Lectio Divina
The Scriptures are our food, a primary means of grace. Devotional reading with prayer is the most traditional and central of spiritual practices. To pray and read well, we must believe that Scripture is inspired by God, that God speaks to us personally and communally, that Scripture shapes and interprets our lives, and that Scriptures are able to guide us into salvation in all of its forms, teach us what we should know, convict us of those things we should stop, correct that which we need to change, equip us for what we are called and gifted to do, enable us to bear good fruit for the kingdom of God. When we only focus on Scripture as one of these things we have an immature view and biased experience of Scripture. The practice of Lectio Divina (or divine reading) opens us up to experience Scripture in a variety of ways all depending on how God wants to encounter you.
Lectio Divina is a very old, classical, and traditional prayer practice. It has been used for over 16 centuries in the life of the Church. Its use was fully adopted under St. Benedict (the founder of monastic life) to undergird the dedicated life to God. It is a prayer practice that is affirmed by most contemporary spiritual leaders and is used and appropriated in many variations.
Guidelines
Lectio Divina has four basic components. These components have an intrinsic rhythm following a logical and psychological order.
1. Lectio: Reading.
Gently read the devotional text aloud, either to the group or by yourself. The reader should linger on phrases that tug on you or ones that you are drawn toward. Many find that memorizing the text is helpful, something that often happens naturally after many readings. Continue to read and reread the passage until you sense or are drawn toward moving on. (By the way, feeling bored or anxious is not a reason to move on!)
2. Meditatio: Meditation.
Begin to reflect on the passage you have read, especially the phrases which have caught your attention. Because this is meditation, it is not about analyzing why these have caught your attention, rather try to simply hold the phrases in your mind, savor them for what they are, not for what you would interpret them to be. Those with previous meditative experience will find this step easier. After simply holding onto the phrases begin to allow connections to be made: What memories do these phrases recall? What other Scriptures come to mind? Are you reminded of your daily life and work? Who are you thinking about right now? Continue to let these connections be made until you begin to pray.
3. Oratio: Prayer
You will know that you are beginning to pray because you will feel a desire to express your thoughts, feelings, and reflections to God. God has spoken and made connections through Scripture, now you are responding. Tell God about your emotions, your thoughts and feelings. Ask further questions of your experience, listen for what God may be asking you to explore more fully in your life. Communicate with God in your own way. There is nothing you can do to drive away God, nothing you can say that will shock, bore, or intimidate God. Ask God for what you truly and deeply want. What the depth of your soul is in need of. Then let your request go into God’s hands. Wait for God to move, now and in the week to come. Watch God move with your request even if you are not sure what exactly God is up to or what you are watching. Finally, ask God what it is you are supposed to do now?
4. Contemplatio: Contemplation.
Come back to silence before God. Allow all thoughts, meditations, and prayers to rest. Calm all emotions and all distractions. This is difficult at first. Many people use a single word or phrase repeatedly to help them be still. Eventually this final silence and contemplation will be broken. Perhaps the leader has called the session to an end or you sense that you are finished. Allow yourself to gently leave the silence. Perhaps you feel drawn back toward the Scripture or a particular phrase, if so you can return to Lectio and begin again.
There are a few additions that some find helpful to enhance the experience.
1. Silence before Lectio. Establish a contemplative silence before you begin, this often helps set the mood and open the space for God to speak through Scripture.
2. Singing. This often follows the completion of Lectio Divina and is a nice way to continue in the presence of God while moving out of the contemplative silence.
3. Writing. Many find that writing down thoughts and reflections after the experience is helpful to discern where God might trying to lead and speak.
4. Incarnation. God often asks something of us. We are to not simply hold onto what we have been given, but carry the grace of God into the world in some way. How your prayer may incarnate itself may not happen immediately, but will eventually come as an answer to those who have asked God what it is you are supposed to do now?
