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The Examen - That I May Know God's Love
229 Plays2 years ago
In this episode, Gretchen introduces a new type of episode - short Ignatian Examens focused on our belovedness - and concludes the episode by leading listeners in an Ignatian Examen they can return to time and again.
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If this episode hits home and you would like more Examens like this one, let Gretchen know by leaving a comment or a review on the podcast itself or over at @lovedasyouarepod on Instagram.
Find more from Gretchen Crowder @gdcrowder as well as at gretchencrowder.com.
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Transcript
Introduction to 'Loved As You Are' podcast
00:00:00
Speaker
Hello, and welcome back to Loved As You Are, an Ignatian podcast with me, Gretchen Crowder. I am so glad you're here. After so many wonderful guest episodes, I wanted to bring you something a little different today.
Understanding the Examine Prayer
00:00:14
Speaker
One of the prayer practices unique to Ignatian spirituality is the examine. The examine is simply a prayerful reflection on one's day, taking care to notice the times when God felt close and the times when God felt more distant.
00:00:30
Speaker
It's a way to intentionally pause in the busyness of life and invite God to help you examine what has happened so far in your day and what is yet to come. St. Ignatius told his men that if they found themselves out of time for anything else prayerful during their active days of ministry, they should at the very least pray the examine twice daily.
00:00:53
Speaker
but it is not just a practice for Jesuits. It's a practice available to all of
Personal Experiences with the Examine
00:00:58
Speaker
us. Early on in my career as a Jesuit educator, I met a kind priest named Father Johnny Edwards S.J. One Advent, he led me one-on-one through a mini retreat, and at the end of it, he asked me to make one commitment post-retreat to prayer. We decided together that it would be the daily examine.
00:01:17
Speaker
Father Edwards walked the school every day, saying hi and catching up with people, always with a bright smile on his face. And whenever he'd walk by my office window, he'd rap on it quite loudly and mouth, have you prayed the examine yet? I was terrible then at keeping my commitment, but I never forgot the invitation.
Variations of the Examine and Embracing Love
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The examine is honestly quite easy. It can be as short as a few minutes or as long as 15 to 30.
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It's simply a review of one's day with God. Many different versions of the examine have been written and shared over the years, some having specific themes and others being more general in nature. On this podcast, I thought I would begin to offer short examines on the theme of being loved as we are. I hope they become something
00:02:10
Speaker
that you consider returning to time and again as a simple way of maintaining a loving and committed relationship with God. I'm so glad you are here examining with me today. So, let us pray.
Guided Examine Prayer
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Speaker
I remind myself that I am in the presence of a loving God. I close my eyes and begin to feel the warmth of God's presence surrounding me.
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Speaker
I think about one or two traits that I am grateful to have.
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Speaker
I take time to express gratitude to the God who created me.
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I think about one or two imperfections in me that I struggle with.
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I pause to imagine God looking at these imperfections alongside me. What does God see?
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I imagine God gazing with me at these aspects of myself and reminding me in no uncertain terms that God made no mistake in my creation.
00:06:42
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I ask God to help me see how these imperfections give me unique insights on myself, my family, my coworkers, my friends, and the world.
00:07:28
Speaker
I asked God for forgiveness, for the times that I believed my mess was too great to bring before God.
00:08:06
Speaker
I ask God for the grace to see myself as God sees me.
00:08:42
Speaker
Looking forward, I ask God to help me when I struggle with feeling God's magnanimous love. And I ask God for the grace to help others when they struggle as well.
00:09:25
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As I end this examine, I thank God for loving me no matter what.
Conclusion and Encouragement
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And I promise to try and reciprocate this love in both my words and my actions.
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Amen.
00:10:16
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Thank you for taking time to do a short examine with me today. I hope you will join me again soon. And until next time, remember to be who you are because that's exactly who God wants you to be.