As we approach the unapproachable God, we have to pass through his Ten Commandments. We examine our conscience to unearth ways we have said “no” to God. This is a practice that should be done often, certainly weekly, if not daily! To know our sins is not easy and to name them is even more difficult, so it takes constant practice. It also requires the cultivation of humility and self-knowledge to be able not only to say, “I have greatly sinned” but “here is how and why.”
St. Ignatius of Loyola devised a way of examining our soul that moved away from looking only at the sinful thoughts, words, and deeds of our day. Ignatius’s introspection begins not with sins but with gratitude and the cataloging of daily blessings. This manner of praying later came to be called an Examination of Consciousness, to distinguish it from what was done before the sacrament of reconciliation. A different contour arises in our souls when we look primarily at the concrete ways God has been blessing us. We thank him for waking up, for those at home, for our work, for the sunshine and the rain; we thank him for our vigor and health, for our children’s safe arrival to school, for hot water and electricity in our homes accomplishes for us, for food and drink, and all the myriad ways that our heavenly Father takes care of us.
You can think of the Examination of Consciousness in five steps:
Intentionally call to mind the awareness that you are in God’s presence, and that he loves you as much right now in this moment than ever before. You are loved. You are blessed. Ask now for an increase of awareness and gratitude for all the gifts God gives you.
Lord, you created me out of love for me and now call me to participate in all the graces you have in store for me, transforming me daily into a greater lover and friend.
Bring to mind the past twenty-hour hours. Review all the emotions and encounters you experienced. Be very concrete, trying to recall how you felt when this or that just happened to work out for you, or how you might have taken for granted this or that daily blessing, or what emotions welled up in you when you saw this person or found yourself in this particular place, and so on.
Lord, I can grow so entitled in all the blessings I have come to expect and sometimes think I have learned. Soften my heart and illumine my mind to see all things in my life as your gift to me.
Now, speak to God as a friend by choosing one or two of experiences that stand out to you more than others. Perhaps it was a conversation you had with a loved one; perhaps it was a moment of reconciliation with someone with whom you had a tense moment; perhaps it was a chance encounter with a stranger. Here, beg God to see him more alive and active in your daily experiences and in all the benefits of being you that you enjoy. Stay here, offering Jesus whatever emotions arise—perhaps it is gratitude, but maybe it is stress or unexplained anxiety.
Jesus, help me see why I am feeling this way.
Obviously, no day passes without some disappointment. Pick one sin and ask forgiveness for it. Ask God to help you see why you did it. Tell him whatever it is you need to say here, being not only contrite but concrete. Does any pattern of sinfulness emerge?
Jesus, you died for my sins. Increase my sorrow I allow you to die for me. The needs I feel overwhelm me and I can take my frustration out on your other sons and daughters. Forgive me and grant me the grace to remain always in your peace and in the security of your love.
Bring to prayer the next twenty-four hours. What faces you tomorrow? Whom will you meet and what might be said? Place yourself in any upcoming situation you might find important and ask the Holy Spirit to guide your words and actions and entire demeanor in this encounter. If you use a calendar or planner, you can include it in your prayer, perhaps putting your hand over the list of meetings and agenda of things to get done, asking God to make the next day as holy as possible.
Master of my life and myself, be with me as this night descends and as a new day unfolds. Guide me the gifts of trust and confidence, that you are ever at work in me and this entire universe has been created for me to find my salvation and to glorify your holy name.
St. Ignatius then suggests ending with an Our Father or Hail Mary.
Obviously, some days nothing will really stand out to you. Be patient with yourself and simply sit with what might come to mind. If nothing, stay quiet for the allotted time you reserved for this daily exercise. Is this a pattern? Do you feel anxiously empty or just peacefully still before your own life? Are there past hurts that need to be addressed before you can grow in gratitude? Are there perhaps amends you must make with another before you can truly open your heart up to God?
Glory to thee, O Lord, glory to thee!
O heavenly king, the Comforter, the Spirit of truth who art everywhere and fill all things, the treasury of blessings and the giver of life, come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
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