DAY OF RECOLLECTION | August (Year A)

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.

Following are a guide and resources from the St. Josemaria Institute to plan and make your own day of recollection this month:

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

II.  Listen online or download the meditation: (View Transcript)

III. Take time for silent prayer and spiritual reading:

• Pray the Holy Rosary
• Read and reflect on Scripture: Matthew 17:1-8
• Recommended Reading:
  Charity: The Hidden Meaning of Scripture | St. Augustine

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

• “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34). Am I friendly and open towards my family and work colleagues? Do I know how to listen and assimilate what they tell me?
• Do I have a proper order of priority in charity? Does the example of Christ, at the service of others, help me to dedicate sufficient time to my family?
• Are my social and professional relations a real area of sanctification, or are they in any way isolated from my spiritual life? Have I treated others unjustly, causing them any financial or moral harm? Do I remunerate people properly for their services?
• “Do not speak evil against one another, brethren” (Jas 4:11). Respect for people’s good name is a basic aspect of justice. Do I rectify and make reparation whenever I have spoken badly about someone?
• “After her Assumption into heaven, Mary continues to intercede for her children, to be a model of faith and charity for all” (Compendium, 197). Do I entrust my whole family to our Lady?

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.

V. 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.