The Daily Examen - The Prayer of Saint Francis

The Examen is a way of praying developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), the founder of the Jesuits. He undertook a daily way of praying by examining his life so that he could better serve God. The Examen can be done in the evening or in the morning to reflect on the day just completed and to pray for the day to come. It is most effectively accomplished with a few minutes of undisturbed quiet and by writing notes or journaling one's responses.

Saint Francis of Assisi was a 13th century monk and preacher who is probably best known as the patron saint of animals and for carrying on the work on the Christ with devotion to a life of simplicity and poverty. Saint Francis is also well known for the prayer which is attributed to him:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Read through each line of the prayer slowly and consider how or if you have been able to realize this prayer today. As you think through the events of the day, where have you been able to confront a negative situation with the goodness of Christ? Where did you console, understand, love, give, pardon or die to self? Give thanks for those chances, confess any instances where you neglected such an opportunity or did or said something to create or promote hatred, injury, doubt, despair, darkness or sadness. Say a prayer for tomorrow, that you will more closely imitate the words of Saint Francis's prayer.