God is constantly moving in our lives, inviting us to step closer to him every day.

The Daily Examen is a prayer of reflection, originally presented by St. Ignatius of Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises. Asking God to guide us through our days, we review our actions and feelings, observing his promptings and our responses. Prayerfully reviewing the day can help us begin to notice these promptings and encounter the divine in our daily lives.

Far from being a review of faults or shortcomings, the Daily Examen should be an uplifting prayer, drawing our attention to the graces and love God shares with us each day, helping us grow closer to God through concrete, daily actions.

Begin by drawing your attention to God’s presence and love for you. Pray the sign of the cross and any other prayers you normally start or end your day with.

Step 1: Gratitude: First, thank God for his gifts of the day, large and small.
Questions to consider:

When did I feel joy and peace today?
How did I see God working in my life today? Note these gifts and give thanks for them.

Step 2: Petition: Ultimately, everything we do is from God. In John 15:5, Jesus instructs us to draw close to him, for,

“as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”

John 15:5

Acknowledging this, petition God for any graces that you may need as you pray the Examen.
Questions to consider:

God, what would you like me to learn in this Examen?
Are there any specific graces I feel I need, such as the grace of insight and understanding, fortitude to encounter my weaknesses, or humility to accept God’s mercy?

Step 3: Review: Review your actions and feelings throughout the day. This entails more than a mere overview of each hour, but should focus on interior movements such as your desires, struggles, anxieties, and joys.
Questions to consider:

Did I feel any invitations or promptings from God today? How did I respond to these?
What thoughts and actions drew me closer to God, and what thoughts and actions drew me away from God?
When did I feel at peace today, resting in God’s love?
Were there moments that I struggled, or felt further from God?

Step 4: Forgiveness: Ask God for his mercy and forgiveness for any wrongdoing. It is essential that we root this step in a deep trust in God’s love. God rejoices in our desire to return to him, and not only awaits us, but runs to meet us:

"while [the prodigal son] was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him."

Luke 15:20

Questions to consider:

Where do I feel regret, heaviness, or distance from God?
Where do I need God’s mercy?

Step 5: Resolve: Finally, turn your attention to the next day, planning concretely how you’d like to grow closer to God.
Questions to consider:

With the previous day in mind, how do I want to grow closer to God tomorrow and live in accordance with his plan for me?
Are there any actions or choices I’d like to repeat or begin tomorrow?
Are there any actions I should leave behind?

Take a moment to conclude in prayer and share anything else you'd like with God.

How to Pray the Daily Examen