{"id":6404,"date":"2018-11-29T00:11:51","date_gmt":"2018-11-28T23:11:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/?p=6404"},"modified":"2019-08-03T13:41:25","modified_gmt":"2019-08-03T11:41:25","slug":"in-the-school-of-prayer-with-ignatius-of-loyola","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2018\/11\/29\/in-the-school-of-prayer-with-ignatius-of-loyola\/","title":{"rendered":"In the school of prayer with Ignatius of Loyola"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
\nSigns used in the 2018 Good Friday service in Rotterdam<\/em>  (Photo: Irene Bom)<\/span><\/p>\n

 
\nI recently wrote this little song inspired by a good day in Zacchaeus’ life, as recounted in Luke 19:1-10<\/a>:<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/you_see_me.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

You see me in all my shame and glory
\nI hear you speak my name
\nWhat joy! my Lord and Saviour
\nto meet you face to face
\nI am changed from the inside out
\nby your gift of grace.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Examen<\/h3>\n

One spiritual practice that helps us reframe our experience – both the shame and the glory – is called the Examen<\/em>, a contemplative prayer developed by Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), founder of the Jesuits.<\/p>\n

The basic format<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Become aware of God\u2019s presence.<\/li>\n
  2. Review the day with gratitude.<\/li>\n
  3. Pay attention to your emotions.<\/li>\n
  4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it.<\/li>\n
  5. Look toward tomorrow. Ask God to give you light for tomorrow\u2019s challenges.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    (Source: www.ignatianspirituality.com<\/a>)
    \nVisit the website for a more detailed outline.<\/p>\n

    Consolations and desolations<\/h3>\n

    Here are some practical guidelines, taken from Gary Neal Hansen’s chapter on Ignatius in his book, Kneeling with giants: Learning to pray with History’s Best Teachers<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

    “In … the examen, we focus on the task of discernment by examining what Ignatius calls the ‘motions of the soul’ – the inner nudges that draw us toward God or away from God. He calls these tuggings ‘consolations’ and ‘desolations’, things that give a sense of the gracious presence of God or the seeming absence of grace, the absence of God. <\/p>\n

    The process is quite simple: we give thanks to God and quiet our hearts to reflect on the past day or week. In God’s presence, we bring to mind both the consolations and the desolations, in prayerful silence or writing them in a journal. We ponder their significance. We close with a prayer thanking God for being present in our experiences, offering ourselves to God anew. … the examen can be done individually or as a gentle, conversational way to pray with a friend or in a group. It can be especially helpful for married couples who want to pray together … It is also a delightful way to deepen prayer with children.” (p. 104)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

     
    \nMore practical guidelines, this time from Chris Heuertz’ book,     The Sacred Enneagram<\/a><\/em>:<\/p>\n

    “The heart of the examen uses memory to explore the day searching for a ‘consolation’ – a moment, memory, or experience in which we felt God moving toward us or in us. Our consolation can be something as mundane as our first cup of hot coffee in the morning, something as sweet as an interaction with a child we love, or something as profound as a personal eruption of grace (such as receiving forgiveness from a friend, noticing growth in our faith journey, or realizing in a deep way that we are loved). Whatever the consolation is, once it is discerned we allow ourselves to be held by it, listening to what God may be trying to say to us through it. This step of the prayer also invites us to find the courage to search for a ‘desolation’ – a moment, attitude, or experience in our day in which we found ourselves moving away from God’s love and presence. Perhaps it’s those voices in our head – shame, guilt, doubt, regret, disappointment, or fear – that we mistake for the voice of Love. The person who hurt us isn’t the desolation, but rather the resentment we might feel toward that person; the family member who constantly annoys us isn’t the desolation, but rather our impatience with them; the painful memory we’ve tried so hard to forget isn’t the desolation, but rather our inability to receive healing for it. Whatever the desolation is, we acknowledge it as an invitation to grace so as not to be overcome or overwhelmed by it.” (p. 230)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

     <\/p>\n\n

    Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Go to the Index<\/a> for more posts in this series, as well as other series.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Signs used in the 2018 Good Friday service in Rotterdam  (Photo: Irene Bom)   I recently wrote this little song inspired by a good day in Zacchaeus’ life, as recounted in Luke 19:1-10: You see me in all my shame and glory I hear you speak my name What joy! my Lord and Saviour to … Continue reading “In the school of prayer with Ignatius of Loyola”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[14,3],"tags":[144,62],"class_list":["post-6404","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-meditation","category-prayer","tag-mind","tag-school-of-prayer"],"yoast_head":"\nIn the school of prayer with Ignatius of Loyola - Prayer matters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"One spiritual practice to 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Whatever I am and whatever I possess, you have given to me; I restore it all to you again, to be at your disposal, according to your\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sunset_building.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sunset_building.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sunset_building.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sunset_building.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13944,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2023\/03\/01\/in-the-quiet-of-gods-smile\/","url_meta":{"origin":6404,"position":2},"title":"In the quiet of God’s smile","author":"Irene Bom","date":"March 1, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 A prayer Sometimes You speak, Lord, in tongues so strange that I must pray for grace to obey without understanding. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sometimes You sing \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0such a lovely song \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0that I must laugh \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0at the silly tune \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I thought was wisdom. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sometimes You shout \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0in a voice so loud \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0that I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tree_highrise_lamppost_houses.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tree_highrise_lamppost_houses.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tree_highrise_lamppost_houses.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tree_highrise_lamppost_houses.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9834,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2020\/07\/14\/slow-time\/","url_meta":{"origin":6404,"position":3},"title":"Slow time","author":"Irene Bom","date":"July 14, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Slow Blessing God the creator, who rested on the seventh day after the work was done, show you how to balance the slow and the fast, the work and the rest. God the redeemer, who lived his life at walking pace, strengthen you to go slow when the world\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "blessing"","block_context":{"text":"blessing","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/blessing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/foxgloves.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/foxgloves.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/foxgloves.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/foxgloves.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16204,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2025\/03\/24\/deeper-closer\/","url_meta":{"origin":6404,"position":4},"title":"Deeper, closer","author":"Irene Bom","date":"March 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 \"When I let myself converse truly and deeply with my heart - whether through reading, writing, walking and thinking, or prayer - I find I am conversing with the creator of my heart, who invites me into conversation with him. In that conversation, I don't always come by the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer of intercession"","block_context":{"text":"prayer of intercession","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer-of-intercession\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/coloured_red_het_park_near_euromast.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/coloured_red_het_park_near_euromast.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/coloured_red_het_park_near_euromast.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/coloured_red_het_park_near_euromast.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16941,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2026\/02\/02\/return-to-the-path\/","url_meta":{"origin":6404,"position":5},"title":"Return to the path","author":"Irene Bom","date":"February 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Prayer of confession Almighty God, You have set before us the path but we have wandered on our own to try to find our way. Sometimes we are like toddlers and we hear Your call and come back. Other times, we are children testing boundaries, ignoring Your call until fear\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "confession"","block_context":{"text":"confession","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/confession\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/houten_station_path.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/houten_station_path.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/houten_station_path.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/houten_station_path.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Irene Bom","author_link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/author\/irenebom-com\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/meditation\/\" rel=\"category tag\">meditation<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/\" rel=\"category tag\">prayer<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Signs used in the 2018 Good Friday service in Rotterdam  (Photo: Irene Bom)   I recently wrote this little song inspired by a good day in Zacchaeus’ life, as recounted in Luke 19:1-10: You see me in all my shame and glory I hear you speak my name What joy! my Lord and Saviour to…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6404","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6404"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6404\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6404"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6404"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6404"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}