Lectio Divina (which in Latin means “divine reading”) is a traditional Benedictine practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God’s Word. It has become increasingly popular in our time as a way of engaging with scripture, experiencing it, meditating upon it, not just learning it. It does not treat Scripture as texts to be studied, but as the Living Word to be heard, experienced, and received. It’s less about studying a text than about listening for God’s Voice in a specific text.
There are four basic steps:
1. READING | LISTENING or Lectio
Reading the text is done slowly and attentively. The goal is to listen, to hear a word or phrase that is God’s word for us in this day. It’s not speed reading, or scanning like we might do with the newspaper, nor is it detailed word by word study like we might do with a manuscript. It’s reading, listening for the word, phrase or image that jumps out at us, that grabs our attention, and seeing how the Spirit of God is touching us through that.
2. MEDITATION or Meditatio
When we identified that word, image or phrase we’re invited to reflect, or meditate upon it. How is it speaking to us? How does it touch, intersect or interact with our life – what we’re living here and now? This can be done as individuals or even as a group.
3. PRAYER or Oratio
The third step is prayer, prayed as a dialogue or conversation with God. How is God inviting you to act, to be, to change through this scripture? What does God want to give you as a blessing, challenge or encouragement?
4. CONTEMPLATION or Contemplatio
The last step – as I experience and practice it – is simply enjoying the Divine Presence, resting in the full silence and pregnant reflection of the earlier steps. It’s kind of like resting in the contented baby pose after a good yoga class.
Learn more online at:
Wikepedia entry on Lectio Divina
Entry on the Carmelite Order Site