Through the movement of the Holy Spirit, God is constantly active in my life, revealing his will to me through a presence more intimate to me than I am to myself. And yet, these intimate movements of the Spirit are easy for me to miss if I do not take time to prayerfully notice them. Thankfully, however, there is a simple form of prayer that can help me to notice these movements: the daily Examen.
One of the virtues of the Examen is its flexibility. It is a form of prayer that can be adapted and practiced in several ways, depending on the needs of the person or the situation. In the book of the Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius himself proposes two forms: a “particular or daily examen” and a “general examen” which Ignatius says helps to make a better confession.[1] But Ignatius also speaks of the Examen in different ways in his letters and other writings.
The following structure is adapted from the writings of Fr. Miguel Ángel Fiorito, SJ, an Argentinian Jesuit who was a spiritual father to the future Pope Francis.[2] It consists of three steps, each a kind of “confession.” Traditionally, this form of the Examen is practiced for fifteen minutes twice a day: once after the midday meal and then again after supper. Nevertheless, it can be lengthened or shortened as needed, or the timing can be adjusted.
The first step, Fr. Fiorito says, is a “confession of praise,” marked by thanksgiving for God’s gifts. If I need a little help placing myself in this attitude of praise, then I can start with praying one of the Psalms, so many of which are songs of praise to God (e.g., Psalm 28:6–9; Psalm 30; Psalm 40; Psalm 65; Psalm 66). These hymns of the Church are a school of God’s praise.
Even better, however, is to call to mind the concrete blessings God has given to me this day, so that I can “ponder with deep affection how much God our Lord has done for me, and how much he has given me of what he possesses, and consequently how he, the same Lord, desires to give me even his very self, in accordance with his divine design.”[3] This gracious self-gift of God is made concrete in the events of my life: a kind word from a friend, a child’s smile, the beauty of a sunrise, and so on.
After the confession of praise comes “confession of life,” which is the central part of the Examen. A helpful question I can use is to ask myself, “Where has my heart been this day?” (or this morning or evening, if I make the Examen twice daily). Remembering our Lord’s saying that “where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Matt 6:21), this question can help me recognize what I have “treasured” this day—and whether my treasure is God or an idol of my own creation. Other approaches to this “confession of life” might be to note the primary thoughts or affective movements that I have experienced throughout the day.
If my heart has been (more or less) fixed in anger, jealousy, despair, or any vice or other movement that takes me away from God, this is essential for me to recognize. But if my heart has been fixed in peace, joy, love, hope, or any other movement that moves me toward God, this also is noteworthy.
At times, the key movements or states of my heart will be obvious to me. But at times they will be less clear. In such cases, I can look back over my day methodically, hour by hour or activity by activity.
The final step of the Examen suggested by Fr. Fiorito is “confession of faith,” in which I recognize, fundamentally, that I do not save myself, but that God alone saves me from sin and death. If it is helpful, I might again pray a Psalm (e.g., Psalm 51 or 121).
My “confession of faith” consists of contrition and resolution. In contrition, I might ask forgiveness of God for a particular sinful act, for letting my heart go astray in some matter, or for not responding to an invitation of grace that I noted. And in resolution, I ask God to help me respond to Spirit’s promptings toward the good—be they impulses to prayer, to acts of charity, or to anything else. Most important, however, is that my resolution be concrete and specific.
Like any form of prayer, the Examen requires practice before we will notice clear fruit. But if we are earnest in seeking to find God through this prayer, God will reveal himself.
Father William entered the Jesuits in 2014 and was ordained a priest in 2025. He currently serves as Associate Pastor of St. Peter Claver Parish in Punta Gorda, Belize. Prior to beginning his work in Belize, Fr. William earned a licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) at Boston College's Clough School of Theology and Ministry.
[1] For the particular examen, see Spiritual Exercises nos. 24–31; for the general examen, nos. 32–43.
[2] See Miguel Ángel Fiorito, “Examen de conciencia cotidiano,” in Escritos (La Civiltà Cattolica, 2019), vol. 5, 326–330. Originally published in Boletín de Espiritualidad 97 (Jan-Feb 1986), 1–7.
[3] George E. Ganns, ed., The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola (Institute of Jesuit Sources, 1992), no. 234.
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