July 2006
The development of CPC’s new website is well underway with
an anticipated launch in early August. It will include all of the features of
the current site plus a number of new feature pages centered on prayer,
meditation and spirituality.
The Examination of
Conscience is specifically self-examination in regard to the ethical and moral
norms by which one has chosen to live. This method of prayer was practiced in
ancient India, Egypt, and the Far East and in the Greco-Roman world. It is
implied throughout the Bible and found in the teachings of the Dessert Fathers
and monastic traditions. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits and author of The
Spiritual Exercises, deemed it his desired form of prayer and required his
followers to undertake the Examen daily.
Like
all periods of prayer one should begin with some time of silent reflection,
allowing for the quieting of the mind, and placing oneself in the presence of
our Divine Majesty. Close your eyes, listen to the sound of your breathing or
perhaps concentrate on a lighted candle or sacramental picture.
One
commences the examen by reflecting about God’s presence or absence in the
events of one’s daily life. There are five key points in this method of
reflection:
1. giving thanks
to God our Lord for all of favors received;
2. asking the
help of the Spirit to enlighten me so that I may see the light of God’s grace;
3. going
carefully back (hour by hour) over the events you have kept God out – the
sinful acts, whether in thoughts, words, or deeds, whether it be things you
have done or failed to do, and the tendencies or roots of such sinful behavior.
Utilizing as a measurement standard charity and love for one’s neighbor;
4. expressing
sorrow and asking God’s forgiving love to heal and strengthen you;
5. praying for
the grace to be more totally available to God who loves you so completely.
The
key to maximizing the results of this prayer method is to strive for a relaxed
attentiveness to inner movements and feelings as a way of “feeling God in all
things”, of discovering the unique action and call of God to you and your
response to that call. Remember, however, that God seldom acts in a dramatic
fashion. More often than not he enters our day in a very subtle way. Thus your
discernment should be conscience of these seemingly insignificant signs such as
the beauty of nature, the happiness engendered by a child’s laughter or the
peaceful glow of sunset – all of which represent the movement or call of God.
Once
you perfect the Conscience Examen it becomes a prayer of such valuable intimacy
with Christ, that like St. Ignatius, you never exclude it from your day, even
though other forms of prayer may have to be shortened or omitted.
A special acknowledgment to Rev. David Fleming, S.J. author of Draw Me Into Your Friendship - a literal translation and contemporary reading of the Spiritual Exercises and The Modern Catholic Encyclopedia for the above commentary on the Conscience Examen.
This
month the feast day of St. Ignatius Loyola occurs. Ignatius was born in 1491 in
Northern Spain’s Basque Region. In 1540 he founded the Society of Jesus and
served as the Society’s first Superior General until his death in Rome in 1556.
His spiritual legacy was assured by his creation of the Spiritual Exercises
that countless numbers of Christians have used to draw closer to Christ. Pope Gregory XV canonized St. Ignatius on
March 12, 1662. The universal Church and the Jesuits celebrate his feast day on
July 31 the day he died.
The CPC Prayer Intention for July
For teachers and all who work in the field of education, that they may experience the grace of God’s restful presence during their summer break and;
for all persons
embarking on retreats or sabbaticals this summer.
Lord hear our prayer