The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas
The Examen is a simple fifteen-minute prayer that is dear to St. Ignatius and the entire Jesuit order. During this prayer, which Jesuits pray twice a day, we call to mind the events and movements of our day, express gratitude for God’s work in it, ask for pardon for our faults, and resolve to grow in virtue moving forward. And importantly, we ask for the grace to do all this through the eyes of God, who loves us and sees the best in us. A great strength of the Examen is its adaptability: we can use it to reflect on a day, a class we took, a project we’ve been working on…or even an entire year.
With 2024 coming to a close, consider doing a short 2024 Examen through the eyes of God, who loves you. Beginning in January and working towards December, what are the major events that have shaped your year? And what does God, your loving Father, see in those moments? Where has He seen you grow? What is He most proud of? Where has He been at work? Where is He offering healing? And, with all of that in mind, what is He inviting you to in 2025? If we take just a few short minutes to reflect on God’s work in our lives this year, then we’ll be better prepared to walk with Him in the year to come. Happy New Year, and God bless!