DAY OF RECOLLECTION | July (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: 1 John 3:1-24
- Recommended Reading: “Holy Purity,” The Way | St. Josemaria Escriva
IV. Reflect on the examination of conscience questions for this month:
- Do I try to organize wholesome forms of family entertainment? Do I try to organize family-friendly vacations?
- St. Paul reminds us that we carry the treasure of Christ’s light in vessels of clay. Do I humbly ask God for the virtue of holy purity? Do my thoughts, acts, glances, control of imagination and feelings all portray cleanness of heart? Do I have recourse to the sacrament of penance to help me in this area, especially when necessary?
- Do I ask Our Lady to protect and strengthen my marriage? Do I wear the scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and do I try to propagate this devotion generally? Am I comforted by the thought that Our Lady will come to my aid at the moment of death?
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.
St. Josemaria Institute
The St. Josemaria Institute was founded in 2006 to promote the life, teachings, and devotion to St. Josemaria Escriva among all men and women who desire to find meaning and happiness in their daily lives by growing closer to God. The St. Josemaria Institute produces and distributes digital and print media as a means to spread Christian values around the world and to help people navigate and live well in the digital age.
