The Examen prayer is one of the foundations of Ignatian prayer. This version of the Examen is to be prayed in the morning, assessing your desires, feelings, and possible challenges as you face a new day.

God will be journeying with you today, and the best way to start is with prayer.

Try the Evening Examen at the close of the day. For more resources on prayer visit the Prayer Resources page.


GRATITUDE

Good morning! As you prepare to begin the day your mind may not be as calm as you hope. Still, we ought to thank God for a new day with new opportunities for grace.

Good morning, God. I come to you as I am now, imperfect, tired, hopeful. Thank you for my beating heart and my breathing lungs which have given me yet another day in your creation.

DESIRE

Desire is so important an indicator in Ignatian spirituality. Indeed, just your desire for a moment with God indicates the presence of God within you right now as you go about your morning routine, perhaps commuting, perhaps at work, or at home. As you begin to recognise this Presence, ask yourself, What desires do I have for today?

FEELINGS

Now take a survey of your feelings right now… How did you sleep? Have any feelings or excitements or fears spilled over to the morning? Do you feel confident?

LOOKING AHEAD

God knows these feelings well because God created you. Feelings happen to you; they do not define you. As you begin today you go forth as God made you, loved, with certain gifts and talents. This is your identity in God. With this in mind, do you anticipate any challenges today, good or bad?

COLLOQUY

Now take your desires for today, your feelings right now, and the challenges you anticipate and give them to God. What would be your one-sentence to God right now as you face a new day? Speak it to God right now.

With a spirit of renewal and trust let us end with a prayer by Jesuit John Veltri:

O God,
I find myself at the beginning of another day.
I do not know what it will bring.
Please help me to be ready for whatever it may be.

If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely.
If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly.
If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently.
If I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly.

I pray just for today, for these twenty-four hours,
for the ability to cooperate with others according to the way Jesus taught us to live.
“Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
May these words that he taught us become more than words.

Please free my thinking and feelings and the thinking and feelings of others,
from all forms of self-will, self-centeredness, dishonesty, and deception.
Along with my brothers and sisters,
I need this freedom to make my choices today according to your desires.
Send your Spirit to inspire me in time of doubt and indecision so that, together, we can walk along your path. Amen.