Lectio divina in a group

Lectio Divina: in a group

Although Ignatius developed Lectio Divina as a form of prayer to be done on your own, as part of his Spiritual Exercises, an adapted group version of the prayerful reading can be very helpful. When doing Lectio Divina in a group, it helps to have someone willing to lead or moderate the group, although that isn’t essential in a well-formed group. Listening is key, and not interrupting others an important rule.

The reading and reflecting method follows these stages:

1)    Read the passage through once.

2)    Keep silent for a short time.

3)    a different reader reads the passage a second time.

4)    Each person says aloud a word or phrase that stands out for them or spoke to them. At this stage you do not say why it struck you, or offer any explanation: just say what the phrase is. It is absolutely fine for more than one person to name the same phrase – it is about what struck you individually, not trying to gather lots of ideas. If everyone is struck by the same phrase, there’s a message from God in that. If everyone is struck by a different phrase, God is active in the differences too, as well as speaking to the heart of each person.

5)    A different reader reads the passage a third time.

6)    Share together what the word or phrase might mean, what questions or thoughts it raises for you. Listen carefully to each other and do not interrupt each other. As you talk, the threads of the conversation may well connect or inform each other’s reflection.