DAY OF RECOLLECTION | June (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: John 3:1-21
• Recommended Reading:
  • Vigilant Listening: A Reflection on St. Josemaria’s Call and Our Own | Rev. John Henry Hanson, O. Praem.
  • Making the Most of Spiritual Direction | Antonio P. Villahoz

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

• Do I value spiritual direction as a school to get to know Christ better? Do I open my heart in all frankness to seek the light of the Holy Spirit? Do I accept responsibly the advice I get, realizing that it is up to me to decide what to do?
• Does my work naturally lead me to God, or in practice do I regard it as unrelated to my Christian life? Do I realize that with the help of God’s grace and using common sense, I have to find the right balance amid my different responsibilities?
• “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Mt 10:31). When life is particularly tough (work problems, unemployment, etc.), do I place myself in God’s hands? Do I ask him to give me peace, to shorten the trials, and to help me do whatever I should to resolve them?
• In this month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, do I ask him to give me a good heart, capable of feeling others’ suffering, one that can alleviate their anxieties with the balm of charity?

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.