The Evening Examen
The examen is St. Ignatius of Loyola’s way of going back over the day with God: you give thanks, see where you loved and where you didn’t, ask forgiveness and look to tomorrow.
When it’s prayed
At night, before bed. In Angelus it’s the 9:30 PM prayer.
The prayer
The examen has no fixed text. These are the guided steps Angelus uses; leave a moment of quiet at each one.
Give thanks
Be still for a moment. Thank God for the gifts of this day, great and small.
Ask for light
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see this day as God saw it, with honesty and without fear.
Review the day
Go through the day hour by hour. Where did you love, and where did you fail to love? Where was God near you?
Ask forgiveness
Tell the Lord you are sorry for what was unkind, careless or selfish, and trust in his mercy.
Look to tomorrow
Choose one small way to love better tomorrow, and ask for the grace to do it.
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.