A Mid-Year Spiritual Pause: The Ignatian Examen

Photo by Nigel Tadyanehondo on Unsplash

“Where has the year gone?!” followed by “before you know it, it’ll be Christmas!”  are the exclamations you’ve probably been hearing ever since the calendar flipped over to July, officially marking the passing of time into the second half of 2022.

In a whirl of study, work, deadlines, events, and the change of season it is so easy to see the months tick by and get swept up in our daily routines without having time to reflect on the big picture and detect God’s presence in our lives.

The Ignatian Examen is an ancient form of prayer developed by St Ignatius of Loyola. Usually done daily, it guides us as we reflect on our day, seeking God’s presence and discerning God’s direction for us. We can apply this same method to prayerfully reflect on the year we’ve had so far and discern God’s calling for us as we enter into the second half of the year.

Let’s press pause and take a moment to reflect on the first half of 2022 as time ticks over into the second half of the year. Grab a cup of coffee, settle into a warm comfy spot, take a slow breath, and read on:

Step One: Become aware of God’s Presence

Take a moment to recognise you are in God’s presence and feel God’s great love for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you review your year, giving you perspective with wisdom, grace and faith.

Step Two: Review your year so far with gratitude

Reflect on the year you have lived so far, paying attention to the goodness you have received from God. Name the blessings that come up in your memory and give God thanks for them.

COYYA’S Mid-Year Spiritual Pause:

We are grateful for this year and all of the wonderful encounters we have had, meeting with the young people in our archdiocese and those who minister and support them.

We especially give thanks to God for God’s providence and care of our Pentecost Encounter in June where we were able to gather with young people from across the archdiocese to explore our faith and celebrate the feast of Pentecost.

COYYA’s Pentecost Encounter June 2022

Step Three: Pay attention to your emotions

As you continue to review your year so far, pay attention to your emotional reactions.

What have been the high and low points of 2022 so far?

What recollections stand out to you?

What emotions stir up in you as you recall these moments?

Where did you encounter God in these moments?

As you reflect, ask God to help you understand these emotions and to reveal what there is to learn about yourself and/or the situation you are recalling.

COYYA’S Mid-Year Spiritual Pause:

What comes to mind is COYYA’s participation in the recent ARCH D Radio and Podcasting Leaders Day. A mixture of emotions bubble up: disappointment as last-minute illness prevented all of us from being present on the day after a long time of planning and anticipation, the stress and rush of event management and the absolute joy of seeing the young participants being engaged and inspired throughout the day’s activities.

God, we are grateful for the moments when we have been challenged and affirmed. Help us always to respond with kindness to others and be open to growth as we face both the joys and challenges in our work.

ARCH D Radio and Podcasting Leaders Day June 2022

Step Four: Choose one recollection of your year so far and pray from it

While you are recalling the year so far and paying attention to your emotions, settle on one recollection that stands out for you.

This could be a one-off event or a pattern of behaviour that has come up in your mind.

Allow this one recollection to drive your prayer.

Reflect on the experience, what you did you do, say or think at that time? Were you drawing closer to God or further away?

COYYA’S Mid-Year Spiritual Pause:

An occasion that features in our year so far is the opportunity to participate in Caritas Oceania Laudato Si’ Youth Forum. Young people and others from across Oceania connected via zoom to discuss ecological justice and share ideas about how to care for our common home. It was inspiring to connect with young people from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga, learning about each other’s culture and heritage whilst being connected by our faith and desire to care for our earth. This experience brought us closer to God and opened our eyes to the call to strive for ecological justice.

Caritas Oceania Laudato Si’ Youth Forum May 2022

Step Five: Look toward the rest of 2022

Bring to mind the blessings and challenges that you anticipate may be in-store for you in the rest of 2022.

Think of all of the important relationships, decisions to be made, things to learn, events, tasks, healing, work and all other things you have hope to encounter and accomplish.

Bring these before God now and ask for God’s guidance and grace as you enter the second half of 2022.

End your prayer in thanksgiving.

To find out more about the Ignatian Exam see: https://www.jesuits.org/spirituality/the-ignatian-examen/