DAY OF RECOLLECTION | October (Year B)

A monthly Day of Recollection is a time set aside specifically for a Christian to seriously go deeper into his or her relationship with God. It is an opportunity to spend a couple of hours in prayer and conversation with God guided by meditation, spiritual reading, and an examination of conscience before the Blessed Sacrament.

As it is not always possible to participate in person, the St. Josemaria Institute is helping to make available the resources to make a day of recollection on your own each month:

I. To begin, download the Guide for Making a Day of Recollection: (View/Download PDF)

II. Listen online or download the first meditation; or, read the meditation transcript (View/Download PDF):

III. Take time for silent prayer and spiritual reading:

• Pray the Holy Rosary
• Recommended Article: “Remaining in Him” (Read Online)

IV. Listen online or download the second meditation; or, read the meditation transcript: (View/Download PDF). 

V. Reflect on the examination of conscience questions for this month:

• St. Josemaria reminds us: “Your ordinary contact with God takes place where your fellow men, your yearnings, your work and your affections are” (Conversations, no. 113). Can I apply these words to my own life?
• “Lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for the harvest” (John 4:35). Am I aware that God has given me the world as an inheritance, and asks me to help in extending his kingdom? Do I broaden my outlook so as to avoid seeing things only from a human point of view?
• Do I manage to present my faith in all its beauty, as a gift from God, and not just a set of rules?
• Am I generous in helping apostolic undertakings, including financially? Do I give willingly? Do I encourage others to do so also, explaining to them the great contribution these apostolates make to society?
• In this month dedicated to the Rosary, am I making use of it to grow in devotion to our Lady? Am I trying to foster the family Rosary, at least on some days? Do I ask her to help me encounter her Son in my daily duties?

Act of Contrition: O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins because of your just punishments, but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.

VI. Conclude your time of prayer:

• • Make two or three concrete resolutions that you can give Our Lord for the month. Remember that the resolutions and themes from this time of prayer are meant to guide and accompany you throughout the month.
  • You may also want to download and use our Monthly Planner to write your resolutions, prayer intentions, daily plan of prayer, and special dates for the month. Then, once a week during the month, perhaps on Sunday, review your notes and monthly planner to refresh and remind yourself of the prayerful fruits and inspirations from your time with God.