DAY OF RECOLLECTION | February (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; or, read the meditation transcript (View/Download PDF):

III. Take time for silent prayer and spiritual reading:

• Pray the Holy Rosary
• Read and reflect on Scripture: Matthew 5:1-16
• Recommended Article:
  • That All May Be Saved | A Homily by St. Josemaria Escriva

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

• “This is my body which is given for you” (Luke 22:19). Do I realize what a wonderful gift God has given us in the Eucharist? How often do I attend Mass and receive Holy Communion?
• “He who eats this bread will live for ever” (John 6:58). Do I try to spend some time in thanksgiving after Holy Communion? Do I see Jesus as king, physician, teacher and friend? Do I place all my joys, sorrows, sadness and difficulties in his hands, uniting them to his Sacrifice?
• “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Do I ask God, especially during Lent, for the grace to fall more in love with him? Does meditation on our Lord’s passion cause me to renew my resolve never to sin again? Do I make atonement whenever I see God offended?
• “Forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” (Col 3:13). Am I good at defusing the little arguments and disagreements that arise at home? Do I avoid complaining? Do I count on the help of the Guardian Angels to identify the needs of others? Do I find it difficult to forgive?
• “Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men” (Col 3:23). At work do I always try to finish things well, for love of God? Have I discovered the value of the hidden work that only God sees?

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.