examen handbook (2014)

8/10/2019 Examen Handbook (2014)

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The ExamenHandbook

A Guide for Leading Othersthrough the Prayer of the

Examen


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Ross Jones, SJSt Ignatius College

Riverview

2014

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Contents

Theology of the Exaen 4

S!irituality 4

The "asis of this Ignatian S!irituality #

The Exaen $

E%e&t of the Exaen '

(eneral )orat of the Exaen*Soe "a&+groun for Sta% to Ex!lain the Se-uen&e.'

College /iary wareness Exaen

Exaen for oung "oys 10

Exaen for 3ler "oys 11

The I5e Exaen 12

The )a&es of 3thers Exaen 16

The 7ovi&es Exaen 14

The 8onay Exaen 1#

The )reeo Exaen 1$

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Theology of the Examen

Spirituality

S!irituality is the way a !erson a+es sense of, or a+es

&onne&tions 9etween, theselves, others, &reation an the3ther: There are any s!iritualities a&&oring to i%erentfaith traitions *eg, Christian, "uhist, 8usli. an anys!iritualities within ea&h of those traitions: There aresoe s!iritualities that o not in&lue (o *eg, soe 7ewge s!iritualities.:

Ignatian s!irituality is e;ne in a few ways: The ostsu&&in&t forula is


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anifestations, little e!i!hanies, tell>tale signs, (ostra&es:

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The asis of this !gnatian Spirituality

Soe &riti&s have sai this Ignatian s!irituality is si!ly theerror of !antheis, that is, everything is (o *(o is theountain, (o is the tree, (o is the other !erson, et&.:

7ot so @ this s!irituality !ro!oses that (o is to 9e revealein the 9eauty of a ountain or a tree, or that (os S!iritwells in the other !erson: (o, the Creator, is at all tiesgreater than his &reation:

3ur starting !oint is in&arnational theology: It is a theologythat is roote in this worl: 7ot an


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The Examen

3n the 9asis of this theology an this !arti&ular s!irituality,Ignatius en&ourage his followers to use a !arti&ular !rayerwherein the !ray>er woul re&all those oents in the ay

when they felt (os !resen&e, an those ties when weight have rifte fro (o: It goes 9y various naesThe Examen" A#areness Examen" Examination ofCons$iousness %not Cons$ien$e only&'

It is &alle Examen*fro the Datin. not eaning an exaor a test *an therefore a

It is easy to review the ay: 5e have a natural fa&ility forit: ow any of us &an easily re>ena&t a -uarrel we hauring the ayF ow reaily we thin+ of that &utting,

&lever thing we ight have sai to our foeG "ut we also+now how to re>live goo an !re&ious oents of the ayH intia&y, frienshi!, (os !ea&e: Su&h re&olle&tions&an even a+e you sile again: 5e all have that a9ility:

The Examen9uils u!on that &a!a&ity:

In !ra&tising the Examen, we &onsier -uestions li+e

@ where i I eet (o uring the ayF

H how attune a I to (o s!ea+ingFH what is leaing e away fro (oF

Hhow o I 9lo&+ (oF


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E(e$t of the Examen

Regular use of the Examen in !rayer reins us of (osa&tive !resen&e in the orinariness an theextraorinariness of our ay: It also reins us of where

we have 9een navigating o% &ourse, 9earing away fro ourtrue selves an away fro (o:

In aition, for the !ur!oses of re;ning our s+ills ofis&ernent *a+ing right &hoi&es in i!ortant atters.,the Examen+ee!s us in tou&h with the oveents withinour heart that are reinfor&ing what our true esires anho!es for ourselves are @ what is life>giving an ultiatelyful;lling *an therefore what (o wants of us, too.:

General )ormat of the Examen

%Some a$kground for Sta( to Explain theSe*uen$e&

+ Sense of God,s Presen$e and Thanksgi-ing

ave the 9oys 9e&oe still with soe &entring*stilling-uietening. exer&ises: Sin&e this !rayer isa9out interiority, as+ the 9oys to sit &oforta9ly, !utthings out of their hans, -uieten own, &lose their eyes*they ay li+e to rest their heas on their ars if theyare at a es+.: Invite the to leave all istra&tions,


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with integrity @ not to 9e sele&tive, not to ;lter out theless>than>goo, 9ut to 9e o9e&tive an see theselvesas they are: 3r, ay9e they &oul as+ for the gift tosee the ay through Jesus eyes: .This $ould take

about +2 se$onds'14 5e-ie# of the 6ay

5hen as+ing the 9oys to review their ay, as+ the tore&all si!ly the ost signi;&ant events or feelings:5hat was signi;&antF 5here was their heart lifteF5here were they tou&he 9y the (os S!iritF 5hatevent o they enoy ree9eringF 5hat o they thin+was the 9asis or the &ause of the enoyentF 5hat was(o saying to the thereF 5here was there anynegative or false s!irit *or S!irit. at wor+F 5hat ithey learnF 5hat o their a&tions, thoughts, esires,feelings, tell the a9out their relationshi! with (oF

En&ourage the to stay for a tie with what is fruitful:They shoul not feel riven to s!en tie with everyfeeling an ex!erien&e of the ay:

7ot too any wors or instru&tions here @ give thes!a&e to let the eory surfa&e: ?ro!t an stan9a&+: .This might take / minutes'1

7 5esponse

s+ the to have a &onversation with (o: Tal+ to (o*or Jesus. a9out what was signi;&ant: 8ay9e &ontrition

*an ex!ression of sorrow for soething re&alle. isa!!ro!riate: If there is no &onversation, then it is notstri&tly !rayer, 9ut si!ly a review of the ay or a self>hel! exer&ise @ an this is also valua9leG .This mighttake /0 se$onds'1

2 The )uture

5hat hel! ight they as+ of (o for toorrowF Is theresoething iA&ult ahea, a &hallengeF /o they nee

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to 9e re&on&ile with soeoneF .This might take /0se$onds'1

Con&lue with a si!le well>+nown !rayer *eg, Glory Be,

Lords Prayer, Prayer for Generosity, Hail Mary. an Sign ofthe Cross: Invite the to


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COLLEGE 6!A58

A9A5E:ESS E;A


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E;A


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Con&lue 9y saying the Prayer for Generosity!

1#


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THE !?9E E;A


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THE )ACES O) OTHE5S E;A


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THE :O@!CES, E;A -uiet !erha!s, 9ut always there: Everything I haveis a gift fro (o: Is there soething that I woules!e&ially li+e to give than+s for toayF

2 I as+ (o to shine his light into y heart so that when Iloo+ 9a&+ over the ay I ay 9e a9le to see (o wor+ingin all things that ha!!ene:

6 7ow I ree9er through the ay starting fro when Iwo+e>u!:

I ree9er the !eo!le that I et an the things thathave ha!!ene: 3n the whole, was it a


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a&teF 5as there any


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THE )5EE6O< E;A


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examen handbook (2014)

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