The Examen is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God's presence. Learn how to pray the Daily Examen.
The Hallow App offers a daily Examen (5, 10, and 15-minute options), several Sleep Examen meditations, as well as several focused Examen meditations on humility, hope, and more.
That’s why the Examen is such a powerful prayer. In it, we’re invited to encounter God, express gratitude for the gift and gifts of each day, and to commit to make up for any mistakes we may have made.
The Ignatian Examen is a prayer of reflection. There are no specific words, only guidelines for you as you review your day — your actions, thoughts, emotions, desires — with God.
"Examen" comes from the Latin word that means both an examination and an active weighing or judging of something. It's as old as Socrates' instruction to "know thyself."
Mark E. Thibodeaux, SJ, outlines how to pray the daily Examen. Learn this Ignatian prayer method.
St. Ignatius Loyola included in his Spiritual Exercises a prayer called “the Examen,” which derives from the Latin word for examination. It is a meditation with roots not only in Ignatian spirituality, but also in the spiritual practices of the ancient Stoics.
Praying the Examen each day builds a habit of paying attention to God. It can bring peace, guide our choices, and strengthen our faith. Over time, we learn to recognize God’s presence more easily, even in small moments. The Daily Examen began with St. Ignatius of Loyola in the 1500s.