Recollection & Reconciliation

Recollection, as understood with respect to the spiritual life, means attention to the presence of God in the soul. It includes the withdrawal of the mind from external and earthly affairs to attend to God and Divine things. It is the same as interior solitude in which the soul is alone with God.

For the curious question what relevance it has for them, the answer is very straightforward. Recollection serves as one of the two indispensable aids to preserve faith. Father F.W. Faber, CO, hymnwriter and theologian once emphasized the importance of recollection in the spiritual life. Recollection refers to the deep awareness of God’s presence in our lives and souls, which is essential for us to experience intimacy with God.

According to Father Faber, recollection is so necessary that, apart from love, no other aspect of the spiritual life is more crucial. Through recollection, we become more aware of God’s presence within us and around us. This awareness can be nurtured in various ways, such as through silent prayer and Eucharistic adoration. Silent prayer and Eucharistic adoration are powerful means of nurturing our awareness of God’s presence. In silent prayer, we enter into a state of deep contemplation and quiet reflection, allowing us to tune out the distractions of the world and focus on God’s presence within us. In Eucharistic adoration, we contemplate the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, which helps us to experience the “habitual presence of God.” This experience allows us to be more attentive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, which can often be drowned out by the worries and distractions of daily life.

In summary, Father Faber’s emphasis on recollection highlights the importance of cultivating a deep awareness of God’s presence in our lives. Through silent prayer and Eucharistic adoration, we can nurture this awareness and experience a deeper intimacy with God. Ensuring that our faith in him is preserved and strengthened rather than slowly eroding over time. For there is no greater loss than a believer than losing their faith in the Lord our God.

Many grown-ups often remind themselves, most especially those younger, of retaining the sacrament of reconciliation during the important season of Lent. However, what does it mean? Why is it important to carry this particular sacrament during Lent, what difference does it make?

The sacrament of Reconciliation is also known as Penance and Confession. Although often called Reconciliation in common usage, the term “penance” best describes the essential interior disposition required for this sacrament. In reality, there is a virtue to penance. This is a supernatural virtue that causes us to despise our crimes out of a motive revealed by faith, with the accompanying goal of no longer offending God and making amends for our transgressions. In this context, the term “penance” is synonymous with “penitence” or “repentance.” Before Christ, penance was the only way for people’s crimes to be pardoned. Even today, for people outside the Church who have genuine faith but do not have the sacrament of Penance, it is the only way to be forgiven of their sins and Lent is the most perfect time for reconciliation. (Josh Gante – ACD Immersionist)