What is a daily examination of conscience?
Catechism Meditation:
In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path, we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. We must also examine our conscience before the Lord’s Cross. We are assisted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, aided by the witness or advice of others and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church. ―No. 1785
REFLECTION. The daily examination of conscience or “the Examen” is a simple prayer that helps us notice God’s presence in our daily lives. It was taught by St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. This prayer can be done at any time of the day, but many people find it helpful to pray in the evening. It is a way to look back on the day with God and see where He has been with us. The Examen is not about judging ourselves harshly. It is about seeing our day with honesty and gratitude. We look at the good and the hard moments, trusting that God is present in both. This helps us understand ourselves better and grow closer to Him. In this prayer, we remember our blessings and thank God for them. We also look at our actions and feelings, noticing where God might be speaking to us. This can help us see patterns and areas where we need to grow.
The format of the Examen is simple. First, we remember that we are in God’s presence. Then we look back on our day with gratitude, noticing blessings big and small. Next, we pay attention to our emotions and the events that stand out. We choose one of those moments to pray about more deeply. Finally, we look ahead to tomorrow and ask God to guide us. This simple structure makes the Examen easy to learn and practice. It is short enough to fit into a busy day but deep enough to help us grow in faith. Whether prayed in the morning, at night, or during a quiet moment, the Examen invites us to pause and walk through our day with God.
In an era where sin is trivialized and conscience is dulled, the traditional examination of conscience emerges as a spiritual antidote. It is not merely a “mental review” but a personal encounter with God, where the soul is placed under the light of Truth to be purified, corrected, and elevated. As Archbishop Fulton Sheen put it, “There is only one reason why we are not better, and that is because we do not will to be better.” We may wish it, but that is not enough. There are too many behaviors we don’t want to give up, so we hold back from the true holiness God calls us to. We convince ourselves that we are working on being better Christians, but the habits of sin, hidden deep within us, escape our awareness. Because of this, the reality of who we actually are becomes distorted in our minds. Sheen said that if we want to live joyfully in the goodness of God’s reality, we must see ourselves accurately. Just as Christ descended into hell, we too, he said, “have to go down into the hell in which we hide [our] unadmitted faults. This requires us to make a thoroughgoing analysis of ourselves in the light of God’s unchanging laws.” We must will – seriously intend – to be better. And we do this primarily through the power of grace, Examination of Conscience, and a genuine resolution to amend our patterns of behavior.
PRAYER. Jesus, my good Teacher, may my daily examination not be a ritual but a living encounter with You. May each day bring me one step closer to You.
Timeless Wisdom Quote:
“The examination of conscience never induces despair, always hope…Because examination of conscience is done in the light of God’s love, it begins with a prayer to the Holy Spirit to illumine our minds.” ― Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen