The Easter Examen is the standard Daily Examen adapted specifically for the fifty days of the Easter season. It is a ten-minute evening practice focused on noticing resurrection in your ordinary life — where life breaks through, where grace appears, where Christ shows up in the mundane. The fundamental question driving this practice: “Where did I see life today?”
The 5 Steps
1. Presence (2 minutes)
- Begin by settling into the truth of Easter: “Christ is risen. Christ is here.”
- Take several deep breaths. Feel your body in the chair. Notice your feet on the ground, your hands resting, your chest rising and falling.
- Silently pray “Alleluia” three times, letting the word resonate. ‘Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.’ This is the word that was forbidden during Lent and now bursts forth like spring after winter.
2. Gratitude (2 minutes)
- Ask yourself: “What resurrection did I see today?” This could be something incredibly small: a flower pushing through concrete, a stranger’s unexpected smile, a moment when you forgave instead of holding a grudge, a minute of surprising peace in the middle of chaos, a child’s laughter. Anything that spoke of life rather than death.
- Thank God specifically. Name the resurrection out loud or in your heart: “Lord, thank you for the way my daughter laughed at breakfast. Thank you for the sun breaking through the clouds. Thank you for the moment I paused instead of snapping.” Try to name at least one ‘life’ moment everyday. Even on hard days, there’s always one.
3. Review (3 minutes)
- Now gently review your day with these questions:
- “Where was I most alive today?” When did you feel joy, love, hope, peace, connection? When were you most fully present? Most yourself? Most loving? Perhaps it was during morning coffee, really tasting it. Perhaps it was a conversation where you listened deeply. Perhaps it was the moment you chose patience over anger.
- “When was I least alive?” When were you closed off? Numb? Operating on autopilot? When did you miss what was right in front of you because you were distracted? And then ask the Easter question: “Did I choose life or death in that moment?” Not to condemn yourself but to see clearly.
4. Healing (2 minutes)
- Ask yourself with all honesty: “Where do I need resurrection?” What’s still dead in you? What areas of your life feel tomb-like, sealed shut, without hope? Is it a lingering resentment you can’t release? A persistent fear that controls your choices? An addiction you keep returning to? A relationship that feels beyond repair? A dream you’ve buried?
- Name it specifically and briefly: “Lord, I need resurrection in my relationship with my father. I need resurrection in my work. I need resurrection in my capacity to hope.”
- Don’t elaborate. Don’t explain. Just offer it to the Risen Christ who desires greatly in bringing what is dead in us back to life.
5. Tomorrow (1 minute)
- Look toward tomorrow and ask: “How can I choose life tomorrow?”
- Make just one specific intention. “I will pause before responding when my son interrupts me.” Or: “I will take a ten-minute walk at lunch instead of scrolling my phone.” Or: “I will call my friend who is going through chemo.” One choice toward life. One small resurrection you can participate in.
- Then close by reminding yourself of Teresa’s encouraging words: “Begin again.” Tomorrow is Easter morning all over again. You get to start fresh, carried by Easter hope.