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Here are St. Francis de Sales’ tips for a nightly examen

Francis de Sales
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Philip Kosloski - published on 11/09/24
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Before going to bed, consider making a nightly examen, which is a time when you look over your day and give thanks to God.

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Many different saints, such as St. Ignatius Loyola, suggest making a nightly examen The Jesuits still use St. Ignatius's version to this day.

St. Francis de Sales provides his own formula for the nightly examen in his Introduction to the Devout Life.

While St. Francis de Sales was not a Jesuit, he was formed by Jesuits in his schooling and so his examen is essentially the same, with some slight variations.

Nightly examen

As to the examination of conscience, which we all should make before going to bed, you know the rules:

1Give thanks to God

Thank God for having preserved you through the day past.

2Examine your day

Examine how you have conducted yourself through the day, in order to recall where and with whom you have been, and what you have done.

3Sift through the good and bad

If you have done anything good, offer thanks to God; if you have done amiss in thought, word, or deed, ask forgiveness of His Divine Majesty, resolving to confess the fault when opportunity offers, and to be diligent in doing better.

4Commend yourself to God

Then commend your body and soul, the Church, your relations and friends, to God. Ask that the saints and angels may keep watch over you, and with God’s blessing go to the rest He has appointed for you.

Neither this practice nor that of the morning should ever be omitted; by your morning prayer you open your soul’s windows to the sunshine of Righteousness, and by your evening devotions you close them against the shades of hell.

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