St. Ignatius of Loyola - Examination of Conscience

By Anonymous -
Written by Father Michael E. Gaitley, MIC, director of the Association of Marian Helpers, the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception.

 The examination of conscience (also called "examen") should be made sometime toward the end of the day.  Most people make it shortly before going to bed.  It's basically a mental review of the previous 16 hours or so of consciousness.

To make the examen, first, we should put ourselves in the presence of God.  In other words, we should begin with the attitude that the examen is a time of prayer, not just a mental exercise.  Devoutly making the Sign of the Cross may be enough to do this.

Next, we just have to remember one word: baker, B-A-K-E-R, baker.  Actually, we also have to remember what each letter of this word stands for. 

B stands for"blessings".  According to St.Ignatius, this is the most important of the five points.  Here we simply review our day, survey the many blessings God has given us throughout it, and then praise and thank Him for these blessings.  For instance, maybe we had a great conversation with someone at lunch.  During the examen, we might want to reflect on that gift on that gift and praise and thank God for it.  Of course, we don't have to go through every single blessing of the day.  That would take way too much time.  The key is to let one's heart roam about and settle on the particular peaks of joy and blessing of the day, what Ignatius calls "consolation".  One more thing: We shouldn't forget to thank God for the crosses of the day, which are also blessings.  continue reading


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