Note: This page is a work-in-progress. Please check back from time to time as we add more ideas and resources about practices that canhelp us grow closer to God as we age.
*Available in Gloria Dei Library
PRAYING THE DAILY EXAMEN
The Examen (pronounced “examine”) is a traditional way to encounter God in our day-to-day lives. It is based on the belief that God is in everything and speaks to us directly through the events, circumstances, and feelings of our daily lives. The more regularly we pray the Examen, the more we become aware of the ways that God is present and active in our lives — reaching out to us, guiding us, and drawing us into a loving and deeply personal relationship.
The following handouts (which may be downloaded) will introduce you to this practice and help you adapt it to meet your spiritual needs. If you would like to learn more, visit the Ignation Spirituality website.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRAYING THE DAILY EXAMEN
TIPS FOR MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR DAILY EXAMEN
BELIEFS ON WHICH EXAMEN IS BASED (IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY)
RESOURCES FOR LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE EXAMEN
THIRD-CHAPTER SPIRITUALITY (SPECIFICALLY)
ARRIEN, Angeles. The Second Half of Life: Opening the Eight Gates of Wisdom (Boulder: Sounds True, 2007).
*CHITTISTER, Joan. The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully (Katonah: BlueBridge, 2008).
HUSTON, Paula. A Season of Mystery: 10 Spiritual Practices for Embracing a Happier Second Half of Life (Chicago: Loyola Press, 2012).
RICHMOND, Lewis. Aging as a Spiritual Practice: A Contemplative Guide to Growing Older and Wiser (New York: Gotham Books, 2012)
Lewis Richmond is a Buddhist priest and meditation teacher (a student of Shunryu Suzuki, the auther of Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind). In this well-written, quickly moving book, he approaches the challenges and joys of aging from a Buddhist perspective, using ancient tales, stories shared by his teachers and students, and his own experience with serious illness and aging. Throughout the book, Richmond provides simple, but detailed, instructions for spiritual practices to help us develop awareness, letting go, compassion, gratitude and generosity. These are important qualities to develop at any time of life, but especially as we age. They make the difference between aging well and aging without joy. He also includes the results of scientific studies on aging and well-being. At the end of the book, he provides a guide to a self-led, day-long retreat based on these practices. If you don’t know much about Buddhism, this book is a good place to start.
SINGH, Kathleen Dowling. The Grace in Aging: Awaken as You Grow Older (Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2014.
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES (IN GENERAL)
MULLER, Wayne. Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives (New York: Bantam, 1999).
PAINTNER, Christine Valters. The Soul of a Pilgrim: Eight Practices for the Journey Within (Notre Dame: Sorin, 2015).
RUPP, Joyce. The Cup of Our Life: A Guide to Spiritual Growth (Notre Dame: Sorin, 1997).