Prayers

Examen of Consciousness

Through the steps below you can experience this "method" of growing in a sense of self and the source of self. You can grow more sensitive to your own spirit -- its longings, its powers, its Source; and you will develop an openness to receive the supports God offers.

1. Recall that you are in the presence of God.

No matter where you are, hilltop or valley, country or city, in a crowd or alone, you are a creature in the midst of creation. The Creator who called you forth is concerned for you. The Spirit of God, sent by Christ, will remind you that you are gifted to help bring creation to its fullness, to restore it to the Creator's way. Ask the Holy Spirit to let you look on all you see with love. "Love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous or boastful, it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; ... it does not rejoice at wrong but rejoices in the right.... Love hopes all things." (1 Cor 13)

2. Give thanks to God for favours received.

Pause and spend a moment looking at this day's gifts. Be concrete! Recall the taste of jam on toast, the fragrance of a flower, the smile brought forth by a kind word, an act of patience that gave someone ease. Take stock of what you received and gave. Notice these clues that guide living.

Now look at your more permanent gifts that allow your participation in this day. Recall your particular strengths in times of difficulty, your ability to hope in times of weakness, your sense of humour and your life of faith, your intelligence and health, your family and friends. God the Creator gives these things to you to draw you into the fullness of life. The Creator sent the Redeemer, Jesus, to assure us that God's realm is being established. Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to guide and sustain us as we receive and bring life to others.

Pause in thanksgiving.

3. Ask for awareness of the Holy Spirit's aid.

Before you explore the mystery of the human heart, ask to receive the Holy Spirit so that you can look upon your actions and motives with honesty and patience. "When the Spirit of truth comes he will guide you into all truth." (John 16:13) The Holy Spirit inspires you to see with growing freedom the development of your life story. the Spirit gives a freedom to look upon yourself without condemnation and without complacency and thus be open to growth. "Love hopes all things." (1 Cor 13: 7)

4. Now examine how you are living this day.

Recalling the events of your day, explore the context of your actions. Review the day, hour by hour, searching for the internal events of your life. Look through the hours to see your interaction with what was before you. Ask what you were involved in and who you were with, and review your hopes and hesitations. Many situations will show that your heart was divided -- wavering between helping and disregarding, scoffing and encouraging, listening and ignoring, rebuking and forgiving, speaking and silence, neglecting and thanking. See the opportunities for growth in faith, hope and charity and how you responded. What moved you to act the way you did?

Notice where you acted freely -- picking a particular course of action from the possibilities you saw. See where you now sense you were swept along without freedom. This "method" is to give you habits of freedom. What habits helped or hindered you?

See where Christ entered your decision and where you might have asked to receive His influence. "Test yourselves," St. Paul urges, "to see whether you are living in faith; examine yourselves. Perhaps you yourselves do not realize that Christ Jesus is in you." (1 Cor.) His influence comes through Scripture, the Word of God. Now, as you pray, Christ's spirit will help you know His presence and concern.

As you daily and prayerfully explore the mystery of yourself in the midst of your actions you will grow more familiar with your spirit. You will come to know that Christ is with you. Christ will continually invite you to love your neighbour as yourself and strengthen you to do this.

5. Pray words of reconciliation and resolve.

"The Word of God is very near to you, it is in your mouth and in your heart for your observance. See, today I set before you life and prosperity, death and disaster.... Choose life," speaks the prophet. (Deut. 18) Now, having reviewed this day of your life, look upon yourself with compassion and see your need for God and try to realize God's manifestations of concern for you. Express sorrow for sin, the obscuring darkness that surrounds us all, and especially ask forgiveness for the times you resisted God's light today. Give thanks for grace, the enlightening presence of God, and especially praise God for the times you responded in ways that allowed you to better see God's life. In these acts of sorrow and gratitude, you grow in knowledge of God's gentle labour for you. "As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in mine." (Jer. 18:6)

A final reflection

Growth in friendship and intimacy needs time and constant attention. Try to give 10 to 15 minutes daily to this examination. Cover all five points daily with a freedom to linger more at one point than another, as the Spirit moves you. Notice how you grow in appreciation for the variety of vocations -- marriage, priesthood, religious life -- among the people of God. Pray that all hear God's call and respond generously to their vocation. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth."

Prayer of St. Ignatius

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my entire will, all I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace. That is enough for me.

courtesy of Moussa FaddoulPrayer for Generosity

Eternal Word, only begotten Son of God,
Teach me true generosity.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve.
To give without counting the cost.
To fight heedless of the wounds.
To labour without seeking rest.
To sacrifice myself without thought of any reward
Save the knowledge that I have done your will. Amen.

- St. Ignatius Loyola

Prayer for Light and Help

Jesus, I feel within me a great desire to please you but, at the same time, I feel totally incapable of doing this without your special light and help, which I can expect only from you. Accomplish your will within me -- even in spite of me.

- St. Claude de Columbiere, SJ

Prayer for Detachment

I beg of you, my Lord, to remove anything which separates me from you, and you from me.

Remove anything that makes me unworthy of your sight, your control, your reprehension; of your speech and conversation, of your benevolence and love.

Cast from me every evil that stands in the way of my seeing you, hearing, tasting, savouring, and touching you; fearing and being mindful of you; knowing, trusting, loving, and possessing you; being conscious of your presence and, as far as may be, enjoying you. This is what I ask for myself and earnestly desire from you. Amen.

- Blessed Peter Faber, SJ

My Lord and My God

Glorious Lord Christ:
The divine influence secretly diffused and active in the depths of matter,
And the dazzling centre where all the innumberable fibres of the manifold meet;
Power as implacable as the world and as warm as life;
You whose forehead is of the whiteness of snow,
Whose eyes are of fire,
And whose feet are brighter than molten gold;
You whose hands imprison the stars;
You who are the first and the last,
The living and the dead and the risen again;
You who gather into your exuberant unity every mode of existence;
It is you to whom my being cries out with a desire as vast as the universe:
"In truth you are my Lord and my God."

- Pierre Teihard de Chardin, SJ

Prayer for Vocations

Click here to join the Jesuits of the English Canada Province in praying for vocations. The prayer is changed monthly.