The Examen vs Lectio Divina: Which Contemplative Practice Fits You?
Both practices show up constantly in Catholic prayer apps and parish formation programs, and both get labeled 'contemplative prayer' — but they work in almost opposite directions. The Examen looks backward at your own day, searching for where God was present in it. Lectio Divina looks into Scripture, letting a passage of the Bible speak into your life.
Neither requires special training, and most Catholics eventually use both. Here's what actually distinguishes them and how to decide where to start.
What Is the Examen?
The Daily Examen is a method of prayerful reflection on the events of the day developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola in the 16th century as part of his Spiritual Exercises. It is traditionally prayed once or twice daily, often in the evening, and follows five steps: become aware of God's presence, review the day with gratitude, pay attention to your emotions, choose one moment and pray from it, and look toward tomorrow with hope.
The Examen is not about cataloguing sins in a confessional sense — it is about noticing where God was active (or where you resisted him) in the ordinary texture of the day. It typically takes 10 to 15 minutes and requires no text beyond your own memory of the day.
What Is Lectio Divina?
Lectio Divina ('divine reading') is an ancient monastic practice of slow, prayerful reading of Scripture, formalized into four movements by the Carthusian monk Guigo II in the 12th century: lectio (read a short passage slowly), meditatio (reflect on a word or phrase that stands out), oratio (respond to God in prayer), and contemplatio (rest silently in God's presence). Unlike ordinary Bible study, Lectio Divina is not concerned with historical-critical analysis or covering ground quickly — a single short passage, even a few verses, can occupy an entire 20-to-30-minute session. It requires a physical or digital Bible and typically a quiet, uninterrupted setting.
Key Differences Between the Examen and Lectio Divina
The starting point is the clearest difference: the Examen starts with your own lived day, and Lectio Divina starts with a passage of Scripture. The Examen is retrospective and personal — it asks 'where was God in my Tuesday?' Lectio Divina is textual and universal — it asks 'what is this passage of Scripture saying to me right now?' A second difference is origin and tradition: the Examen is specifically Ignatian, developed for Jesuit spiritual formation in the 1520s; Lectio Divina predates the Jesuits by roughly four centuries and comes from Benedictine and Carthusian monastic life. A third difference is timing: the Examen is designed as an end-of-day practice, while Lectio Divina can be prayed at any time, though morning is traditional.
Which Should You Start With?
If you want a practice that helps you notice God's presence in your ordinary daily life — your commute, a hard conversation, a small kindness you almost missed — start with the Examen. It requires no preparation beyond an honest look back at your day and fits naturally at bedtime.
If you want a practice that deepens your relationship with Scripture and slows down how you read the Bible, start with Lectio Divina; it will change how you approach every other form of Bible reading and prayer. Many spiritual directors recommend the Examen first for beginners, since it requires no text and can be prayed anywhere, including on a commute or in bed, before adding Lectio Divina once a consistent prayer rhythm is established.
Can You Combine Them?
Yes, and many committed Catholics do — Lectio Divina in the morning with a Scripture passage, and the Examen at night reviewing the day. They complement rather than compete: Lectio Divina forms the mind on God's word before the day starts, and the Examen looks for where that word showed up (or didn't) by the time the day ends. Apps like Hallow offer guided sessions for both, and the practices pair naturally with the ACTS structure (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication) used in more conventional daily prayer.
The Examen vs Lectio Divina: at a glance
| Factor | The Examen | Lectio Divina |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Your own day — thoughts, emotions, events | A passage of Scripture, read slowly |
| Origin | St. Ignatius of Loyola, 16th century (Spiritual Exercises) | 12th-century formalization by Guigo II; monastic roots older still |
| Typical timing | End of day, once or twice daily | Any time; morning is traditional |
| Length | 10–15 minutes | 20–30 minutes |
| Materials needed | None — just memory of the day | A Bible (physical or app) |
| Structure | Five steps: presence, gratitude, emotions, focus, hope | Four movements: lectio, meditatio, oratio, contemplatio |
| Best for | Noticing God in ordinary daily life; end-of-day reflection | Deepening your relationship with a specific Bible passage |
Verdict: The Examen vs Lectio Divina
Neither practice is 'better' — they answer different questions. Choose the Examen if you want to end each day looking for where God showed up in it; it needs no text and takes ten minutes before bed. Choose Lectio Divina if you want to slow down and let Scripture speak directly into your life; it needs a Bible and a quiet twenty minutes.
Most Catholics who stick with contemplative prayer long-term eventually use both — Lectio Divina to start the day grounded in God's word, and the Examen to end it noticing where that word met real life. If you want a text to start with tonight, findaprayer.com's free prayers for guidance and peace are a simple starting point for either practice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Examen and Lectio Divina?
The Examen is a reflection on your own day — noticing where God was present in your actual experiences and emotions, developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola. Lectio Divina is a slow, prayerful reading of a Scripture passage in four steps (read, reflect, respond, rest), with roots in 12th-century monastic tradition. The Examen looks at your life; Lectio Divina looks at the text. Both are legitimate, well-established Catholic contemplative practices.
Which is easier for beginners, the Examen or Lectio Divina?
The Examen is usually easier to start, since it requires no text or preparation — just an honest look back at your day, which you can do anywhere, including lying in bed. Lectio Divina requires a Bible, a quiet setting, and a bit more patience, since sitting with a short passage for 20–30 minutes feels unfamiliar to readers used to covering ground quickly. Many spiritual directors suggest starting with the Examen and adding Lectio Divina once a daily prayer rhythm is established.
How long does the Examen take compared to Lectio Divina?
The Examen typically takes 10–15 minutes, since it moves through five brief steps of reflection on the day. Lectio Divina usually takes 20–30 minutes, because each of its four movements (lectio, meditatio, oratio, contemplatio) unfolds slowly around a single short Scripture passage. Both can be shortened or lengthened depending on available time.
Can I do the Examen and Lectio Divina on the same day?
Yes — they're commonly paired, with Lectio Divina in the morning around a Scripture passage and the Examen at night reflecting on the day. They aren't redundant: one is text-centered and forward-facing (starting the day grounded in God's word), the other is memory-centered and backward-facing (ending the day noticing where that word showed up). Apps like Hallow offer guided sessions for both if you want structure while you're learning either practice.