Prayer is foundational to the Christian life. Yet, sometimes we go through seasons where it’s difficult to know how to pray. That’s where traditional forms of prayer can help us out. The Examen Prayer is a practice that Christians have been using to pray for more than 500 years. It was popularly introduced by a pastor in the 16th century, Ignatius of Loyola.
The Examen Prayer is a wonderful way to begin attending to the movements of the Holy Spirit in daily life. It only takes about 10-15 minutes. People often do it at the end of the day, but it can be done in the morning or lunchtime or any other time during the day. Using a journal while you pray the Examen can be helpful if you find your mind wanders during prayer times.
Ready to try it out? Here are some resources to get you started.
- Handout on the Examen Prayer (with the specific steps)
- Examen Prayer video (Karen Keen will walk you through the prayer)
- Pray as You Go audio Examens
- Reimagining the Ignatian Examen by Mark Thibodeaux (booklet with 34 versions of the Examen)
- Finding God: An Examen Prayer Retreat (want something more in-depth? Take a day to have your own private retreat with Karen Keen and Mark Shaw guiding you via video).
This short video will walk you through the Examen Prayer: