AA Readings, Prayers and Statements
Common material heard in meetings, with careful distinctions between official A.A. sources, group custom, and material used in A.A. but created elsewhere.
These pages explain context and attribution without reproducing copyrighted literature.
How It Works
How It Works is a Big Book chapter and a commonly selected meeting reading; this page explains its meeting use and source context.
2The Serenity Prayer
The Serenity Prayer is widely used in A.A. meetings, though its authorship and history are broader than A.A.
3The Lord's Prayer in AA
Some groups close with the Lord's Prayer and others do not; its use is group custom rather than a universal requirement.
4Just for Today and Related Readings
Several readings called Just for Today or Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow circulate in recovery settings and require careful attribution.
5Meeting Opening Readings
Groups select opening material according to their format and group conscience, often drawing from A.A. statements or literature.
6Meeting Closing Readings
Closing practices vary by group and may include a statement, prayer, moment of silence, or another group-approved reading.
7Common AA Prayers
A guide to prayers commonly encountered in A.A., distinguishing program use from authorship and mandatory practice.
8The Third Step Prayer
A prayer associated with the Step Three discussion in the Big Book and used by some members in personal practice.
9The Seventh Step Prayer
A prayer associated with the Step Seven discussion in the Big Book and used by some members in personal practice.
10The Eleventh Step Prayer and Prayer of St. Francis
A guide to prayer material associated with Step Eleven, including the distinction between A.A. usage and outside authorship.
