Daily Examen

“Don’t invite that insufferable tyrant of sin back into your mortal body so you won’t become obedient to its destructive desires.” (Romans 6:12 VOICE)

We found a tick on our dog recently. Our dog takes a medicine that prevents ticks from surviving after drinking the dog’s blood, but there are no such medicines for the humans in the house. If a tick latches onto our bodies, it could cause Lyme disease. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and skin rashes. Ticks are small and tend to hide in the deep skin folds of our bodies, so they are hard to detect. During warmer months when ticks are prevalent, it is imperative to do a full body check daily for these sneaky bugs. This involves standing naked in front of a mirror and using a second hand-held mirror to check all the hard to see nooks and crannies. 

Evil is similar. Like sneaky ticks, sins latch on and hide deep within the recesses of our bodies and minds. They can be hard to detect, but their impact is destructive. Thus, it is imperative to do a daily scan for these insufferable tyrants. 

St. Ignatius came up with the practice of the Daily Examen--a prayerful reflection on the events, choices, and reactions of the day. First, you spend some time soaking in God’s presence. Then, you review the day for blessings and crosses. Ask the Holy Spirit for the grace to recognize sins. Carefully scan for moments in the day when you felt your heart drop--feelings of desolation, actions that may have hurt others. Take all of this to the Lord. Finally, ask God to help you be better the next day. By carefully examining our conscience each day, we can protect our bodies and minds from the insufferable tyrants of sin and the destructive diseases they bring.