’t like about myself.
4. Third, I review. Going hour by hour, I review my day In my imagination, I relive each significant moment of my day. I linger at the important moments, and I pass quickly through the less relevant ones.
5. Fourth, I repent. As I review my days I continue thanking God for all the gifts that I find in it. But now, I pause at any of the difficult moments of the day—when I had a bad thought, said something I shouldn’t have, or did something inappropriate. I also pay attention to any missed opportunities, such as when I could have acted in a more Christian manner but didn’t. When I find moments in which I was not fully the person I’m called to be, I stop and ask forgiveness from God. I try to sense his healing mercy washing over me, making me clean and whole.
6. Fifth, I resolve. With what I have learned during this prayer time about myself and my life, I ask God to show me, concretely, how he wants me to respond or what he wants me to do tomorrow. Perhaps more important, I ask God to show me what kind of person God is calling me to be tomorrow. I resolve to be that person. I might even make some sort of commitment to that effect. I ask God for the help to be the person I’m called to be.
7. I end in my usual way. [If you need help, see here]
