EXAMEN OF CONSCIOUSNESS
By Ignatius of Loyola

There are five steps to this Examen of Consciousness.

1st Step: Give Thanks. We must begin this period of prayer with theawareness that all we are and have is God's gift to us. We owe himeverything. So naturally, we will thank him for them. Such awarenesswill deepen our faith in God. We will realize how utterly poor weare, how dependent on God, how good God has been to us and thankhim. This sense of gratitude when evoked, often will become anattitude that will remain with us constantly throughout the day.Gradually we will experience that all is a gift. This awarenessalone could change our lives into a thanks living, not justthanksgiving. Thank God for everything, especially for his gifts inthe part of the day just completed. As we look over the events ofthe day, we may discover gifts from God that we did not realize hadbeen given.

2nd Step: Pray for light - It is not possible for us to look clearlyinto spiritual matters with our human eyes or mind alone. We dependon God's grace for everything but especially when it comes to ourrelationship with God himself. Pray that we may learn to become moreand more open to all the ways in which the Spirit speaks to us, sothat we let our lives be directed more and more by the Spirit. Askthe Spirit to enlighten us as to how he has been directing us sincethe morning, in events and in people. Pray that we may be sensitiveto his gifts of peace, love, kindness, joy, patience, fidelity,gentleness and self-control. Pray that we may become more and moreaware of our negative attitudes like anxiety, restlessness, anger,jealousy and resentment which are clear signs of our lack of responseto God's will and love.

3rd Step: Examine our experiences and actions. Look back slowly overthe events, persons and circumstances of the day. Listen to the Lordand allow him to show us where he was meeting, encountering,challenging and being present to us. Do not force ourselves toremember things but let them surface in their own way. In what waywas God present in them?Did we always behave in a Christ-like manner? Were our attitudes andfeelings and actions in keeping with gospel values? Were thereopportunities for service, for doing something for the glory of Godthat we let pass?We could ask ourselves further questions like: Did I feel drawn bythe Lord anytime today through a companion, an event, a good book,nature, etc.? What have I learned today about God and his ways? Howdid I meet God in my fears, joys, misunderstandings, work andsuffering? How did God's word come alive in me today during myprayer time, in scripture, other readings? In what ways have Iencountered Christ through the members of my family, my community?How have I brought Christ to them? In what ways have I been the signof God's presence and love to my companions, my friends, the peoplewith whom I work, to the people I have met today? Have I been movedto go out of my way in concern for the lonely, sad, discouraged, theneedy? In what area of my life is Jesus not yet Lord?

4th Step: Express Sorrow - The awareness of our failure to respond toGod's love, whether in events or people, will arouse in us mixedsentiments like sorrow for our sins and yet wonder at how Godconstantly brings us to newness; Or a growing mistrust of self and afirm trust in God; or a humble awareness of our weaknesses and asense of deep joy and gratitude that we have been saved by Christ.There will always be some selfish attitude, action or inaction bywhich we showed our lack of adequate response to God's love. Expressour sorrows over these.

5th Step: Resolve to become and do better. We must determine to keepour spirit filled with gratitude and to take steps to get rid of mind-sets that stand between us and God. We must be open to accept thechallenges that God places before us. Pray for grace to recognize theways in which the Lord is calling us in each situation of the future,and to respond to his call with deeper faith, humility, courage,especially if he is calling us to a painful conversion in some areasof our heart. Ask to be filled with hope and optimism, knowing thatChrist has been victorious over evil and death.Here are the five steps again: Give thanks; pray for light; examineour experiences and actions; express sorrow and resolve to become anddo better.We could end these fifteen minutes of prayer with the prayer thatJesus himself has taught us or with St. Ignatius' own prayer forgenerosity which runs as follows: Lord, teach me to be generous.Teach me to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count thecost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seekfor rest, to labor and not to ask for reward, except that of knowingthat I do your will.If we are faithful to this method of prayer of St. Ignatius, we willfeel the presence of God leading us forward in our spiritual lives.