One of the many blessings of being Catholic is the rich
tradition we inherit. There are no shortages of saints, spiritualities,
prayers, rituals or advice for any contemporary Catholic. As a Missionaries of
God’s Love sister, I find great comfort in knowing I have our ten patron saints
always ready to offer spiritual wisdom and encouragement. One of these patrons
is St Ignatius of Loyola, born in the late fifteenth century. In our formation,
we were introduced to some of his spiritual writings, such as his rules for
discernment and his examen. We were told that Ignatius instructed his Jesuits
that if all else should fall from their prayer routine, the examen should
remain, so highly did he regard its importance for relationship with God and
personal growth in holiness. If it’s that important to Ignatius, then I do well
to make it that important to me.
The examen has been formulated in many ways over the years,
always offered as a prayer of reflection to help us notice where God is
speaking to us in our lives. In fact, if a young person comes to me asking for
advice around discernment, the daily examen is the first thing I offer to them—if
we learn to hear God’s voice in the small, ordinary, everyday things, we will
be so much more attuned to his voice when we seek it in the larger decisions of
life. I believe the examen isn’t just a prayer for every day, but a prayer for
everybody. Last year I was working with some primary school children in rural
South Australia and developed a simple form of the examen to use with them in
prayer. I told them that their hands go with them wherever they are, and they
can always turn to their hands when they want to have a way to talk to God. The
‘hand examen’ is what I offer now also to you, with each finger representing a
movement of the examen.

Thumb: breathe
The thumb, our opposable digit, reminds us of what is
fundamental. Before all else, prayer is a soaking in the love of God. Spend
some time noticing your breathing, with each breath a sign of your dependence
on and relationship with God. Allow yourself to be present to God, and to
yourself. Open up your heart to God’s love, and let it seep into the very
depths of you.
Index: point out
Our index finger is what we use to point things out to
people. Spend some time reflecting on your day, and point out everything that
you’re grateful for. A delicious meal? Point it out. Good conversation? Point
it out? Wonderous nature? Point it out. As you notice each element of your day
and your life that you’re grateful for, allow that gratitude to be directed towards
God. Gratitude expands our heart to receive gifts lovingly, and makes us
receptive to all the ways God wants to pour out his love into our lives.
Middle: highlight
Our middle finger is generally the longest, the one that
stands out. Review your day, almost as a movie, with the Holy Spirit as your
companion. Notice what happens in your heart as you review the moments of your
day, and where an emotional response seems to stand out. A jolt of anger you’re
ashamed of? An unexpected peace following a conversation? At the end of the
review, ask the Holy Spirit to highlight one of these instances, the one he
wants to have a conversation with you about.
Ring: heart-to-heart
The ring finger is the one where lovers place their rings of
commitment. This finger is an invitation to have a heart-to-heart conversation
with the God who loves us. Take the moment highlighted by the Holy Spirit into
a conversation with God. Spend some time talking to God about what was
happening, what you noticed, what you were feeling. Then spend some time
listening to God, and asking him what he wants to show you about that
situation.
Pinky: resolution
Our pinky finger is the one we learn to make promises with.
When my two-year-old Goddaughter asked me to come for a sleepover, I said I’d
try. Instantly her hand reached out, pinky extended: ‘Promise?’ There’s
something beautifully childlike about commitment. Even at a young age, we know
the power of making a resolution; somehow by saying it, it makes it a little
bit more true. What is the loving resolution you want to make to God moving
into tomorrow? What do you want the fruit of your conversation with God to be? A
simple resolution every day shapes a lifetime of daily walking in holiness.
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Kathryn Kingsley
is in her seventh year with the Missionaries of God’s Love Sisters. She loves
learning and teaching, cooking and creating, sport and solitude, and bringing
the love of God wherever she adventures. Kathryn is currently studying a
Bachelor of Theology at Catholic Theological College in Melbourne.