College Lenten Recollectio

Theme:
ADVENT IS LOVE REALI
WELCOME
..\..\Desktop\WITH A THANKFUL HEART - Don Moen (Wit
h Lyrics).mp4
How are you feeling today?
How are you feeling today?
I AM HERE
I’m here, because
You’re here, because
We are here, because
God is here
(Repeat thrice)
ADVENT (from Latin “adventus,” w/c means “COMING”)
ADVENT is a preparation for his coming on Christmas
But at the same time , our preparation for His second
coming on the Last Judgment day.
 l d b e i ng
w o u c om
h a t r H i s
W on fo
r a t i a s i ng?
r e p a ri s t m Co m
u r p C h n d
o on s Seco
n H i
l a s o
w e l
a s
Best Preparations on His Coming
St. John the Baptist- precursor of Jesus

Baptism of Repentance
for the forgiveness of
sins

“Prepare the way

of the Lord,
make straight
his paths.”
 C TI ON
C OL LE
R E
 WHAT IS A RECOLLECTION?

 RE – again

 COLLECTION – to collect or to gather

 RECOLLECTION means, to gather again the

broken pieces of your past and bring them into
the present to be healed and made it whole
again.
 A RECOLLECTION IS ..
A time to check where our heart is, for
1.
wherever it is, there is our treasure be.”

 As the bible says, For where your treasure is, there

is your heart also.”

2. A time to step back, to discover and to seek

for more lasting and enduring values.
Recollection is only possible when we are in

SILENCE
St. Benedict once said:

“LISTEN WITH THE EAR OF

YOUR HEART”
 Parable of the Merchant and his Four Wives
 Once upon a time there was a rich merchant who had four wives. He
loved the fourth wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and
treated her with delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her
nothing but the best. He also loved the third wife very much. He was
very proud of her and always wanted to show her off to her friends.
However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away
with some other man. He also loved his second wife. She is a very
considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant’s
confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always
turned to his second wife and she would always help him out and tide
through difficult times. Now, the merchant’s first wife is a very loyal
partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and
business as well as taking care of the household. However, the merchant
did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly
 Parable of the Merchant and his Four Wives

One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going
to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, “Now I
have four wives with me. But when I die, I’ll be alone. How lonely I’ll
be!” Thus, he asked the fourth wife, “I love you most, endowed you
with finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I am
dying, will you follow me and keep me company?” “No way!” replied
the fourth wife and she walked away without another word. The
answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant’s heart. The sad
merchant then asked the third wife, “I have loved you so much for all
my life. Now that I am dying, will you follow me and keep me
company?” “No!” replied the third wife. “Life is so good over here! I’m
going to remarry when you die!” The merchant’s heart sank and
turned cold.
 Parable of the Merchant and his Four Wives

 He then asked the second wife, “I always turned to you

for help and you’ve always helped out. Now I need
your help again. When I die, will you follow me and
keep me company?” “I’m sorry, I can’t help you out this
time!” replied the second wife. “At the very most, I can
only send you to your grave.” The answer came like a
bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.
Then a voice called out: “I’ll leave with you. I’ll follow
you no matter where you go. “The merchant looked up
and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost
like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved,
the merchant said, “ I should have taken much better
care of you while I could have!”
 The parable or the story may not be true but there is wisdom in it.

 Actually, we all have four wives in our lives…

 the fourth wife is our body. No matter how much time and
effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when
we die.
 Our third wife? Our possessions, status, and wealth. When
we die, they all go others.
 The second wife is our family and friends. No matter how
close they have been there for us when we’re alive, the
furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

 The first wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit
of material wealth and sensual pleasure. Guess what? It is
actually the only thing that follows us whenever we go.
Perhaps, it’s a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it NOW
rather than to wait until we’re on our death bed to lament.
Session I: Count your Blessings
..\..\Desktop\John Foppe.VOB
..\..\Desktop\Nick Vuijicic.wmv
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011-Auditions-Emmanuel-Kelly.flv

I STA N
GH AN
AF
VI VO R IN
A SUR
Activity: GARDEN OF LIFE-BLESSINGS (Dyad)
 Reflection- Questions for Garden of Life Blessings
1. Before doing the garden of life –blessings, list down the
events or experiences, people, things, and learnings,
which you have been most thankful for the past years?

2. After listing, you have to draw your life-blessing (in the

garden) symbolically at the back, then after drawing,
answer these questions
a.) How did I feel while I was doing the activity and
remembering my life these years?
b.) How have I grown and become the person I am today
because of these blessings?
c.) Can I see any negative or unpleasant, sad or painful
experiences in my life as blessings? How they have been
blessings?
SESSION 2: PROCLAIM YOUR RARITY
 YOU ARE SPECIAL
You are special. In the world there is nobody like
you.
Since the beginning of time. There has never been
another person like you. Nobody has your
smile. Nobody has your eyes, nose, hair, and
your voice. You are special.

Nobody anywhere has your tastes for food or

music or art. No one sees things just as you do.

In our time, there has been no one who laughs like

you, no one who cries like you. And what
makes you laugh and cry will never provoke
identical laughter and tears from anybody else,
ever.

No one reacts to any situation just as you would

react. You are special.
No one in the universe can reach the quality of
your combination of talents, ideas, abilities,
and feelings. Like a room full of musical
instruments, some may excel alone, but none
can match the symphony sound when all
played together. You are special, you are a
symphony.
Through all eternity no one will ever look, talk,
walk and think, or do like you. You are special.
You are rare.
You are special. And you are beginning to realize
it’s no accident that you are special. I am
beginning to see that God made you for a very
special purpose. He must have a job for you
that no one else can do as well as you
Out of all the billions of applicants,
Only one is qualified, only one has the right
combination of what it takes.
That one is YOU.
Because… YOU ARE SPECIAL
..\..\Desktop\Father's Love Letter - Video.avi
ACTIVITY: HAPPY HEART
 INSTRUCTION: ON THE HAPPY HEART

1.While the instrumental music is being played, kindly

give your positive comments or adjectives to all the
persons who joined in this recollection. You may
write them at the happy heart which is put at the back
of each person. Write as much as you can but only
words of affirmation, not negative ones.

2. As the music ends, kindly take the happy heart and

reflect on the words or comments written in your
paper.
 PLENUM/SHARING OF FEELINGS /INSIGHTS

1. How did you feel while doing the activity?

2. Is there any significant feeling or insight that came out

during the activity?
God Memo 3: Give an Extra Mile
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RICHIE FERNANDO, SJ
A Filipino Jesuit Missionary
Working in Cambodia
Was killed by a grenade explosion
Last October 17,1996
Personal Integration: HOTLINE TO HEAVEN
 INSTRUCTION : HOTLINE TO HEAVEN

1. Write a hotline to heaven or love letter to God, telling God

how grateful you are for the many blessings and graces
that you have received from Him. Asking forgiveness for
the uncharitable thoughts and actions against yourself,
others and God.
2. Be willing to be reconciled to those whom you have
offended and have something against you.
3. Finally commit yourself to be of service to others,
especially to those who are in need most.
 COMMUNITY PRAYER
 INSTRUCTION: Let’s make a big circle , where the candles will
be at the center which symbolizes Christ as Light of the world.

 Gathering word
 Opening Song: You are near (Psalm 139)
 Reading: Love letter of God
 Response: Hotline to Heaven
 Thanksgiving Prayer
 Giving of Candles
 Closing Song: Our Father
 Praise and Glory
 COMMUNITY PRAYER

 GIVING OF CANDLES

 As a sign that we want Christ to be the center of our

lives, then we will get a candle and give it to the
person whom you would like to reconcile with or
whom you would like to thank, etc.

 Does it as much as you can.

 After all have made their share, we culminate our

community prayer with the Lord’s prayer.
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rship Video with lyrics.mp4
THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS!

FOR ATTENDING THIS RECOLLECTION