Take a moment to arrive.

Before you read further, pause.

Place your feet on the ground.

Take a slow breath in… and let it go.

There is nothing you need to achieve here. Nothing you need to prove. You are simply invited to be present.

Ignatian prayer begins with awareness — awareness of God who is already here, and awareness of your own heart as it is, right now.

Becoming Still

As you sit in silence, gently notice:

• your breathing
• your body
• the thoughts and feelings that rise within you

Do not try to change anything. Simply notice.

If your mind wanders, that is not failure. Return gently to your breath. God is patient.

Placing Yourself Before God

Become aware that you are in God’s presence.

You may imagine God looking at you with love. You may simply rest in the awareness that you are known and held.

In your own words — or in silence — say:

“Here I am, Lord.”

Listening with the Heart

Remain in quiet for a few minutes.

Pay attention to:

• a word, image, or feeling that stays with you
• a sense of peace or resistance
• a desire, question, or longing that surfaces

God often speaks softly. Do not rush.

Speaking Honestly

When you are ready, speak to God as you would to a close friend.

You might say:

• what you are grateful for
• what is heavy on your heart
• what you hope for or fear

There is no right way to pray. Honesty is enough.

Ending Gently

As you prepare to finish, take another slow breath.

You may offer a simple prayer such as:

“Thank you for being with me.”

Carry this awareness into the rest of your day.

Return Often

Quiet prayer is not about long moments or perfect silence. It is about returning — again and again — to God’s presence in the midst of life.

You are welcome here whenever you need to pause.

The Daily Examen is a gentle prayer of awareness at the end of the day.

1. Become aware of God’s presence.
2. Review your day with gratitude.
3. Notice moments of life and struggle.
4. Speak honestly with God.
5. Look toward tomorrow with hope.

This prayer teaches you to find God in ordinary life — not by judging the day, but by noticing it.

Take a moment to become still.

This prayer invites you to enter the hidden life of the Holy Family — not as an observer, but as someone welcomed into their home.

Begin by slowing your breathing. Place yourself in God’s presence.

Ask quietly for the grace to see family life as God sees it.

Entering the Scene

Imagine the home at Nazareth.

It is ordinary. Simple. Marked by routine and work.

Mary is there — attentive, reflective, carrying mysteries in her heart. Joseph is there — faithful, steady, providing and protecting without many words. Jesus is there — growing, learning, listening, becoming.

Nothing extraordinary seems to be happening. And yet, God is fully present.

Allow yourself to notice:

• the space
• the sounds
• the pace of life
• the relationships between them

Where are you in this scene?

Noticing God at Work

The Holy Family knew uncertainty. They faced displacement, fear, misunderstanding, and waiting.

Their holiness was not in perfection, but in trust and fidelity.

As you remain with them, gently reflect:

• Where is my family life fragile or strained right now?
• Where am I being asked to trust without full clarity?
• Where is love being lived quietly, without recognition?

Do not rush to answers. Simply notice what stirs within you.

Speaking from the Heart

If you wish, speak to one member of the Holy Family.

You might speak:

• to Mary about what you hold and ponder
• to Joseph about responsibility, fear, or courage
• to Jesus about your desire to grow in wisdom and grace

Speak honestly. Listen quietly.

Listening in Silence

Remain in silence for a few moments.

Pay attention to:

• a word or image that remains
• a feeling of consolation or restlessness
• a gentle invitation forming in your heart

God often speaks through these movements.

Ending the Prayer

As you prepare to leave this prayer, ask for one simple grace:

• patience
• trust
• fidelity
• love in the ordinary

You may end with these words:

Holy Family of Nazareth, walk with us.

Take a deep breath. Carry this prayer into your family life today.

Return to This Prayer

You may return to this prayer whenever family life feels heavy or uncertain.

God chooses to dwell there.

Find a comfortable place and allow yourself to slow down.

You do not need many words. You do not need to be strong or certain.

Begin by becoming aware of God’s presence — present in this moment, present in you.

Take a few gentle breaths. With each breath, let go of what you do not need to carry right now.

Speak to God simply, as you would to a trusted friend.

You may bring:

• gratitude for what has been given
• concern for what weighs on your heart
• hope for what is still unfolding
• longing for peace, guidance, or courage

If words do not come, remain in silence. Silence is also prayer.

Allow God to look at you with love. Allow yourself to be honest.

Stay as long as you are able.

When you are ready to end this prayer, ask for the grace to carry God’s presence with you into your day.

Go gently. God remains with you.

This is a prayer without many words.

You are invited simply to be here — to sit in God’s presence, without needing to speak, ask, or understand.

Find a comfortable position. Let your body settle. Gently close your eyes if you wish.

Arriving

Take a slow breath in… and let it go. Do that once more.

Notice that God is already present. You do not bring God here. You awaken to the One who is waiting.

Resting in Presence

Thoughts will come and go — memories, plans, distractions. Do not fight them. Do not follow them.

When you notice you have wandered, gently return your attention to:

• your breathing, or
• a simple word such as “Here”, “Peace”, or “God”.

This returning is the prayer.

Being with God

You may feel nothing in particular. That is okay.

Silence is not empty. It is full of God.

Remain as you are — held, known, loved — even if you are unaware of it.

Ending Gently

When you are ready to finish, take a deeper breath.

“Thank you.”

Carry this silence with you into the rest of your day.

Come Back Often

Silence shapes the heart slowly. Return when words feel heavy or when you simply long to rest.

Sometimes the deepest prayer is simply being held before God.

If you wish, you may share a prayer intention. Your intention will be received with care and held in prayer.

Submit a Prayer Intention

You may share anonymously if you prefer.

You are here again.

Perhaps with gratitude. Perhaps with fatigue. Perhaps because you do not know where else to turn.

Wherever you are, God is already here.

Pause

Take a slow breath in… and let it go. Do that once more.

Become aware of God’s presence around you and within you.

Notice

Gently ask yourself:

• What am I feeling right now?
• What is asking for my attention?
• Where do I sense life — or heaviness — today?

Do not judge. Just notice.

Listen

“Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”

Remain in silence for a short while.

Pay attention to:

• a word
• a desire
• a gentle nudge
• a sense of peace or unrest

Respond

Speak to God honestly:

• with gratitude
• with questions
• with trust
• or simply with silence

God welcomes you as you are.

Go Gently

As you return to your day, ask for one grace:

• patience
• courage
• clarity
• love

“Be with me, Lord.”

Come Back Tomorrow

Prayer is not something you finish. It is something you return to.

This is not a path for the perfect. It is a way for those who desire to live attentively, freely, and faithfully in the midst of life.

Ignatian spirituality begins with a simple conviction: God is present and active in your life right now.

To walk this path is not to escape the world, but to learn how to listen more deeply within it.

A Way of Living

Ignatian spirituality is not only about prayer times. It is about how you:

• make decisions
• respond to relationships
• face suffering and joy
• seek justice and reconciliation
• choose what gives life

It helps you grow in freedom — freedom from fear, compulsion, and disordered attachments — so you can love more generously.

How the Journey Begins

Everyone begins where they are.

You may start by:

• praying a few minutes each day
• noticing your interior movements
• reflecting on your day with honesty
• learning to discern what leads you toward life and love

Small steps matter. God works patiently.

Practices That Shape the Walk

• The Daily Examen – noticing God’s presence in everyday life
• Prayer with Scripture – allowing the Word to meet lived experience
• Discernment – recognising which choices lead toward God
• Silence and Reflection – making space for God to speak

These are not techniques to master. They are habits that slowly shape the heart.

Explore Ways to Pray

Walking in an African Context

Ignatian spirituality is lived within real contexts — within families and communities, within struggle, resilience, and hope.

In Africa, this walk is shaped by:

• communal life and shared responsibility
• deep faith amid hardship
• the search for dignity, justice, and peace

Here, prayer and life are never separated. God is found in the midst of our people’s stories.

You Do Not Walk Alone

Ignatian spirituality is a companionable way.

Others walk with you — through shared reflections, prayer resources, and guidance that help you listen, discern, and respond.

An Invitation

You do not need to commit to everything today. You only need to take the next faithful step.

Walk gently. Listen carefully. Trust that God is already ahead of you.

This is a prayer without many words.

Find a comfortable position. Gently return to your breath.

Thoughts will come and go. Do not fight them. Simply return.

Silence is not empty. It is full of God.