The “Weekly Examen” will be used in the holy hours. This examen is based on the five points in the “Daily General Examen” in The Spiritual Exercises.
Gratitude:
My precious Lord, as I adore Your sacred presence in this time of prayer, help me to be keenly aware of the many blessings of this past week. May I be attentive to the powerful ways that You have been at work in my life as well as the most subtle of ways. May I see all the ways that You have blessed me in abundance.
Now call to mind the many blessings of the week and make a quick list of all the ways God has blessed you—for example, life, health, friendship, family, an activity, a particular encounter with someone, a kind word given or received, a fruitful time of prayer, an insight received, and any/every way that God has blessed you.
Lord, You have blessed me in an abundance of ways. Your gifts are continually bestowed upon me. I thank You this day not only for the great and powerful ways in which You have blessed me but also for every small gift of Your grace this week.
Petition:
Lord, I also know that You have much to say to me during this time of prayer. Please open my mind and heart right now to whatever it is that You want to say. Help me to see all that keeps me from loving You and others, and help me to see the ways You are at work in my life. As I see, help me to listen and respond to this gift of Your grace.
Weekly Review:
Review the activities of the past week. Review your journal (if you use one) to consider the various ways God has been speaking to you over the past weeks. Have you been responding to the daily inspirations you have received this past week?
Lord, I thank You for helping me to see the ways that You have been at work in my life this week. Thank You for the joys, the consolations and the countless blessings You have bestowed upon me. I pray that I will continually be aware of Your workings in my life so that I can hear Your voice more clearly and follow Your will with greater abandonment and love.
Forgiveness:
Now spend time examining your conscience. During the “Foundational Meditations,” use the examinations of conscience on the Seven Capital Sins and the Ten Commandments. For the rest of the year, primarily focus on different parts of the examination on faith, hope and charity.
I also pray that You bestow upon me Your mercy for my sins. Please give to me the grace of humility so that I can admit all my sins without reserve. I pray that every sin will be forgiven, and I open myself to Your grace so that Your merciful Heart will create me anew. Your presence in my life brings great joy; my sin leads to sorrow and despair.
For every sin that I have committed this week, I am sorry and I beg for Your forgiveness, my merciful Lord.
Renewal and Resolution:
Make your personal resolutions here for the coming week based on what God has spoken to you in these reflections. Then conclude with this prayer:
My dear Lord, I resolve to serve You more faithfully. Help me to put into practice all You have revealed. I choose You as my Lord. I choose You as my Guide and pray for Your abundant blessings for the week ahead.
Amen.
Examination of Conscience: Seven Capital Sins
Examination of Conscience: Ten Commandments
Examination of Conscience: Faith, Hope & Charity
Short Examination of Conscience: Faith, Hope & Charity
Probing the Depths – Full Table of Contents
Part One: Background of Saint Ignatius and Lessons From The Spiritual Exercises
Part Two: Ignatian Meditations Arranged According to the Liturgical Year
Part Three: Additional Prayer Materials for Use Throughout the Year