Saint Ignatius of Loyola promoted a practice of prayer that centers on the imitation of Jesus – an emphasis on the mind, heart, values, and loves of Christ. Saint Ignatius would instruct his followers that to know these aspects of Christ, one would need to look clearly at what Jesus said and did. At the very center of Jesus’ life was his constant and intentional connection to God. Jesus also embarked on a journey that modeled living as an authentic human being under the gaze of a loving God. Jesus embodied forgiveness of sins, healed the wounded, sick, and possessed, and gave great hope to those who were both socially and economically downtrodden. Jesus also spoke of the transformation of the world and person to a place of joy, peace, justice and love.
Ignatian spirituality attempts to move people from a sense of disconnectedness from the live of Jesus, from God, and from other human beings to a place where one feels the incarnation of God in creation, in other persons, and in self. One of the reasons I love this expression of spirituality is that it does not seek to separate us from the world, but affirms both our human potential and the on-going failings of ourselves and humanity.
Saint Ignatius created a method of prayer called the examen (or The Examen of Consciousness). I find this to be an extremely accessible way of praying. The examen is a short, daily period of prayer that allows an individual to seek and find God in the very ordinary rhythm of life. Traditionally, there are five steps: 1) recall that you are in the presence of God, 2) give thanks to God for what you received, and look at what you gave, 3) ask for the awareness of the Holy Spirit so you can examine you actions with patience and honesty, 4) examine how you are living by reviewing the day, and 5) pray words of reconciliation and forgiveness for others and for yourself, expressing sorrow for sin, thanksgiving for grace, and praise for God.
A more modern, and perhaps more accessible roadmap would be to spend some time each night before you retire and breathe in God and ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Once you’ve quieted down, begin examining your day with these questions:
- What surprised me today?
- What inspired me today?
- Did I experience hurt today?
- Did I experience love today?
- What felt life-giving?
- What felt life-taking?
For the good, give thanks to God. For the not-so-good, forgive or ask forgiveness. And in all, understand that the Spirit of God blows through all of it.
Happy praying.
Lori
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