The examen is a meditative form of prayer in which one reflects on the day and discerns how God was present in each unique moment. St.Ignatius of Loyola invites us to “find God in all things,” and the examen at Jesuit is a daily opportunity for our students to do just that.

Every day after lunch, a student leads our school community in an exam over the PA system. Everyone on campus is invited to find a place to sit down, set aside all technology, quiet themselves, and focus on a set of questions that asks them to consider God’s presence and message for them in each moment of their day.

While the specific wording of an examen may vary, they usually follow this general outline:

1. Place yourself in God’s presence. Give thanks for God’s great love for you.
2. Pray for the grace to understand how God is acting in your life.
3. Review your day – recall specific moments and your feelings at the time.
4. Reflect on what you did, said, or thought in those instances. Were you drawing closer to God, or further away?
5. Look toward tomorrow – think of how you might collaborate more effectively with God’s plan. Be specific!
6. Conclude with an Our Father or Glory Be.