Family or Group Prayer

A SUGGESTION FOR FAMILY OR GROUP PRAYER

1. After dinner, before dishes are cleared away (or any preferable time), select a short passage from the bible, e.g. Mark's gospel, 4:35-40. Usually Dad is reader; others can be.
2. Dad first invites those present to listen carefully to God's Word and reminds them of Jesus' assurances: "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there, too." He begins with a short prayer such as "Speak to us, Lord. Help us listen carefully to Your word."
3. Then he reads the passage aloud very slowly, distinctly, with pauses, so that each phrase can sink into the listeners.
4. After the reading each in turn shares what it said to him personally; "I felt this..." "I heard this..." "This struck me..." "To me it said or meant..." Keep contributions very short, personal (say "I" not "we"), honest, simple, not preach, not applying lessons to others. Be careful not to make this a discussion. That will kill the prayer experience. Peacefully, humbly, sensitively listen to God's Word and simply share what it said and meant to you personally.

Do not feel uneasy during silent gaps between readings or comments. These silent moments are golden and afford rare opportunities of letting God's message resonate and slowly deepen in us. Relax. Savor His words during the silences.

5. After the first round of sharing, Dad again reads the same passage slowly. It is richer listening experience this time, because the remarks each one shared have enriched the passage for the others. God speaks to all through each other too.
6. A second round of sharing, usually richer than the first, follows the second reading.
7. The same passage is read slowly a third and last time.
8. After the third reading, only spontaneous prayers are spoken directly to God the Father or to Jesus or to the Holy Spirit or to the Blessed Mother, e.g. "Thank you, Jesus, for speaking to us. Help me be more aware of your presence in me and in others."
9. After each has spontaneously prayed, a favorite hymn can be sung and the clean-up in the kitchen begins (or whatever else follows.) It is hard to limit it to half-an-hour because minutes fly by.God's presence becomes very real, especially during the prayers. while one prays aloud, the others are not mere listeners, but join in spirit and make that prayer their own.

This group sharing and praying with Scripture is excellent for other groups...clubs, classrooms, Sodality and C.C.D.., married couples' groups, ecumenical or other Christian meetings. It works best with 10 or less. When more are present, it may be wiser to break into smaller groups. Discuss it afterwards to improve it.
We call this a "Collatio" (pronounced Coh-lah'-tsee-oh), a Latin word for a shared meal, to which everyone contributes and in which we all share.
Try it. Treat your family or group to a real prayer experience. I've seen the collatio transform the religious life of families and groups, even of Religious communities.