Lectio Divina group

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Cyceri

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I have been thinking about starting sort of a weekly Bible study group that prays in the Lectio Divina style using the gospel for each coming Sunday. I just want to lead my friends and others to a deeper knowledge of the Lord and what He is wanting to tell us. My experience is that many (including myself) do not look at the weekly readings until Sunday Mass, and then it may very well go in one ear and out the other. I think having an official meeting time dedicated to delving into the Sunday gospel beforehand may be very beneficial.

Does anyone have any experience with this? If you have, do you have any tips on how to go about doing it? I have looked at the thread from 2004 about something similar, but since I’m thinking of doing this at least at first among friends apart from a parish setting at my own or others’ houses, I thought I might ask for any new ideas. This is what I was thinking of for a potential format:
  1. Arrive.
  2. Explain Lectio Divina purpose and process for those who do not know.
  3. Give some researched background into the context of the particular reading, intention of the author, relevant CCC paragraphs from the Index of Citations if they are of aid, etc.
  4. Pray to the Holy Spirit.
  5. Read the reading aloud the first time slowly, waiting a minute afterward for personal prayer.
  6. Read the reading aloud the second time slowly, having participants listen for a particular phrase that stands out to them. Invite them to share if they would like.
  7. Read the reading aloud the third time, allowing several minutes for personal prayer afterward.
  8. Allow time for fellowship.
Do you think it’s a good idea to hand out the passage written on paper or just to have participants listen? What about journals? Is that a good idea?

Please, if you have a few seconds, please say a prayer that God’s will might be done in this. I’ve experienced a peace and a zeal about this. I think God may be calling me to implement this group, but I could use a lot of prayer!
 
The only issue I see is that God leads us to the Scripture Verses he desires we read, so having the group read the same verses would not be Lectio Divina in the true sense.

Jim
 
Yeah…I guess I’ve experienced that in my own life. But in the past I have participated in group Lectio Divina sessions where the same passage was read on a retreat with a religious order. How do you think it should go if we all choose different passages? I feel like it might be mostly silent and solitary prayer with no leadership…but I guess I can see how that might work. Would it be good, do you think, if everyone had the option of picking the first reading, second reading, psalm, or gospel for the upcoming Sunday, and after reading it individually several times, sharing what stuck out to them? Hmm. But then other members may not know what they are talking about if they didn’t pick the same reading to meditate on. I’m just thinking out loud here. Your thoughts are very much appreciated!
 
The purpose of the group probably should be teaching how to do Lectio Divina, but being it is a prayer generally done in solitude and silence, I’m not so sure how it could work in a group.

Jim
 
Cyceri said:
I have been thinking about starting sort of a weekly Bible study group that prays in the Lectio Divina style using the gospel for each coming Sunday. I just want to lead my friends and others to a deeper knowledge of the Lord and what He is wanting to tell us. My experience is that many (including myself) do not look at the weekly readings until Sunday Mass, and then it may very well go in one ear and out the other. I think having an official meeting time dedicated to delving into the Sunday gospel beforehand may be very beneficial.

Does anyone have any experience with this? If you have, do you have any tips on how to go about doing it? I have looked at the thread from 2004 about something similar, but since I’m thinking of doing this at least at first among friends apart from a parish setting at my own or others’ houses, I thought I might ask for any new ideas. This is what I was thinking of for a potential format:
  1. Arrive.
  2. Explain Lectio Divina purpose and process for those who do not know.
  3. Give some researched background into the context of the particular reading, intention of the author, relevant CCC paragraphs from the Index of Citations if they are of aid, etc.
  4. Pray to the Holy Spirit.
  5. Read the reading aloud the first time slowly, waiting a minute afterward for personal prayer.
  6. Read the reading aloud the second time slowly, having participants listen for a particular phrase that stands out to them. Invite them to share if they would like.
  7. Read the reading aloud the third time, allowing several minutes for personal prayer afterward.
  8. Allow time for fellowship.
Do you think it’s a good idea to hand out the passage written on paper or just to have participants listen? What about journals? Is that a good idea?

Please, if you have a few seconds, please say a prayer that God’s will might be done in this. I’ve experienced a peace and a zeal about this. I think God may be calling me to implement this group, but I could use a lot of prayer!
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This could work, if the people invited are open to Scripture, and to silence, and to prayer - in a word, to God.

What do you mean by the last step, “8. Allow time for fellowship.” What do you mean by “fellowship”? There is often the potential for random chatting and socializing, when people get together. To keep the group God-centered will take leadership. If the leader is not well-grounded and intentional, much digression will result. Or is that all OK with you?
 
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