Guide for Making a Day of Recollection

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A Day of Recollection is a time set aside to go deeper into your relationship with God. It is a time to
withdraw from the noise of the world, in order to spend some quality time with Him. During this Advent
season we will be offering material for two days of recollection. Ideally, we ask that you set aside eight
hours for each of the two days. The USC Caruso Catholic Center will offer you meditation points for
reflection in addition to optional materials that can be used.

Please make your first day of recollection on or before Saturday, December 5th and your second day
of recollection on or before Saturday, December 19th. The material for the first day will be live on our
website on Sunday, November 29th and the second day will be available Sunday, December 6th.

On Saturday, December 5th and Saturday, December 19th at 5PM PST we will offer a Zoom session
where you will be able to share your experience with campus ministers and with other participants
from the Catholic Center community.

Here​ is the zoom link for these meetings.

Meeting ID: 824 5053 8698
Passcode: Advent2020

In addition you will be paired up with a spiritual mentor to journey with you during this Advent season.

The materials below will guide you through your day of recollection.

Make Time: ​Time is the most precious thing that we have next to our lives. Time is the great equalizer
in that everyone gets 24 hours in a day no matter who you are or where you are. Since time is so
precious, it is important to begin the day of recollection with the mindset that this is your first “offering”
to God.

So, the night before or a few days before your day of recollection, prepare to offer to The Father the
day by not scheduling anything for the day and offering as much time as possible to God. No matter
the amount of time that you are offering, be fully committed to that time! When you tell God that you
will be at a particular place and at a particular time, He will be there!

Distractions: ​The reality is that our lives are beset with every form of distraction. A major part of our
preparation for the day is our honest attempt to remove as many distractions of which we are in full
control. This includes turning off (not just silencing) automatic notifications on our computers and
phones, removing apps from our phones, and putting our devices on “airplane mode” for the time that
you have offered to God.

I would suggest that you turn off your laptop/computer and choose to spend this time with just your
phone or just choosing one device to accompany you on this day.

Adoration: ​If you are able to go to Adoration, I suggest that you begin each meditation in front of the
Blessed Sacrament. If not, begin in front of the Tabernacle in any Church. The next best thing would
be in “virtual” Eucharistic Adoration online. If none of these are available to you, I suggest that you
pray before a crucifix or an image of Jesus or Our Lady. Focus your attention there.
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How do I prepare for a good day of recollection?
1. Find a time during the week in which you are able to set aside eight hours for this deeper
reflection. Think about it as a time for conversation with God, as if He is personally coming to
your home. Think this through ahead of time.
2. Set up a place that will be conducive to this visit. You might want to have a table, chair,
crucifix, image of our Lady, etc.
3. Ideally you could do the recollection in front of the Blessed Sacrament in a church or chapel.
But, if it is not possible, search online (such as on YouTube) to stream a live camera of a
chapel or church. ​Here​ is a link for perpetual adoration through EWTN.
4. Be serious about minimizing your distractions. Silence your phone or remove it from the area
completely. Let your family know that you want uninterrupted time.

What do I need for each day of recollection?

1. Three (3) thirty-minute meditations created by the Catholic Center staff and students.
2. The PDFs on the Catholic Center’s website (i.e. examination of conscience).
3. A notebook and pen for notes and inspiration.

How do I organize my time?

Prior to your day of recollection, make sure that you have all of the materials you need downloaded
and printed out. Make sure that you have also planned out where and when you will be taking time
with our Lord.
Sample 8 Hour Schedule
9AM Play the first meditation: As you listen, take notes. By taking notes, you will know the
theme of the meditation, you will cut down on distractions, and you will stay on track.

Reflect: When the meditation ends, take about 15 minutes and look over your notes and think about
what our Lord is saying to you: Are there things you could work on to deepen your love for Him? Are
there concrete things about which you can make a resolution? Jot those down.

10AM Slowly pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. Download the IBreviary App. Click on
Prayers. Search for “The Holy Rosary.” When you reach one of the joyful mysteries, this
App has great scriptural reflections and questions to deepen your meditation of the
Joyful Mysteries.

11AM Play the second meditation: Work though it the same way you did the first meditation.

12PM Attend Daily Mass at your local parish.

1PM Eat lunch in silence, or download the Hallow App, click “Mediation,” then click “Praylists” then click
“Prayer Sounds” and choose a background track to pray with while you eat. While eating you can also
choose to reflect upon a scripture passage that struck you during the first or second meditation.

2PM Play the third meditation: Work though it the same way you did the first and second meditation.

3PM Read the examination of conscience: Read each question and reflect on what you need to work on in
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your life. Pause if you’d like more time to reflect on a specific question. Make a resolution to go to the
Sacrament of Reconciliation today.

At the end of the examination of conscience, pray the 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.

4PM Go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. After you go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation

go to our Lord in adoration and thank Him for loving you and for the grace to be reconciled with Him. If
adoration is not available click on ​this link​ to attend online adoration.

4:45PM In adoration, come away from this time of prayer with profound gratitude for what our Lord has done for
you and make two or three concrete resolutions that you can give our Lord.

5PM Conclude your day of recollection.

Sample 3 Hour Schedule

9AM Play the first meditation: As you listen, take notes. By taking notes, you will know the
theme of the meditation, you will cut down on distractions, and you will stay on track.

Reflect: When the meditation ends, take about 15 minutes and look over your notes and think about
what our Lord is saying to you: Are there things you could work on to deepen your love for Him? Are
there concrete things about which you can make a resolution? Jot those down.

10AM Play the second meditation: Work though it the same way you did the first meditation.

11AM Play the third meditation: Work though it the same way you did the first and second
meditations.

11:40AM At the end of your day, read the examination of conscience: Read each question
and reflect on what you need to work on in your life. Pause if you’d like more time to reflect on a specific
question. Make a resolution to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation during this Advent season.

At the end of the examination of conscience, pray the 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.

12PM Conclude your day of recollection.

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How should I conclude my time in prayer?
Come away from this time of prayer with profound gratitude for what our Lord has done for you and
make two or three concrete resolutions that you can give our Lord.

When your recollection has ended, remember that these are themes for the season of Advent. Review
your notes throughout Advent or replay a portion of any of the recordings. Use these tools during the
entire season of Advent.

Taking this sacred time seriously, with the help of the Holy Trinity and our Blessed Mother, you will
find yourself progressing deeper into your interior life.

As described above, on Saturday, December 5th and Saturday, December 19th at 5PM PST we will
offer a Zoom session where you will be able to share your experience with campus ministers and with
other participants from the Catholic Center community.

In addition to the Zoom sessions, you will also be paired with a spiritual mentor that you can meet with
at least twice during the Advent season to process your experience of Christ through these days of
recollection.