Caritas Christi Urget Nos The Love of Christ Impels Us L'amour de Christ Nous Presse

RECOLLECTION Guide

               

                 MONTHLY RECOLLECTION GUIDE 2026

Introduction

As Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, we are called to be pilgrims of hope, journeying together with hearts rooted in God’s promise and eyes set on His vision. In a world filled with uncertainty, our vocation challenges us to bring Christ’s hope into every community we serve. As Spes Non Confundit reminds us, “Hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured into our hearts”  (Rom 5:5).

This monthly recollection guide invites us to reflect deeply on our mission, nurturing a hope that inspires and strengthens us to be active bearers of God’s light. In our faith sharing, we will engage in spiritual conversations structured in three rounds as we have already been doing. In the first round, we will listen to one another without interruption, creating a space for each person’s insights and feelings to be shared.

In the second round, we will reflect on and share on what we have heard. Finally, in the third round, we will express our personal commitments moving forward, articulating how we can embody and share God’s hope in concrete ways. May this time of reflection draw us closer to God, renew our commitment to His call, and empower us to carry His hope to those around us. Let us embrace this sacred practice, trusting that through these conversations, we will be strengthened and inspired to fulfill our mission with renewed zeal and commitment.                                                                                             

JULY 2026

“Pure in Heart: Rooted in Humility, Radiant in Service”

SPC MARK: SIMPLICITY

INTRODUCTION: 

Simplicity of life is a grace-filled choice to live with a free and undivided heart, seeking God above all. It is not about material poverty, but about truth, humility, and joyful surrender.

Fr. Louis Chauvet’s Last Will reflects this spirit—offering everything back to God in trust. In the opening lines of his Last Will and Testament, Fr. Chauvet wrote: “I thought that I should dispose of what regards the salvation of my soul and the goods that it has pleased God to bestow on me.”

True renewal begins not by adding more, but by returning to what is essential: God alone.

GRACE:

Lord, grant me the grace to live simply—to let go of what I do not need, to be content with what You give, and to keep my heart free for You alone.

READINGS:

  • Matthew 5:8Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.” (Mt. 5:8) – purity and simplicity open the heart to God.
  • Matthew 6:5 – “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear.” – trust in God’s providence.

 CORRELATED READING:

  • Book of Life, Article 22

The life-style of the communities is simple, sober and poor, befitting the conditions consecrated to God.  The Sisters willingly adapt themselves to all circumstances of life.  This is one form of their poverty.

  • Book of Life, Article 20

Jesus teaches us dependence on the Father in abandonment and trust.  He proclaims the blessedness of the poor and invites us to sell all so as to possess the priceless treasure of the kingdom of heaven.

  • Capitular Acts 2025, page 12

Bear witness by living in the world without being “of the world,” thus going against the tide of consumerism, materialism, and secularism, that can weaken consecrated life.

POINTS FOR PRAYER AND REFLECTION:

  • Prayer Life: Simplicity in prayer is being present before God in truth and purity of heart.  Do I come to prayer with simplicity—free of masks and self-seeking—so that God may truly fill my heart?
  • Community Life: A simple and sober lifestyle helps the community live in harmony, joy, and witness to God’s love.  In what concrete ways can I contribute to making our community life simpler and more authentic in witness?
  • Vows:  The vow of poverty expresses freedom and trust in God’s providence.  How do I live my vow of poverty with inner freedom—using things responsibly, detaching from excess, and depending on God?
  • Apostolic Life: In mission, simplicity allows us to serve without seeking recognition, showing God as our true treasure. How can I manifest simplicity in my apostolic work so that others may encounter God’s love rather than myself?

POINTS FOR SHARING:  

Personal:

After praying with the grace of simplicity, what unnecessary attachments, worries, or desires do I feel invited by God to let go of so that my heart may be freer for Him alone?

Communal:

As a community consecrated to God, how can we together embrace a concrete lifestyle that is more simple, sober, and trusting in God’s providence, so that our common life becomes a clearer witness of His love?

Revisit your community plan of action for the implementation of the Capitular Acts 2025.