PAUSE AND PRAY
The Examen: A daily invitation to slow down, reflect and talk with God about your day, from St. Ignatius of Loyola
I. Presence | Begin by intentionally becoming aware that you are in the presence of God. Breathe and pause. "Dear Lord, When your love spilled over into creation You thought of me. I am from Love, of Love, for Love." II. Gratitude | Notice the movements in your heart — the whispers of God. Acknowledge God's grace in thanksgiving. "Let my heart, O God, always recognize, cherish and enjoy Your goodness in all of creation." III. Review | Where was God active in your day? What brought you closer to God today? What pulled you away from God or got in the way of you and the Holy? "Direct all that is me toward Your praise. Teach me reverence for every person, all things. Energize me in Your service." IV. Pardon | Ask God for forgiveness for your sins, for turning away from God's beckon. "Lord God, may nothing ever distract me from your love." V. Response | Invite God into the question: "Where will I go from here?" How will you resolve to draw closer to God, to be fully alive as a human being created in God's image? Ask: "What does God want from me?" "Where is God calling me?"And listen. "May I never seek, nor choose to be Other than you intend or wish." Amen. Prayer from St. Ignatius Loyola, First Principle & Foundation, trans. Bergan & Schwan, 1985.