Blessed Advent from the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate!
In the welcome email for this Vocation Newsletter, we explored the concept of discernment (listening, recognizing, and responding to God’s voice in your heart) and shared that we can stay on track with discernment through dedicated daily prayer. In the next few Newsletters we will look at some ways to integrate that daily prayer into your life.
Recollection
“The greatest trouble with the world is that the people are too much taken up with worldly joys to stop and think of God. But we must do it, we must think, and teach others to think of the Good God, and to think of Him as the little Babe of Bethlehem, the Divine Babe; let true charity encompass Him and all others for whom we work in union with His dear Sacred Heart.”
~Servant of God Mother Mary Teresa Tallon, Foundress of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate
Mother tells us to stop and think of God, to think of Him as the Babe of Bethlehem, to work in union with His dear Sacred Heart. This message is not just for the Sisters she was speaking to in Advent 1922, but for anyone who is seeking to grow closer to God and hear His voice. This habitual turning to God is known by many names – recollection; spiritual retirement; listening for the still, small voice; the practice of the presence of God; etc.
Recollection (to use the name our Foundress used most often) is part of the remote preparation for prayer, It is remote not because it takes place in a location far away, but because it happens before and after your more formal times of prayer. It is an attitude, a way of being, that prepares the heart for intimacy with the Beloved in prayer.
Just as our surroundings can influence our thoughts, emotions, and conversations, so the way we spend time before and after prayer can influence our conversation with God in prayer.
An Advent Example
A seasonal example of the influence of our surroundings can be found in our change of decor for the Advent season. Here are some pictures from Our Lady of Providence PVMI Convent in Warren, OH.
The Chapel with an Advent Wreath (no poinsettias yet:)
Advent candles in the window to remind us (and those who pass by outside) that it is Advent, as well as a small candle in front of Our Lady’s picture to remind us of our Community’s Novena in preparation for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (which always falls in Advent)
Our dining area with simple purple accents
A cardboard Holy Family (made by a PV Sister) making its way through the Convent on its way to Bethlehem.
These physical reminders create an atmosphere of preparation. If, instead, we had a Christmas tree up and decorated, red bows, Christmas music playing, and a full Nativity set on display, we would be more likely to skip the beautiful Advent season of preparation for the Divine Babe of Bethlehem and jump right into the celebration of Christmas in our hearts.
Practical Helps towards Recollection
So, what is the spiritual equivalent to the Advent decor that can help us to live a recollected life? Our Mother Foundress often said, “Silence is the safeguard of recollection.” Building times of silence into your schedule is a good start towards listening to that still, small voice. Turn off the radio, podcasts, etc. while driving, exercising, or cleaning. If you look at your schedule you’ll find places where you can build in silence – maybe first thing in the morning, at the end of the day, or during your lunch break. (Giving credit: these suggestions were given by young women at a recent Discernment Retreat.) These times of silence/recollection are not times of dedicated prayer, but they help us to be aware of God’s presence in the every day activities of our lives.
Another help is to be aware of where your thoughts and your heart are focused during the day. To call them back to God, try praying short prayers repeatedly throughout the day. These prayers, call aspirations, are part of our Catholic heritage of prayer. Some common aspirations are: “Come, Lord Jesus.” “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love You. Save souls.” “Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.” “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
There are many more traditional aspirations, and you can even make up your own. They are the prayer equivalent of walking by an Advent wreath. Just as the wreath draws your mind and heart to prepare for Jesus’ Coming, the frequent internal prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus” draws your heart and mind to the Divine Babe of Bethlehem. You can even use them together by saying an aspiration every time you see an Advent wreath:).
What’s my next step?
To build up your recollection “muscles” look at your schedule and add some silence each day. Choose an aspiration to use regularly during this Advent season. At first you may have to connect it to a visible reminder, like an Advent wreath or a post-it note, but if you persevere in this practice, it will flow naturally throughout your day.
Remember that the practice of recollection, stopping to think of the Good God, is a remote preparation for prayer. As you live a more recollected life, you will be able to transition more naturally into those regular times of prayer you already have in your schedule and hopefully they can help with those pesky distractions during prayer as well. Next month we’ll look at some ideas for your regular prayer time.
I would love to hear how you’re preparing your living space and your heart for Advent. What are some practices you have found helpful to living a life where you can hear the still, small voice of God? Do you have any questions about recollection, your vocational journey, or would you like to talk to a Sister? If so, please respond to this email or click here to fill out our Vocation Inquiry Form.
If you are looking for some more detailed spiritual help on recollection, I would recommend The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence and Introduction to the Devout Life (especially Chapter 12 on Spiritual Retirement) by St. Francis de Sales.
If you happen to be attending the FOCUS Seek26 Conference in Columbus, OH in January, we’ll be there too! Please come say hi to us at our table in the Mezzanine area.
You are in my prayers this Advent Season as we come to the close of the Jubilee Year. Please pray for us as well.
In the hope of Christ,
Sr. Theresa Marie, pvmi
Vocation Director
Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate
845-542-1086
“Our Lord is ever neglected by the world, but He is loved by those near to Him who have chosen Him for their Spouse.” ~Servant of God, Mother Mary Teresa Tallon, PVMI
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