57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son.
58 And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechari'ah after his father,
60 but his mother said, "Not so; he shall be called John."
61 And they said to her, "None of your kindred is called by this name."
62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all marveled.
64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.
65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea;
66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him.
Who is Lectio Divina for?
Lectio Divina is for anyone who wishes to experience the living Word of God in a deeper and more personal way.
What is Lectio Divina?
Lectio Divina is a four step process of getting closer to God. It was started by a Carthusian monk named Guigo. He referred to these four steps as rungs on a ladder leading from earth to heaven. It is based on reading scripture which is the word of God.
It consists of:
1) lectio - reading a scripture passage - paying careful attention to the individual words
2) meditatio - meditating on the passage - looking for inner meaning
3) oratio - praying about the passage - turning toward God and away from distractions
4) contemplatio - understanding God's intent for the passage - the mind is lifted above its normal capacity towards God
It consists of:
1) lectio - reading a scripture passage - paying careful attention to the individual words
2) meditatio - meditating on the passage - looking for inner meaning
3) oratio - praying about the passage - turning toward God and away from distractions
4) contemplatio - understanding God's intent for the passage - the mind is lifted above its normal capacity towards God
Where should Lectio Divina be done?
Lectio can be done anywhere, but it should be done in a place conducive to privacy and prayerfulness. Get yourself as far away from outside distractions as possible.
A common suggestion is a quiet space with moderate illumination and perhaps an icon and a candle carefully placed in plain view as a reminder of the sacredness of the Holy Scriptures.
Whatever works best for you is just fine. Relax and get comfortable - but not too comfortable. Remember, you want to stay awake to hear what God wants to reveal to you.
A common suggestion is a quiet space with moderate illumination and perhaps an icon and a candle carefully placed in plain view as a reminder of the sacredness of the Holy Scriptures.
Whatever works best for you is just fine. Relax and get comfortable - but not too comfortable. Remember, you want to stay awake to hear what God wants to reveal to you.
When should Lectio Divina be done?
Again, this is a personal choice. It is suggested that you pick a time of day when you are not apt to be distracted, but also not too close to bed time.
Beginners should set aside approximately 5-15 minutes per day for Lectio Divina. Those more advanced can set aside up to 1 hour or more a day. The important thing is to do your best to make it a daily ritual.
Beginners should set aside approximately 5-15 minutes per day for Lectio Divina. Those more advanced can set aside up to 1 hour or more a day. The important thing is to do your best to make it a daily ritual.
Watch a "how to" video on Lectio Divina
How Do I Do Lectio Divina?
Follow these simple steps:
1) Read the text aloud once
2) Read the text silently a second time, watching for words or phrases that grab your attention. If a particular word catches your eye, it's all right to stop reading and just focus on that one word or phrase.
3) Think about what you read and ask yourself questions like - what was the context of the passage? How did it affect the people involved? How does it apply to situations in my own life?
4) Pray - ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in understanding what it is that God wants to reveal to you. Then just sit silently and listen.
5) Share - Share what you heard in your meditation and prayer time. If you're not comfortable sharing in a group setting, then keep a private journal to write down your thoughts.
6) Proclaim the text - a third and final time, slowly and with feeling.
7) End with a prayer of thanksgiving to God for this time together.
1) Read the text aloud once
2) Read the text silently a second time, watching for words or phrases that grab your attention. If a particular word catches your eye, it's all right to stop reading and just focus on that one word or phrase.
3) Think about what you read and ask yourself questions like - what was the context of the passage? How did it affect the people involved? How does it apply to situations in my own life?
4) Pray - ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in understanding what it is that God wants to reveal to you. Then just sit silently and listen.
5) Share - Share what you heard in your meditation and prayer time. If you're not comfortable sharing in a group setting, then keep a private journal to write down your thoughts.
6) Proclaim the text - a third and final time, slowly and with feeling.
7) End with a prayer of thanksgiving to God for this time together.
A Word About Contemplatio
Helpful Tools & Tips
To get started - find a good spot, quiet your mind and begin.
Click on the RSS feed of the daily readings from Catholic Online located on the upper left hand side of your screen. You can choose either the reading or the Gospel. If you do this daily, you will be following the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. I'll be posting the daily Gospel along with a comment or two to start the day off.
Other helpful links are listed on the left of the page where you can view entire books of the bible for those of you who prefer to concentrate on one biblical book at a time.
Don't jump around randomly in your reading. Either follow a book of the bible from start to finish or follow the liturgical calendar. You can also follow a particular theme such as the Passion Narrative or the Nativity or Creation. That part is up to you but whatever you start, its best to stick with it for continuity purposes.
Share, Share, Share! - Please share what you hear, what you learn and how it has impacted your life. Blog it all - the positive and the not so positive experiences, but don't debate issues with others. This is not a forum for biblical exegesis or commentary. It is simply a sharing of unique encounters with the Lord. If you are inspired by someone's comments, tell them about it and thank God for the blessing. If you disagree with a comment, keep it silently in your heart and move on. If someone has had a particularly disappointing situation where they were unable to concentrate or just felt kind of spiritually dry - offer them some words of encouragement. Remember, we are here to support and strengthen one another in our quest to know the Lord. Together we can share what God is teaching us. What an awesome treasure!! May God Bless you and may your lectio experience bear much fruit.
Don't be afraid to do outside reading of articles, commentaries etc., to enhance your overall understanding of the scripture.
Finally, don't get discouraged. You won't always be able to concentrate, you won't always hear what God is trying to tell you, but persevere. Your life will be better because of it. Have patience and you will slowly begin to notice subtle changes in the way you approach life's daily tasks. The beauty of the world will overshadow the evil and mundane. Even the simplest task will take on new meaning.
Click on the RSS feed of the daily readings from Catholic Online located on the upper left hand side of your screen. You can choose either the reading or the Gospel. If you do this daily, you will be following the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. I'll be posting the daily Gospel along with a comment or two to start the day off.
Other helpful links are listed on the left of the page where you can view entire books of the bible for those of you who prefer to concentrate on one biblical book at a time.
Don't jump around randomly in your reading. Either follow a book of the bible from start to finish or follow the liturgical calendar. You can also follow a particular theme such as the Passion Narrative or the Nativity or Creation. That part is up to you but whatever you start, its best to stick with it for continuity purposes.
Share, Share, Share! - Please share what you hear, what you learn and how it has impacted your life. Blog it all - the positive and the not so positive experiences, but don't debate issues with others. This is not a forum for biblical exegesis or commentary. It is simply a sharing of unique encounters with the Lord. If you are inspired by someone's comments, tell them about it and thank God for the blessing. If you disagree with a comment, keep it silently in your heart and move on. If someone has had a particularly disappointing situation where they were unable to concentrate or just felt kind of spiritually dry - offer them some words of encouragement. Remember, we are here to support and strengthen one another in our quest to know the Lord. Together we can share what God is teaching us. What an awesome treasure!! May God Bless you and may your lectio experience bear much fruit.
Don't be afraid to do outside reading of articles, commentaries etc., to enhance your overall understanding of the scripture.
Finally, don't get discouraged. You won't always be able to concentrate, you won't always hear what God is trying to tell you, but persevere. Your life will be better because of it. Have patience and you will slowly begin to notice subtle changes in the way you approach life's daily tasks. The beauty of the world will overshadow the evil and mundane. Even the simplest task will take on new meaning.
For Further Reading
- Casey, Michael. Sacred Reading: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. Missouri: Liguori Publications c1995.
- Colledge, Edmund, OSA and Walsh, James, SJ. Guigo II: Ladder of Monks and Twelve Meditations. Michigan: Cistercian Publications c1979.
- Dicken, E.W. Trueman, The Crucible of Love: A Study in the Mysticism of St. Teresa of Jesus and St. John of the Cross. (London: Darton, 1963), pp. 283-514.
- Kardong, Terrence, G., O.S.B., Chewing the Text: Early Monastic Lectio Divina of the Bible. Canadian Catholic Review (November, 1993): 7-10
- Magrassi, Mariano. Praying the Bible: An Introduction to Lectio Divina. Minnesota: The Liturgical Press c1998.
- Masini, Mario. Lectio Divina An Ancient Prayer That is Ever New. New York: The Society of St. Paul c1998.
- Vogue, de, Adalbert, O.S.B., Daily Readings in Monasteries, Cistercian Studies Quarterly (1991): 286-294
Happy Posting!
Now that you know what Lectio Divina is, you can start posting your thoughts and meditations. Feel free to suggest further reading material that you think would help others.
God Bless!
God Bless!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
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