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| Find the FREE PRINTABLE. |
In the past, my children and I have used our Five-Finger Daily Examen...
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| Read more here. |
...with a simple craft that we made during a super fun St. Ignatius of Loyola Feast Day party.
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| Host a St. Ignatius of Loyola feast day party with games, activities, and food. |
Then, more recently, we began using a notebook tool that my children made at a co-op.
The binding on the notebooks are barely holding together, though, so I was considering making new ones with my children for St. Ignatius of Loyola's feast day. That is, until a link for the the 3-2-1 Examen at Shameless Popery popped up on my computer screen recently.
As soon as I read the quick daily examen credited to a Kansas City priest named Fr. Andrew Mattingly, my plans changed.
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| When a simple tool helps form holy habits... |
The binding on the notebooks are barely holding together, though, so I was considering making new ones with my children for St. Ignatius of Loyola's feast day. That is, until a link for the the 3-2-1 Examen at Shameless Popery popped up on my computer screen recently.
As soon as I read the quick daily examen credited to a Kansas City priest named Fr. Andrew Mattingly, my plans changed.
I simply love the simplicity of the 3-2-1 Examen:
What a simple, concrete, and powerful examen!
In praying this examen, we become present with God.
Then, as we thank the Father, we review our day and find the good in it, noticing things large and small that truly highlight for us how we experience God's presence in our lives.
While reflecting on the day, we might recall places where we sinned of did something we regretted. That is where the focus on asking the Son for forgiveness comes in. We recognize our own shortcomings and our need for mercy, ask for forgiveness and feel prompted toward reconciliation.
Finally, we look toward tomorrow and think about how we might collaborate more effectively with God's plan for our lives. We specifically as the Spirit for guidance and resolve to enter tomorrow in union with God with God's will.
Beautiful.
Even better for me and mine, the 3-2-1 Examen dovetails nicely with other practices we have focused on as a family before, such as shared greatness and building habits of gratitude and greatness. These practices often turned from moments of sharing to moments of prayer and, now, will be a helpful lead in for me to introduce the 3-2-1 Examen.
So, my intent now is to turn composition notebooks into 3-2-1 Examen journals.
How?
For the cover, we will each pick one image of St. Ignatius of Loyola they like from Wikipedia to print out. My choice will be Saint Ignatius of Loyola's Vision of Christ and God the Father at La Storta by Domenichino.
- Turn to the Father and thank Him for at least 3 things from your day.
- Turn to the Son and ask forgiveness for at least two failings.
- Turn to the Spirit and make one concrete, measurable resolution for the next day.
What a simple, concrete, and powerful examen!
In praying this examen, we become present with God.
Then, as we thank the Father, we review our day and find the good in it, noticing things large and small that truly highlight for us how we experience God's presence in our lives.
While reflecting on the day, we might recall places where we sinned of did something we regretted. That is where the focus on asking the Son for forgiveness comes in. We recognize our own shortcomings and our need for mercy, ask for forgiveness and feel prompted toward reconciliation.
Finally, we look toward tomorrow and think about how we might collaborate more effectively with God's plan for our lives. We specifically as the Spirit for guidance and resolve to enter tomorrow in union with God with God's will.
Beautiful.
Even better for me and mine, the 3-2-1 Examen dovetails nicely with other practices we have focused on as a family before, such as shared greatness and building habits of gratitude and greatness. These practices often turned from moments of sharing to moments of prayer and, now, will be a helpful lead in for me to introduce the 3-2-1 Examen.
So, my intent now is to turn composition notebooks into 3-2-1 Examen journals.
How?
For the cover, we will each pick one image of St. Ignatius of Loyola they like from Wikipedia to print out. My choice will be Saint Ignatius of Loyola's Vision of Christ and God the Father at La Storta by Domenichino.
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| Saint Ignatius of Loyola's Vision of Christ and God the Father at La Storta by Domenichino |
Alternately, if any of my children want to create their own image or color or paint a pre-drawn one, I will, of course, say, "Have at it," and will have the free coloring page offered on Brother Francis on hand.
Around the image, we'll write 3-2-1 Examen.
Then, cut out a simple free printable 3-2-1 Examen Journal Page and attach it to the inside front cover:
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| Find the FREE PRINTABLE here. |
With that, the journal will be ready to guide us in making and journaling a simple daily examen.
Perhaps you would like to do the same thing. I would love to hear about your experience if you do.
St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us.
