A Simple, Life-Changing Prayer: Discovering the Power of St. Ignatius Loyola's Examen

As one who routinely roots for baseball underdogs and OTHER underdogs, I love this book. There's one point in this book about Loyola's Catholic spirituality, that there's a baseball metaphor. Like I said, I love baseball underdogs & I love the detail about the fact that even a baseball champion fails two-thirds of the time. For example, a batter who achieves a .333 batting average gets retired two-thirds of the time. Of course, there's cases like the rained-out-game, which -- if your team is winning -- you get to win, even if the last 3 innings out of 9 innings don't even get finished. But you ARE right! That's baseball, and this book's about Loyola's Catholic spirituality. Maybe shrug at my review ... take it on faith that the author's main points are helpful ... & it's a helpful book. You should read it

Just read it. Especially if you're new to the faith or you're seeking guidance on how to make Christ your center. This book will give you the tools and the launchpad to find what every Catholic Seeker is searching for. A Path To God - any and everyday.

St. Ignatius' "Examen," is little more than a variation of the Examination of Conscience at its core, if you stop and think about it, but it is also so much more, since it encourages a person to review the day as a whole, not simply to discover our faults, but more importantly the see the ways God has worked in our lives and ways we are open to God's will. Jim Manney, a onetime editor for Loyola Press, wrote this reflection of how the Examen can be prayed and the effect it can have on the life of someone who uses this prayer on a regular basis. The book begins with a discussion of the background of the prayer and how it fits into Ignatian spirituality. He then devotes a chapter on the five parts of the prayer: praying for light (God's guidance), giving thanks to God, reviewing the day, looking at ways that things have gone wrong, and resolving to do something. Manney shows throughout the book ways that the prayer can work in our lives to discover God's will but also to lets us see ways we may not be the person we ought to be. At times he even shares his own experiences of simple ways we may need to change in ways we often don't realize.This book is a quick and easy read with plenty of examples and thought provoking aspects. It also has an easy "how to" guide for people praying the Examen for the first time but can be helpful for those who have been praying the Examen for many years who either need a refresher or would like new ways of looking at this wonderful method of praying.

I discovered this little book while on a retreat at the Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth in Wernersville, PA several years ago. That retreat was a great blessing in my life, and this book has been an ongoing part of the blessing. The multi-faceted renewal of the Catholic Church after Vatican II has resulted in a rediscovery of many things Ignatian, especially as they apply to lay people (as well as priests and religious). The Examen is one of those rediscovered things reapplied in new ways which is very helpful for post-moderns.I have struggled with prayer for over 40 years. The Examen has helped me grow in my prayer and enjoy it. I can say that if you want to deepen your prayer life, the Examen is likely a practice you will want to consider. This book is short (85 pages) and easy to read. Jim Manney is a gifted writer and he treats the topic well. He helps make understanding and applying the Examen possible and beneficial (recognizing that the Holy Spirit is guiding us as well).If you are seeking ways to deepen your prayer, consider this book.

Good for gift

A lively fast paced book with concrete ways to pray the examen. Enjoyed the passages of how Jim used examples from his life along with that of St Ignatius. This book has given me more ideas on how to make my nightly examen more meaningful!!

I bought this book to learn how to do the daily examen. This book is an easy read and a great guide. It simply explains every step in this prayer explaining to the reader how each step is necessary for the participant to begin to become aware of those aspects which draw the reader closer or farther from God, listen to God's guidance on how to fine tune our behaviors while acknowledging our failures and relishing our successes. It teaches us to listen and accept God's guidance in our lives.

If you have an interest in learning more about the Examen I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Certainly one of the essential Christian disciplines for one wishing to grow in their faith. This quote nicely summarizes the purpose of the Examen:“In fact, this is the goal of the daily examen. Our aim is to be sensitive to God all the time. The daily examen is a training exercise designed to cultivate a reflective habit of mind that makes us sensitive to God everywhere and at all times.”Unfortunately the kindle version which I read has some bugs. I’d suggest giving the paper copy a try.

I'd recommend this book for anyone interested in taking a journey with God in there life now or starting on a journey with a spiritual director,

A very helpful and deeply engaging text

Easy to read but packs a punch. If you'd like to understand how to integrate Ignatius's prayer of examen into your daily life, I'd recommend this slim but helpful volume.

The blurb about this book says 'life changing'. Yes it is. I wanted to stand up and tell the world - everything is a God given gift - thank God for this world. I am carrying the book around with me, and am referring back to it time and time again. Buy it! It's life changing.

EXCELLENT BOOK ON 'CONSCIOUSNESS EXAMEN' from Ignatius spirituality. It is written with understanding of busy people and the challenges they face each day in trying to establish a regular prayer life. A good book for those who feel in a rut with repetitive words of prayer and set daily liturgies.