Praying the Examen offers us 15 to 20 minutes to quietly recognize the Divine Presence and together, with God, look back over our day and reflect on how we lived it - where we found joy, when we were less than our best authentic selves, where we felt God's Presence, and how we can ready ourselves for the next day. The Examen can be done twice a day - at Noon and at the end of our day. So if you do the Examen twice in a day, you allow yourself time to ready yourself for the rest of that same day - maybe making up for the morning's moments that weren't your best, or perhaps continuing on in a particular manner that you know pleases our Lord.
You've read about James Martin, SJ on this Blog a number of times, so I want to offer you another opportunity to learn from this loving Jesuit and to pray the Examen during this Advent season. When you click here, you will be taken to a website that actually has an Examen meditation set up for you, led by James Martin. The most recent will be on the top of the screen; the meditation changes each Sunday and is used throughout the week that follows. You can begin today, with his thoughtful words and encouragement, to ready your heart for the coming of the Christ Child this Christmas morning.
Please join me and countless other Christians in this simple, centuries-old prayer form. Through it, you will give your heart to God each day in gratitude and praise.
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