The Weekly Examen

The Examen Prayer is an ancient way of meditating on the day or week that is past, and nurturing an attitude of gratitude for the blessings that God has granted, as well as acknowledging those people or situations that weigh heavily on our hearts.

I invite you to find a comfortable place to sit, and move inwards with your breath. Ask God that you would feel that constant peaceful presence of God-with-us as you breathe in the Holy Spirit and breathe out anything causing you anxiety. Focus on your breaths for a few moments, and remain present in the sacredness or holiness of right ‘now’….

Move on to remember before God any moments which you feel grateful this week; an unexpected phone call from someone, a smile from a neighbour, a letter, someone’s gratitude to you after you had helped ease their burden in some way…even the stillness, calm, rest of this moment.

From this place of gratitude, replay before God your week, noticing those people or situations that weigh heavily on your heart. Pay particular attention to those, and hold them out in your hands before God in your minds eye. Allow yourself to ponder, ‘what is it about this person/situation which particularly concerns me?’ Again, in your minds eye, letting God know exactly what it is that concerns you, put the person/situation into God’s hands, watching as God tenderly holds them….

Go back over the week, asking that God draw your attention to those times or situations where you harbour a sense of regret or remorse for how you responded or handled things…ask for God’s forgiveness and mercy….

Finally, allow yourself to think over the coming week before God, pondering on what you expect to be coming up, or what you are worried about as it approaches. Trusting that God is always with you, ask for God’s guidance and peace in the coming week. Know that with God:

“All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.”

Julian of Norwich

Finish your time of prayer with these or other familiar words:

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, evermore. Amen.