One of the treasures St. Ignatius of Loyola left us in the Spiritual Exercises is the practice of spiritual examination. What is spiritual examination? It is a way of noticing the Lord’s presence in our daily experiences. It is a simple form of prayer that invites us to reflect on how attentive and open we have been to the Holy Spirit throughout the day.
Our days are filled with countless events that stir various inner movements. Some bring sadness, others joy or enthusiasm, and some leave us unsettled. These feelings influence our actions: some lead us to answers, to generosity, to commitment, or to freedom; others can trap us in fear and doubt.
By developing the habit of examination, of returning to the events of our day with the heart, we learn to recognize these inner movements and where they may be leading us.
This practice allows us to notice how the Lord has passed through our lives and helps us become more available to His grace. That’s why spiritual examination is so important. It shows us whether our interior movements have been open to life, joy, surrender, and service, or whether they’ve leaned toward sadness, isolation, or doubt. With Jesus at Night on Click To Pray is a moment set aside for this very purpose.
The first Jesuits who lived with St. Ignatius tell us that, in his final years, he rarely let an hour go by without pausing to reflect on how he had lived it. His deep desire was to love and serve the Lord in all things and to find Him in everything that happened to him. This is why he constantly paused to discover how the Lord was present in his life.
Bettina Raed
Vice International Director
Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network – Vatican