From "Praying the Ignaitan Way" by David Fleming, S.J. Ignatian spirituality is a way of orienting my life to God influenced by Ignatius Loyola [the founder of the Society of Jesus, aka the Jesuits]. Since Ignatius was not ordained until he was 46 years old, his spirituality is neither particularly priestly nor religious. His insights came as a layman, and Ignatian spirituality had its appeal to men and women alike in all walks of life. . . How we believe makes a difference in how we pray. The Ignatian perspective views our God as a God who works. As Jesus says in John's gospel, "My Father works, and I work." God is always working with each one of us. God is patient, God never gives up, God rejoices in our little steps of progress and successes, and runs to meet us when we return discouraged and a little worse for wear. Just as Jesus was busy about the kingdom, busy about his Father's affairs, so Jesus calls followers to be busy with him in the same mission. This perspective of a God totally involved in working with the world affects the way I pray. If God is so present to my world, how can I become more aware of God? Who can I find God more easily in my day? Ignatius' key was a prayer form traditionally called the examination of conscience. Today, we tend to refer to this daily way of praying as the "consciousness examen." This examen can be described in five steps. Ignatius suggests that we always begin and end our meeting with God in gratitude. 1. Hi God, Here I am. Thanks for being here for me. And thanks for this day. 2. Lord, I want to see; Lord, let me not be deaf to your voice. Please send your Spirit into my life so that I can see and hear as you would have me see and hear. 3. Where have I seen you, Lord, where have I heard you speaking within myself and my deep desires, through other people, in what they have said or how they have acted, in the events of this day? Where have I noted your distance or felt myself moving away from you? Have I felt your absence or even abandonment? 4. I thank you, God, for your presences. I ask pardon for the ways that I have kept you, God, out of my day or at least I have paid no attention to your presence. And finally, 5. I say good-bye, God. Please stay with me. Thanks for this prayer time. Keep me more aware of the ways you surround me with care and love. Ignatius suggests that we make this kind of prayer daily --- perhaps as we are walking or driving to school or work, maybe sometime before we turn in for the night. Little by little, I am meant to be growing in my sensitivity to turn to God easily within my day's' activities and so find God. I begin to live with God, to have a sense of working with God, and God working with me. ----------------------------------------------
If you have a favorite prayer that you would like to share with the campus community, feel free to pass it along to Cindy Schmersal so that it may be considered for inclusion in this section of "The Companion." |