Lectio Divina
“I would like in particular to recall and recommend the ancient tradition of Lectio Divina: the diligent reading of Sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer, brings about that intimate dialogue in which the person reading hears God who is speaking, and in praying, responds to him with trusting openness of heart.
Lectio Divina consists in meditating fully on a Biblical text, reading and re-reading it, ‘ruminating’ it in a certain sense, and squeezing all of its ‘juice’ so that it nourishes meditation and contemplation like sap, and is able to irrigate concrete life. As a condition, Lectio Divina requires that the mind and heart be illuminated by the Holy Spirit, that is, by the Insipirer Himself of the Scriptures, and place oneself, therefore, in an attitude of ‘religious listening’.
If this practice is promoted with efficacy, I am convinced that it will produce a New Spiritual Springtime in the Church.”
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, November 6, 2005; September 16, 2005.
1. Lectio - Reading The Scripture
WHAT DOES THE BIBLICAL TEXT SAY IN ITSELF?
Lectio Divina opens with the reading (LECTIO) of a text, which leads to a desire to understand its true content: What does the biblical text say in itself? Without this, there is always a risk that the text will become a pretext for never moving beyond our own ideas.
2. Meditatio - Meditate On The Word
WHAT DOES THE BIBLICAL TEXT SAY TO US?
Next comes meditation (MEDITATIO), which asks: What does the biblical text say to us? Here, each person, individually but also as a member of the community, must let himself or herself be moved and challenged.
3. Oratio - Prayer
WHAT DO WE SAY TO THE LORD IN RESPONSE TO HIS WORD?
Following this comes prayer (ORATIO), which asks the question: What do we say to the Lord in response to His Word? Prayer, as petition, intercession, thanksgiving and praise, is the primary way by which the Word transforms us.
4. Contemplatio - Contemplate
WHAT CONVERSION OF MIND, HEART AND LIFE IS THE LORD ASKING OF US?
Finally, Lectio Divina concludes with contemplation (CONTEMPLATIO), during which we take up, as a gift from God, His own way of seeing and judging reality, and ask ourselves what conversion of mind, heart and life is the Lord asking of us? In the Letter to the Romans, Saint Paul tells us: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (12:2). Contemplation aims at creating within us a truly wise and discerning vision of reality, as God sees it, and at forming within us “the mind of Christ” (1 Cor 2:16).
5. Actio - Act On The Word
HOW CAN I MAKE MY LIFE A GIFT FOR OTHERS IN CHARITY?
We do well also to remember that the process of Lectio Divina is not concluded until it arrives at action (ACTIO), which moves the believer to make his or her life a gift for others in charity.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Apostolic Exhortation VERBUM DOMINI, 30 September, 2010
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