Ignatius of Loyola – Examen

• Born in Spain in 1491
• Mom dies soon after birth
• Youngest of thirteen children

Teen

• Raised in aristocracy
• Loved Military Exercises
• Wanted fame

Young Adult

• Fought battles for a Duke in Spain
• Very successful in multiple battles
• 1521 one leg was broken. The other mangled.

• Conversion while recovering
• Read about lives of the Saints
• The life of Christ – visualizing oneself in the presence of Christ during the episodes of His life.
• Call to convert non-Christians
• In 1522, well enough to leave bed.
• Entered the Benedictine monastery
• Worked in a hospital for a place to live and begged for food.
• Go to cave and practiced spiritual exercises and kept journal
• Experienced doubt
• Journal led to the spiritual disciplines of the Jesuits

• Two processes –
• Heal “Disordered affection” – we want the wrong thing.  Look at life through Biblical lens to heal.
• Seek and find Gods’ will
• Prayerfully looking at your life.  Without self-examination, we ask the wrong questions

First method

• Step 1: Thank God
• Step 2: Ask for Help
• Step 3: Think through our lives hour by hour or period by period.  How have we misused our memory, intellect or will
• Key is to use scripture
• Use ten commandments,
• The seven capital sins: pride, anger, avarice, gluttony, lust, envy and sloth
• And the virtues: humility, patience, generosity, temperance, chastity, neighborly love and diligence

• Daily particular examination of conscious
• Pick one thing you know need to work on
• Pay attention to how you are doing on it
• Chart progress daily
• Step 1: Wake up and pray for help on issue
• Step 2: At noon, mark number of times the issue occured
• Step 3: Before bed, mark number again

Third method

• Newer form
• Discernment through the nudging of the soul
• “Consolations” – gracious presence of God; inflamed; more love of God; not happiness
• “Desolations” – absence of God; lack of faith; lack of hope
• Step 1: Thank God
• Step 2: Quiet our hearts to reflect on the past day
• Step 3: In God’s presence, bring to mind consolations and desolations.  May journal thoughts
• Step 4: Ponder their significance
• Step 5: Close by thanking God for being present