Although I’m not a Roman Catholic I’ve learned to value many aspects of Catholicism, not least many aspects of the Jesuit approach to life, faith and prayer.

One Jesuit author that I’ve found particularly useful is Mark Thibodeaux SJ, whose main ministry focus is in the areas of prayer and discernment/guidance.

One of the Jesuit/monastic practices that I have long found tremendously helpful in my prayer life is the practice of the Examen, a way to review the day and become aware of God’s presence and absence in your life and experience during that time. In the short term it gives opportunity for gratitude and thanks and confession and healing, in the long term it can make us aware of long-term areas of weakness and opportunities to grow in our walk with Jesus.

Some time ago I started to use Thibodeaux’s “Reimagining the Ignatian Examen” regularly. It suggests lots of ways to adapt and vary the traditional pattern of the Examen, focussing on different issues and areas of life. It is a great book!

Just recently I became aware that the publishers of the book, Loyola Press, have made an App, based on the book, available on both Android and iPhone/iPad platforms.

I’ve been using the App on my iPad for a couple of weeks now, and it is a really good addition to the digital world of Christian spirituality. Worth checking out, downloading and, above all, using. Did I mention that it’s free?

Mark Thibodeaux has a number of other books that I’ve also read and enjoyed. They are:

“Armchair Mystic…easing into Contemplative Prayer”, Franciscan Media, Cincinnati 2001

“God, I have issues…50 ways to pray no matter how you feel”, Franciscan Media, Cincinnati 2004

and “”God’s Voice Within…the Ignatian way to discover God’s will”, Loyola Press, Chicago 2010