The Examen

I came across a good book The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything - a Spirituality for Real Life by James Martin, S.J. In this book the author describes a type of prayer (or spiritual exercise) called the examen. It is based on five steps: "1. Gratitude: Recall anything from the day for which you are especially grateful, and give thanks. 2. Review: Recall the events of the day, from start to finish, noticing where you felt God's presence, and where you accepted or turned away from any invitations to grow in love. 3. Sorrow: Recall any actions for which you are sorry. 4. Forgiveness: Ask for God's forgiveness. Decide whether you want to reconcile with anyone you have hurt. 5. Grace: Ask God for the grace you need for the next day and an ability to see God's presence more clearly." I have found this type of prayer to be very healing and as the author says, "finding God in your examen makes you more likely to look for him during the day."