How to Give the Healing Examen

Ex 38 – The Healing Examen

 

1. I Give Thanks  
After reading the prayer text, I stand before Jesus. He lays his hands on me. I sift the month with gratitude for times I have received or given healing.

2. I ask for help
I ask the Spirit to refresh, anoint, and heal me.

3. I review           
I move through the last month, day by day:

1. Where am I blind, deaf, dumb, or living a half life?
Have I blinded or stolen the voice of another?

2. Where am I paralyzed by illness, a life situation, sinfulness, or fear?
Have I paralyzed another?

3. Where am I tormented by demons, hurting myself?
Have I demonized another?

4. Where am I dead, drained, grieving, or entombed?
Have I taken life from another?

4. I   respond  
In God’s healing love, I humbly express my particular need, as revealed above.

5. I  resolve     
I resolve to seek healing through one or more of the following paths:

1. To adjust my lifestyle, see a counselor or spiritual director, or deepen my personal, family, and church relationships, so that the Lord may heal me through them.

2. To bring my wounds to Jesus in prayer, that he may clean, heal, and give them new meaning.

3. To take any needed healing action, for myself or others I have hurt.

4. To receive the sacrament of healing now, and monthly if possible.

5. To make, working with the Spirit, one small act of healing next month.

 

 

Suggested Prayer time: As needed.

How to Give The Healing Examen

 

Ignatius had no Healing Examen. Yet there is a deep and fruitful connection between reconciliation and healing. The Healing Examen here mirrors the Reconciliation Examen, just as the week on mercy in the InnerPeace in Darkness retreat mirrors the third week on healing. Each reveals something of the other and you can alert your receiver to this dynamic.

You give the Healing Examen by simply guiding the receiver through the five steps of the prayer. You just read the five sentences leaving time for the receiver to answer them. The best time to give the Healing Examen is at the end of the month.

But the more usual way is to give your receiver the text of the Healing Examen and go through with them point by point so that they can take it home and make it by themselves, even over several prayer periods or repetitions.

The key to this Examen is that the receiver spends more time of those questions or points in it that are useful and engaging and less time on those points that are not. In other words, your receiver spends more time on those questions or actions closest to her or his need.

Prayer texts and reflections that speak to the Healing Examen

Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. (Is 58:6–9a)

This beautiful prayer comes from the sacrament of healing:

God in heaven, through this anointing grant us comfort in our suffering. When we are afraid, give us courage, when afflicted, give us patience, when dejected, afford us hope, and when alone, assure us of the support of your holy people. Amen.

Please note.  For greater depth in giving the FSE and guiding Spiritual Conversation see the Manual  here.