Ampleforth Abbey

Although Lectio can be done on one’s own, it is also good in small groups of up to 10. It is suitable for all ages.

After a prayerful silence, while each one considers what he or she has brought into the meeting in terms of feelings, worries, plans, suffering, joys etc, the group say a prayer to the Holy Spirit together for inspiration. They may also say together an Act of Contrition such as the ‘I confess...’.

Then a passage is read aloud by one person while everyone considers what it is that the Lord is trying to say to him or her at this moment in these words. After a while the text is read aloud again with pauses between the sentences or verses. Into these silences each person speaks simply of what the Lord is saying to him or her.

• This ‘echo’ to the heard word must always be personal (we say ‘I...’ or ‘...me’, not ‘you...’ or ‘we...’ or ‘one...’.)
• It may be speaking aloud about what the word of God is telling the person, or may be a direct prayer to God as a response.
• It is never discussed by the others.
• Everyone should speak, and it is permitted to speak more than once.  

It ends with a ‘Glory be to the Father....’ and some sort of social recreation, (such as tea and biscuits.)

This is an excellent devotion for those who feel that prayer is always ‘a one-way conversation’. It deepens faith, encourages spiritual friendships and guides us securely on the way of holiness by the light of God's Word.