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.
MARCH 2026
“Humble Offering of Self: Rooted in Sacrifice and Love, Radiant in Holiness”
SPC MARK: MORTIFICATION AND ASCETICISM
INTRODUCTION:
Mortification is the humble offering of self-denial, a way of uniting our small sacrifices with the Cross of Christ so that love, not self, may reign in us. Asceticism is the discipline of heart and body that frees us from excess and opens us more fully to God, teaching us to live in simplicity, prayer, and holiness.
From the early days in Levesville-la-Chenard, the Sisters of Saint Paul embraced this tradition, inspired by figures like Fr. Claude Maréchaux, whose austere lifestyle—marked by fasting, simple meals, and prayerful sacrifice—reflected deep humility and a heart open to God. His example reminds us that true self-denial leads not to deprivation, but to deeper communion with Christ.
GRACE:
Lord Jesus, grant me the grace of inner freedom through mortification and asceticism, that I may deny myself, live simply, and be more fully united with You in love and holiness.
READINGS:
- Luke 9:23–24
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me…”
- 1 Corinthians 9:25–27
“… I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.”
CORRELATED READING:
- Book of Life, Article 19
“Voluntary asceticism, motivated by love, leads to the gift of oneself.”
- Capitular Acts 2025, p.12
Cultivate discipline in the way we live the vows in today’s context, asking myself each day: “How can I faithfully live my vows?”
POINTS FOR PRAYER AND REFLECTION:
- Prayer Life: Asceticism purifies my mind and heart, freeing me from distractions so that my prayer may be focused, faithful, and intimate with God. What concrete practices of self-denial can help me be more faithful and attentive in prayer?
- Community Life: Mortification of ego, selfishness, and impatience enables me to live in peace, joy, and charity with my Sisters in community. In what ways can I practice self-denial today to contribute to joy, peace, and communion in community?
- Vows
Chastity: Mortification purifies my heart of selfish desires, enabling me to love with undivided, selfless love. How does asceticism help me grow in a more generous and universal love?
Poverty: Asceticism teaches simplicity and detachment, freeing me from attachment to material goods so that my joy rests in God alone. What attachments to material goods or comforts do I need to mortify to live poverty more faithfully?
Obedience: Mortification of pride and self-will makes obedience a path of freedom, humility, and deeper union with Christ’s obedience to the Father. In what ways is obedience an invitation to self-denial that deepens my union with Christ’s obedience to the Father?
- Apostolic Life: The discipline of asceticism strengthens me to persevere in mission with generosity, humility, and hidden service for God’s glory. How can I practice asceticism in my apostolate so that my witness becomes more authentic and Christ-centered?
POINTS FOR SHARING:
Personal:
“What concrete practice am I called to embrace in order to grow more deeply in mortification and asceticism?”
Communal:
As a community, how can we encourage and support one another in living mortification and asceticism with joy so that our life together becomes a stronger witness of love, simplicity, and holiness?
Revisit your community plan of action for the implementation of the Capitular Acts 2025