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| The Transforming Power of Prayer, Part 2 | ||
September 24, 2007
In the previous article, we discussed how coming into the presence of Jesus in prayer with expectant faith, and opening ourselves to his divine revelation, can transform us more and more into his image and likeness. The revelation of Jesus' love and power and wisdom is worth striving for in a daily time of prayer. For myself, I do pretty well in having a regular time of prayer in the morning. However, I don't do nearly as well in the evening.
That's why I was delighted to read the article below by Fr. James Martin in the September 2007 issue of The Word Among Us magazine. It provides an easy way to have a 15-20 minute time of prayer in the evening.
Join me in a journey of experimenting with this method of prayer over the next few weeks. Then, share the results with other men by posting any fruits of this prayer here on the Catholic Man Channel.
The Easiest Prayer, Looking Back to Move Ahead
By James Martin, SJ
Plenty of Catholics think they don't pray well. Or that they somehow pray wrong. Or that everyone else has an easier time praying.
With this in mind, let me introduce you to a kind of prayer that anyone can do. Whether you've been on dozens of retreats or are just beginning to incorporate prayer into your day, the "examination of conscience" can be a wonderful — and easy — support for your spiritual life.
Although Catholics had been using this prayer for centuries, it eventually came to be associated with St. Ignatius of Loyola, the sixteenth-century founder of the Jesuit Order, who popularized it. In addition to the Mass, St. Ignatius used to say, the examination of conscience is the one prayer that a Jesuit should never omit from his day. Many other Christians also find it invaluable for their own life with the Lord.
Five Simple Steps. In essence, the prayer is a review of the day. It can be done either once a day (usually before going to bed) or twice (usually at midday and evening). Traditionally, this prayer is broken up into five simple steps:
First, as with any prayer, you ask for God's grace in helping you to pray.
Second, you recall the things for which you are grateful from the past day. These can be big things — a healing conversation with a friend, an intimate moment with a spouse, an exciting new project at work. Or they might be as small as the feel of the sun on your face, a refreshing breeze, a funny moment in the office. You recall them and, as St. Ignatius said, "savor" them. Then you express your gratitude to God.
Third, you recall the events of the day, almost as if your day were a movie playing out in your head. You ask yourself: Where did I experience God's presence and accept God's invitation? And where did I turn away from God?
Fourth, you ask for forgiveness. Step three will probably reveal some sins that you committed (unless you're perfect!), so you ask the Lord to forgive you for them. You may also decide that you need to ask for forgiveness from someone, or commit to seek out the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Fifth, you ask for the grace to live the next day in God's love. And, says St. Ignatius, it is good to close the examination with an Our Father.
That's it: five simple steps. Normally, the examination takes only fifteen to twenty minutes, which makes it a prayer that is accessible to everyone.
Benefits of the Backward Look. Essentially, this is a prayer that enables us to see where God has been. This is usually far easier than recognizing God in the present, since we're typically so distracted and preoccupied by our daily tasks.
In the Old Testament, God says to Moses, "You cannot see my face." How often that is the case with us! We, too, may feel unable to see God as the day's events are unfolding. But that same God then allows Moses to see him pass (see Exodus 33:20-34:7).
One way of thinking about this Bible passage is as a reminder that it is sometimes easier to see God in retrospect than in the moment. The examination allows us to do this at the close of every day; it encourages us to prayerfully reflect on the ways by which God communicates his presence in our daily lives. Jesuit theologian Walter Burghardt once wrote that prayer is a "long, loving look at the real." You might say that the examination of conscience provides this look as from a rearview mirror.
In time this backward look may reveal patterns. You may notice, for example, that you are constantly thanking God for a particular person. And, over the days and weeks, you may begin to realize what a blessing that person has been. You may say to yourself, "I never fully recognized this before!" Eventually, your examination may make you so aware that you begin to appreciate your friend more in the present.
You may also find "answers" to prayers that you thought were going unanswered. Often we pray for something and, failing to receive it immediately, become disheartened. But the examination enables us to see more easily the gifts that God gives us, but which unfold over days, weeks, months, and even years. A friend likes to say that God is like a master carpenter in a very small town. When you need some carpentry work done, everyone will tell you, "There's only one man to see. He does the best work in town, but he takes a very long time!"
As you see more clearly, you may be carried away by gratitude for what is in your life. At the end of a tiring or frustrating day, I sometimes sit down to do my examination and suddenly remember a consoling moment — a kind comment or a bit of good news — and give myself the time to savor the moment and be grateful. The examination itself becomes a gift from God.
So, having a hard time finding God? Try the examination of conscience. You may not be able to see where God is. But you'll certainly be able to see where God was.
James Martin, SJ, is a Jesuit priest and author of My Life with the Saints (Loyola Press) and Becoming Who You Are (Paulist Press).
Many thanks to The Word Among Us for allowing us to use this article from the September 2007 issue of their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.