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SPIRITUAL DIRECTION PREPARATION BY FATHER PAT COLLINS C.M.
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An Examen of Consciousness
Speaking about contemporary culture, Pope Paul VI once made the pertinent observation that:
“Today our psychology is turned outward too much. The external scene is so absorbing that our attention is mainly directed outside; we are nearly always absent from our personal abode. We are unable to meditate or pray. We cannot silence the hubbub inside, due to outside interests, images and passions. There is no quiet, holy space in the heart for the flame of Pentecost.”
Like the prodigal son, who came to his senses, an examen of consciousness, enables a person to return home to the inner chamber of the heart, and God’s activity within it, by means of a reflection exercise.
- Rather than
being an examination of conscience i.e. an itemized assessment of
wrongdoing from a Christian point of view, an examen of consciousness
aims to focus attention on God-given desires, and how one did or did
not respond to them. It seeks to notice what may be inhibiting them.
- It
enables a person to become aware of the presence and inspirations of
the Lord. It also looks at a person’s reactions and responses to such
revelations.
- In the words of I Jn.4: I, it develops the ability to “test the spirits to see whether they are of God.” St. Ignatius of Loyola wrote in par. 32 of his Spiritual Exercises:
“There are three kinds of thought in the mind, namely: one which is strictly my own, and arises wholly from my own free will; two others which come from without, the one from the good Spirit, the other from the Evil One.”
It is worth noting that St. Ignatius of Loyola, considered a regular examen of consciousness so important in the life of any apostolic person that s/he should not omit it except for a serious reason.
A Discernment Exercise
• Relax your body.
• Calm your mind and imagination.
• Affirm in faith that God is present.
• Consider these words of Cardinal Newman:
“God’s presence is not discerned at the time it is upon us, but afterwards when we look back upon what is gone and over.”
• Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your discernment exercise:
“Lord, you enlighten every heart. Enlighten mine to recognize how you have been drawing me to yourself. Help me to appreciate your presence and to distinguish those inspirations that came from You, and those that came from either myself or from the Evil One.”
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