Examen Prayer
An Examen prayer for after your shift.
At the end of my day, Lord, I want to consider the day that I have lived in your love and in your service. And I ask that you show me how I have lived in order that I may live tomorrow better.A moment of thanks: First I give thanks for the opportunity that you have given me to be your servant in this world filled with your truth, your grace and your love. I give thanks for the talents and the training, the gifts and the graces that you have given me to do your work. And I give thanks also for the people – parents, family, teachers and friends through whom you have given me those things.
A moment of insight: I ask that I may see myself as my patients have seen me… As my colleagues have seen me… And most of all as You have seen me.
A moment of examination: And now I go through my day… All that I have done… And all that I have tried to do … All the patients I have seen… I make them my first concern… Are there any particular ones whose faces stick in my memory? Are there any with whom I felt a particular sense of Joy?… Or any in whom I felt a shade of sorrow, … distress, … fear… or anger…. On them especially, I ask Your blessing.
If any of them have died today, I pray that they may be with You in paradise. And I pray that I may be at peace with their memory. And I remember also my colleagues… Were there any times when I felt that we were collaborating truly in God’s work… Were there any times when I felt that we were falling short of the best working relationships we could have?…
A moment of sorrow: I try to see my whole day through Your eyes,… What was there that I learned today that I hope may be different tomorrow?... Is there anything that I hope to do differently?… Is there any way which I hope to be different myself?... And I ask the Lord to bless my learning and my hope.
A moment of hope: And to conclude, I pray that the Lord will call me again… Tomorrow… once more into his healing work. And that he will be with me always,… Yes to the end of time.