Day 1: How to Pray ?
To begin these 21 days of prayer, we would recommend that, every day after praying, you write down some notes on points you would like to keep reflecting on later.
Today, we invite you to familiarize yourself with an approach to prayer that is as straightforward as it is profound: the Examen Prayer. It was developed 500 years ago by one of the greatest saints in the history of the Church, Ignatius of Loyola. The Daily Examen is at the heart of one of the most influential spiritual traditions in Western Christianity, known as the Ignatian spirituality. This prayer method was also used by countless saints over centuries. Here, we will present you with a simplified version.
Starting tomorrow, you will receive daily texts and testimonies to meditate upon. But for now, we will simply explore this three-steps prayer.
God dwells in silence. This evening, before going to sleep, start by dedicating a time of silence to invite in the Lord.
Then, start reviewing your day, and pray with the following intentions in mind:
- "Thank you." Examine your day and give thanks for all the moments when you felt that God was by your side.
- "Forgive me." Ask for forgiveness for every time you committed evil or did not do your best.
- "Please." Ask God to assist you in hardships, to answer a request, to help You in an occasion of your life when you need Him, both now and in the future.
It should now be clear to you now why the Ignatian approach to prayer is sometimes referred to as “a prayer for busy people”. If you are unable to devote a long time to prayer to God, don't worry: simply offer Him your everyday life, with its shares of ups and downs, successes and setbacks.
Let my prayer be incense before you; my uplifted hands an evening offering.” - King David, Psalm 141
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Thank you! 101 people prayed
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone. Col 4:6