Examination of Mental Prayer

108. Is it important to examine ourselves on the practice of mental prayer?

Yes, if we wish to advance in this holy exercise.

109. On what points ought the examination to bear?

The examination ought to bear on all the parts of mental prayer: on the preparation, the considerations, the affections, the resolutions, and particularly on the principal resolution; it is useful to look for the predominant defect of our meditations and for the causes thereof.

110. Must we examine ourselves every time on all the above-mentioned points?

No, we should examine ourselves sometimes on one, sometimes on another; the essential thing is to make a short examination every day, and a more complete one on certain days, as on Sundays, but especially on days of retreat.

111. When is the daily examination of mental prayer to be made?

It is to be made immediately after the meditation, or at any other moment of the day, preferably at the particular examen.

112. What would be advisable if we should have to reproach ourselves for some negligence in meditation?

In this case it would be advisable to impose a penance on ourselves, and to compensate for our negligence by making a supplementary meditation of a few minutes during some free moments.

113. What other means may be employed in order to succeed in making mental prayer well?

Keeping an account of it, and submitting it regularly to our spiritual director.

- taken from Catechism of Mental Prayer, by Father Joseph Simler