Prayer
Books
Teachings
LENT AND THE EXAMEN
The Practice | Father Michael Sparough
On Sunday (03.08.15) night, Fr Michael Sparough SJ gave one of the most insightful, winsome, and compelling messages I’ve heard in a long time. The way he talked about Lent both stretched and deepened how I engage this holy season. And, of course, his invitation into The Examen was brilliant.
May his words invite us deep into active practice. And may the practice invite us deep into the heart of God, for the sake of the world.
LISTENING TO GOD IN PRAYER: THE EXAMEN
The Practice | Father Michael Sparough
What a joy it was to have Father Michael with us last night! Father Michael managed to both introduce the Examen to those of us unfamiliar with it, and take those who were familiar more deeply into its practice. A holy habit of practicing the Examen, Father Michael explained, seeks to change our consciousness so that we become more aware that we are always in the presence of God.
After an introduction, Father Michael led us into a particular Examen, one that helps us to examine a virtue God is inviting us to develop or some sin with which we are struggling. We can form our prayer around the examination of this vice or virtue in a way that invites God into our work, so that our growth is formational, flowing through God’s work in our everyday life.
Podcasts
THE PRAYER PRACTICE
Pursue a deeper life of union with God.
Prayer is simply the medium through which we communicate and commune with God. The practice of prayer is learning to set aside dedicated time to intentionally be with God, in order to become like him and partner with him in the world.
Each Practice comes with four session videos, which include short teachings and breaks for discussion, as well as a companion guide with weekly spiritual exercises, recommended reading, and additional resources to help your group create life-changing daily rhythms as you apprentice under Jesus together.
Click below to access the Prayer Companion Guide and to learn more about The Fasting Practice from Practicing the Way.
Additional Resources
A NEW LITURGY NO. 6: THE EXAMEN
A New Liturgy | Aaron Niequist
A 28-minute journey to help us find God’s fingerprints in our actual life.
On a Sunday night in May, Father Michael Sparough, SJ, guided The Practice community through the historic Christian practice of The Examen. The night was powerful and so unexplainably holy that we wanted to invite more people into the experience. So we've turned the live recording of Fr Michael into a full New Liturgy—fleshing it out with an evocative musical score and three original songs. We hope it helps you connect with God in a deep and daily way.
Click on the link below to listen to a sample of A New Liturgy No. 6: The Examen and to watch a trailer video.
EXAMEN PRAYER
At the end of the day...
This prayer of review is a short reflection back over the day, recalling events and taking note of your feelings. The purpose is to become more aware of the ways in which God has been present to you, the times when the Holy Spirit was drawing you towards life.
If you are unfamiliar with the Examen, you might like to try our audio introduction to the prayer.
IMAGINATIVE PRAYER SERIES
Imaginative prayer is a way of meeting with the Lord by using our imagination to enter a Gospel story. Using our imagination to experience the sights and sounds of the scene helps to bring our whole selves into the presence of Christ. The purpose of this prayer is to meet Jesus face-to-face and grow in intimacy with Him.
The series includes the following:
A GUIDED PRAYER OF INDIFFERENCE
The prayer of indifference is a prayer of surrender where the person abandons themselves to God and chooses God’s will over their own. This guided prayer focuses in on an encounter between Jesus and the rich young ruler found in Mark 10:17-27.