“Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul…Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” Psalm 143v8b,10 ...” Examen of Consciousness Its no mistake that word con- sciousness...becoming aware of yourself with God Find a comfortable childfree space. You don’t need to spend a great deal of time; The Examen was cre- ated to take five minutes to pray, but don’t push yourself, stay with what is right for you and your fami- ly right now....as children grow you will find more time It can be helpful to keep a journal. Recording your impressions will help you see God in those every- day experiences. Sharing your experiences with a spiritual director is helpful. Place Yourself In God’s Presence A Mother’s Examen Saint Ignatius encouraged his followers to see God in the everyday. His hope was that they would see patterns of where they loved or did not love each other. Through examining those moments of not loving his novitiates would have a greatest opportuni- ty for learning more about themselves, their relationships with others, and how God was calling them to greater love. Ignatius knew that to love deeply was the most important aspect of the spiritual life: Matthew 22: 37. The Examen helped them create this spirituality. Saint Ignatius knew that it was important to look at life through the eyes of God: filled with love and compassion for others as well as self. It’s an exercise in recalling As mothers we are often so busy with the everydayness of life that we have to “hide” in the bathroom to find a few moments of retreat. But it is so important that we find those few minutes each day to re- charge, renew and rejuvenate; that is what the Examen can do for us; even just five minutes a day can give us the boost we need. To begin put yourself in the presence of God, think about the past 24 hours seek God’s wisdom and concentrate on the positive of the situ- ation, review your whole day and then spend some time listening to God’s wisdom. Use this booklet to help you learn more about how the Examen can help you
Transcript
“Show me the way I
should go, for to you I lift
up my soul…Teach me
to do your will, for you
are my God; may your
good Spirit lead me on
level ground.”
Psalm 143v8b,10
...”
Examen of Consciousness
Its no mistake that word con-sciousness...becoming aware of yourself with God
Find a comfortable childfree space.
You don’t need to spend a great deal of time; The Examen was cre-ated to take five minutes to pray, but don’t push yourself, stay with what is right for you and your fami-ly right now....as children grow you will find more time
It can be helpful to keep a journal. Recording your impressions will help you see God in those every-day experiences.
Sharing your experiences with a spiritual director is helpful.
Place Yourself In God’s Presence
A Mother’s Examen Saint Ignatius encouraged his followers to see God in the everyday. His hope was that they would see patterns of where they loved or did not love each other. Through examining those moments of not loving his novitiates would have a greatest opportuni-
ty for learning more about themselves, their relationships with others, and how God was calling them to greater love.
Ignatius knew that to love deeply was the most important aspect of the spiritual life: Matthew 22: 37. The Examen helped them create this spirituality. Saint Ignatius knew that it was important to look at life through the eyes of God: filled with love and compassion for others as well as self.
It’s an exercise in recalling As mothers we are often so busy with the everydayness of life that we have to “hide” in the bathroom to find a few moments of retreat. But it is so important that we find those few minutes each day to re-charge, renew and rejuvenate; that is what the Examen can do for us; even just five minutes a day can give us the boost we need.
To begin put yourself in the presence of God, think about the past 24 hours seek God’s wisdom and concentrate on the positive of the situ-ation, review your whole day and then spend some time listening to God’s wisdom.
Use this booklet to help
you learn more about
how the Examen can
help you
2
First a word about the Examen.
The Examen is not punitive, its all about the positive
Saint Ignatius never intended that the Examen be viewed as a punitive exercise. He believed in a loving God who wanted only the best for us, but also called us to change. And for Ignatius that change was always for the better.
Try to focus on one aspect of your day, look at what went well that day, and if it’s just one thing; that’s ok, you are looking for the sil-ver lining in every cloud; God’s there to help you find it.
Presence Find a space that is comfortable and as private as possible. Do what helps you enter into the Presence of God: will a ritual help you, or lighting candles, sacred movement? Pray as if no-one is looking!
As moms we all know that there are those days when it just isn’t going to work. On those days still try and place yourself in God’s Presence, just being somewhere quiet for five minutes can be a great help.
There are five steps to the Examen Become aware of God’s presence.
Review the day with gratitude.
Pay attention to your emotions.
Choose one feature of the day and pray from it.
Look toward tomorrow.
A six-minute video produced by the Jesuits of the California Province http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen/the-examen-video/
Presence Prayer God it is so difficult to find five minutes alone,
I need this time with you
Please guide me to be who you are calling me to be
Go to pattyperkowski.com for The Quickly No-time Ex-amen for Moms!
Gratitude and Emotions
As young girls our idea of motherhood was all unicorns and rainbows, but now real life has shown us differently. Many of the days we experience as moms will be filled with things that make us smile, give us joy, warm our hearts; but there will days when finding a silver lining seems impossible; that is why Grati-tude is such an important tool and help!
In every situation there is goodness, positivity and hope. The young mom with breast caner can see that she has the strength to fight it. A mom of a teen aged son with a drug problem can find ways to cope and get the help he and the family needs. A marriage that is stressed to its limit can be brought back from the brink, and the mom who just learned of her daughter’s learn-ing difficulty can find support: but it takes time, wisdom and hope to do it.
Gratitude a self fulfilling prophecy
We look at our problems and pour out to God all our frustration, fear and worry, that is the first step to changing our perceptions of what is happening in our lives and when those perceptions change our life changes!
It begins with the simple acknowledgement that God loves us and wants the best for us, from there it requires that we look at our situation and find one thing that is positive. The more we look the more we see, until we see our life as God does filled with possibilities.
Emotions as tools of gratitude
Emotions can open doors to what matters most for us. Sorrow can show us the way to gathering support around us. Anger helps us see what injustice we must resolve. Frustration can us where we need to plan and implement changes.
Important Note: Change in US brings change in others
Gratitude/Emotion Prayer God what a day! I am so glad it is over/that it happened
I really am grateful for _________
I am feeling ____________ help me learn what it is showing me
Thank you for caring for __________
Knowing God Always Creates Silver Linings
Pray As If No-one Is Watching
A Mother’s Examen
Spiritual Lives Of Women W: pattyperkowski.com E: [email protected] T: 517-290-8930
Go to pattyperkow-ski.com for Gratitude Sheet: Just the Facts Mom...God Helping You See the Evidence of Your Life!
This is the longest step. Take the time to think how you were during the day towards others, yourself and your loved ones: the good, the bad and the ugly. There will be things that make you cringe, those are the moments when real change happens.
Now review your experience, not like a list of what happened but more of what insights do you feel you were given, what new ways of viewing things were you shown, what emotional impressions do you receive. Examine how both of these works in concert with each other, what is God showing you about what you did and how you can change.
It’s all about creating good ground for the Good News to grow.
"And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. Matthew 13:8
Reviewing Questions To Ask Yourself:
Today how did I respond to God’s call in my life
Where did I resist God’s calling
Journaling helps us find important pat-terns
Try to make an effort to write in it everyday us-ing the questions above as your starting point.
Periodically (maybe monthly or quarterly) go back and read your journal and make sure to write down any answers you've received.
Go to pattyperkowski.com for to take the spiritual gifts test
Looking Forward
"For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation." (Psalm 62)
Listening with the ears of our soul takes silence.
The Examen is about learning, it is about growth and change, but it is importantly about listening and speaking with God and listening to God and for God and requires silence.
Silence is a luxury many of us moms can rarely af-ford, but it is a powerful tool! Silence calms the soul, eases the mind and puts us in the presence of God. But how do you get silence in a day filled with the demands of work, ringing phones, crying babies, de-manding toddlers, moody teens?
How do you find silence?
For those of us with very small children, make sure you are paying attention to your own needs first. If sleep is what you need while the baby naps, than place a rosary under your pillow and let your soul do the praying.
Some ways to find silence in your day:
When you are alone in the car Out for a walk/exercise Trade time with a spouse/friend for alone time Create mom alone time that the whole family
must respect IF it works for you and your family get up ear-
ly/go to bed late
Go to pattyperkowski.com for Prayer Personality and You: Monastic Silence
Looking Forward, Moving Forward
A Mother’s Examen
Spiritual Lives Of Women W: pattyperkowski.com E: [email protected] T: 517-290-8930
Patty Wilson Perkowski CSD Like you I am a mom. We have four children two boys, men now really: 24 and 19, and twin girls: 15. My hub-by and I met in college and have been married 26 years! Together we have been through sick preemie girls, rebellious teens, sleepless nights, and time on our knees. What has kept us going through all of this?
Belief that God is always with us and that prayer does work, and has.
Because like you I know mothering is a calling.
Professional Association:
Member of Spiritual Direction International Spiritual Director since 1998Member of the Theophostic Prayer Minis-
try Executive of Spiritual Consultants and Direction for Women, llc: Mira-
cles Happen.
Workshop Presenter for:
Head Start Family Growth Centers Saint Casimir Parish Diocese of Lansing; Post Abortion Issues Workshops for: Retreat Leaders Deacons Support Group Leader Freedom Conference Common Conference Lansing Diocese
Support Group Creator for:
Family Growth Center Holy Cross Parish Saint Casimir Parish
Other Credentials:
Home Visiting Social Worker with Catholic Social Service 1987 – 2000 Mother Mentor for Child Abuse Prevention Service 1990 – 2000 Director of a Catholic Woman's Ministry: Project Rachel 1999 - 2005 Director of Religious Education - Holy Cross Parish 2005 - 2009 Creating Family/Mother's Ministry for - Saint Casimir Parish 2009 -
Go to pattyperkowski.com and download the informational brochure
A Mother’s Examen
Spiritual Lives Of Women W: pattyperkowski.com E: [email protected] T: 517-290-8930
