The Prayer of Recollection
Gathering the Soul for Deeper Prayer
The prayer of recollection is a Carmelite practice of gathering the scattered faculties—memory, understanding, and will—to focus on God's presence within. Teresa of Avila taught that we need not seek God far away; He dwells in the center of the soul. Recollection is the movement inward, withdrawing attention from external distractions to encounter God in the interior castle. It may be actively practiced (with effort) or passively received (as a gift of grace).
Teresa's Vision of Recollection
Teresa of Avila developed her teaching on recollection as part of her larger vision of the soul as an Interior Castle—a structure of many dwelling places with God at the center.
"The soul is like a castle made entirely out of a diamond or of very clear crystal, in which there are many rooms, just as in heaven there are many dwelling places. Now if we consider it carefully, sisters, the soul of the just person is nothing else but a paradise where the Lord says He finds His delight."
Most people, Teresa observed, live in the outer courtyards of their souls, distracted by external affairs, barely aware that a vast interior world exists. Recollection is the practice of turning inward—entering the castle, moving toward the center where God awaits.
The Core Insight
We do not need to ascend to heaven to find God; we need to descend into our own depths. "The kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21). Recollection is the practice of this truth—withdrawing from dispersion to find the One who is closer to us than we are to ourselves.
The Problem: Scattered Faculties
According to the Carmelite tradition, the soul has three primary faculties:
Memory
The faculty that stores and recalls experiences, images, and knowledge. In its scattered state, memory wanders through the past, dragging up old wounds, fantasies, regrets, and distractions.
Understanding (Intellect)
The faculty that thinks, analyzes, and reasons. Unrecollected, it jumps from thought to thought, worrying about tomorrow, solving imaginary problems, generating endless internal commentary.
Will
The faculty that chooses and loves. When scattered, it is pulled in multiple directions by competing desires, unable to rest in a single choice, exhausted by inner conflict.
Teresa compared the scattered faculties to wild horses that drag the soul in different directions. Prayer is nearly impossible when the faculties are in this state—we sit down to pray and find ourselves thinking about a hundred other things.
"The intellect is so wild that it doesn't seem to be anything else than a frantic madman no one can tie down."
Active Recollection
Teresa distinguishes between active and passive recollection. Active recollection is what we do; passive recollection is what God does. We must begin with the active form.
What Active Recollection Is
Active recollection is the deliberate gathering of the faculties—choosing to withdraw attention from external distractions and focus on God within. It involves closing the doors of the senses and entering the interior castle. This is not forced or violent; it is gentle but persistent, like a mother calling her children home.
How to Practice
- Find stillness: Settle into a quiet posture. Let the body become still first.
- Close the doors: Withdraw attention from sights, sounds, and physical sensations.
- Turn inward: Imagine entering your own interior, the depths of your soul.
- Seek the Guest: Remember that God dwells within. Direct your attention to His presence.
- Gather the faculties: When memory, understanding, or will wanders, gently call it back.
- Rest in presence: Don't force thoughts or feelings. Simply be present to the One who is present.
Teresa's Image: The Turtle
Teresa compared recollection to a turtle withdrawing into its shell—not out of fear, but for protection and rest. The senses are like openings through which the soul is constantly invaded; recollection closes these openings so the soul can be alone with God.
Teresa's Image: The Bees and the Hive
The faculties are like bees that go out to gather honey from flowers. This is good and necessary in its time. But the bees must also return to the hive to make honey. Without recollection—the return—all that activity produces nothing.
Passive Recollection
As we practice active recollection faithfully, we may begin to receive passive recollection—a gift in which God Himself gathers the faculties without our effort.
"The soul seems to enter itself without any effort on its part. The faculties seem to leave their senses and, without their even realizing it, the gate of the castle closes behind them."
Signs of Passive Recollection
- Effortless inward movement—the soul gathers without struggle
- Spontaneous quieting of thoughts—not forced silence but given peace
- Deepened sense of God's presence—more vivid than active practice produces
- A "pulling" sensation—as if being drawn by gentle magnetism
- Distractions lose power—external things seem distant and uninteresting
Passive recollection is a transition point in the spiritual life. It marks the beginning of what the tradition calls "infused prayer"—prayer in which God becomes the primary actor. Active recollection is like rowing a boat; passive recollection is like hoisting the sail and letting the wind move you.
Recollection and Other Prayer Forms
Recollection and Mental Prayer
Mental prayer requires recollection as its foundation. We cannot meditate or contemplate if the faculties are scattered. Recollection prepares the soul; mental prayer is what happens in the recollected state.
Recollection and Lectio Divina
Lectio divina moves from reading to meditation to prayer to contemplation. Recollection facilitates the transition from discursive reading/meditation to the quieter movements of prayer and contemplation.
Recollection and Body
Physical stillness supports recollection. The body and prayer are connected—a stable posture, slow breathing, and relaxed muscles all help the faculties gather. Conversely, physical agitation makes recollection difficult.
Recollection and the Prayer of Quiet
Recollection leads naturally toward the Prayer of Quiet, where the will rests in God while memory and understanding may still wander. This progression—recollection → quiet → union—marks the deepening of contemplative prayer.
Common Difficulties
"My mind won't stop"
This is universal. Teresa was clear: the intellect will wander, perhaps until death. The goal is not to stop thoughts but to not follow them. Each time the mind wanders, gently return. This returning IS the practice. A thousand gentle returns is a very good prayer time.
"I don't feel God's presence"
Feelings are unreliable. God is present whether we feel Him or not. Faith affirms what feeling cannot. Recollection based on feelings will fail when feelings fade; recollection based on faith perseveres through dryness.
"I fall asleep"
This may indicate fatigue (get more sleep), or it may indicate that you're trying too hard and the relaxation of recollection tips into unconsciousness. Experiment with posture—sitting up, eyes slightly open, practicing at a different time of day.
"It feels forced and artificial"
At first, it may. Any new skill feels awkward initially. With practice, recollection becomes more natural. Be gentle with yourself. Don't strain—force produces tension, not recollection. Think of it as an invitation, not an imposition.
"External noise disrupts me"
Initially, choose a quiet environment. But ultimately, recollection can be practiced anywhere. Teresa's nuns had to pray in communities with noise; she taught them to use disturbances as reminders to return within. The noise itself can become a call to recollection.
Signs of Progress
- Easier gathering: The faculties respond more quickly to the call
- Longer periods: Recollection is sustained more easily
- Spontaneous recollection: Finding yourself recollected at unexpected times
- Less external dependency: Able to recollect even in noisy environments
- Growing awareness: Sensing God's presence more readily
- Interior simplification: Less mental noise, more peaceful depths
- Experiences of passive recollection: Being gathered without effort
Progress is often gradual and may not be noticed day-to-day. Looking back over months, the growth becomes visible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I practice recollection?
Start with 10-15 minutes. As you develop, sessions may naturally lengthen. Quality matters more than duration—a short time fully recollected is more valuable than an hour of distracted effort.
Is recollection the same as centering prayer?
Centering prayer draws on the tradition of recollection but has its own method (use of a sacred word). Both aim at interior quieting and openness to God. They are related but not identical.
Can I practice recollection throughout the day?
Yes—this was Teresa's ideal. Brief moments of recollection can happen anywhere: before a meeting, waiting in line, during a walk. These "flash recollections" extend the benefits of longer prayer periods into daily life.
What's the difference between recollection and meditation?
Recollection is the gathering that makes meditation possible. Meditation is discursive—thinking about God, a Scripture passage, a mystery. Recollection is the interior quiet from which meditation proceeds and into which it can dissolve.
Is this safe? Can recollection be dangerous?
Authentic recollection is safe. The dangers arise from attachment to experiences, from spiritual pride, or from mistaking psychological states for spiritual ones. Work with a spiritual director if you experience unusual phenomena.
Related Articles
- Mental Prayer in Carmelite Tradition — The prayer form recollection supports.
- The Interior Castle — Teresa's vision of the soul's journey.
- Teresa of Avila — The great teacher of recollection.
- Prayer and the Body — Physical supports for recollection.
- Centering Prayer — A modern method with similar aims.
- Carmelite Spirituality Overview — The complete tradition at a glance.