Now let us continue the reflection offered yesterday, a few thoughts that arise when going through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola or reading them. You are invited along this path for the following reasons:New Year's resolutions are in the air
Sinful habits weigh upon many seeking true freedom
Daily use of the Examen helps overcome a fault or sin that has become a habit
The following paragraphs describe a way to get the very best to use the Examen.
Through a brief time of prayer, each evening, I come to a far deeper insight into my sins and their malice. How? The graces help produce a greater fervor and openness to the healing power of Christ in the sacrament of Reconciliation (at a later time).
This is what Ignatius proposes for someone who wishes to remove a fault or a sin from his/her life. There are five steps that make up the Examen.
+ offer thanks to God for the favors granted to me;
+ seek help from the Holy Spirit to enlighten me so that I may see my sin or fault as God sees them;
+ look back over the events of the day to see sinful act whether in thought word or deed, whether omission or commission and the tendencies or roots of such sinful behavior;
+ express my sorrow and ask God's forgiving love to heal me;
+ pray for the graces to amend my life.
Being a very practical man and one who seemed to be endowed with the gift of an organizer and a psychologist, Ignatius offers the following structure that actually is a part of the third part of the Examen -- recording the faults or sins of the day.
Ignatius suggests a recording using the following structure ... the "dots" representing the count of failures for the day.
Week One Week Two Week Three Week Four
SUN . . . . .
MON . . . . . . .
TUE . . . . . . . . .
WED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
THU . . . . . . . .
FRI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SAT . . . . . . . .
SUM 22 19 18 14
Analysis:
It seems progress is being made ... even after one month. But notice Wednesdays and Fridays seem to be "bad" days. Ignatius would suggest you review those two days to see what is there that is bringing you to fail. Perhaps Wednesdays is a day when a boss or family members make special demands on you ... e.g. reports due, taking the kids to soccer. Friday may be a day when you are just tired or a day when you are annoyed because you cannot do something special on the weekends, etc. etc. You have to look and see.
A page such as this is an excellent way to gradually erase a bad habit or a fault or a sin from your life. Likewise, this kind of charting can be used if you are trying to build up a special virtue in your life.
Back to reflection on New Year's Eve resolutions: if you make resolution to use the Daily Examen each evening, determined to employ its purpose to remove a fault smoking, drink, cussing, misuse of the Internet, immoral activity, respect for a spouse or children or a coworker, fidelity to Church obligations, etc. etc., in short time you will begin to see success.
Good luck and may this instrument help you in the new year.
