DAY OF RECOLLECTION | May (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 14:7-14
• Recommended Article:
  • Our Lady Leads Us to the Holy Spirit | St. Josemaria Institute
  • Prayer that Purifies the Heart: How the Rosary Forms our Interior Life | Rev. John Henry Hanson, O. Praem.

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

• “And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them… And his mother kept all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:50-51). Do I trust God as Mary does, and do I realize that I will only understand some things with the passage of time?
• Do I consider how our Lady and St. Joseph would carry out the same tasks as I do at home? Do I ask them to make my house bright and cheerful, like Nazareth was?
• Do I entrust my family members to the Blessed Virgin, Mother of God and our Mother, including the youngest members like my children, my nieces and nephews, my grandchildren, and/or my friends’ children?
• As at the wedding feast of Cana, Mary intercedes with God for all our needs. Do I say the Rosary devoutly and trustingly? Insofar as possible, do I honor our Lady by saying the family Rosary at home?

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.