Lectio Divina Steps
- Lectio (Reading)
- Meditatio (Meditation)
- Oratio (Prayer)
- Contemplatio (Contemplation)
How do I do Lectio Divina?
“Seek in reading and you will find in meditation; knock in prayer and it will be opened to you in contemplation.” ~St. John of the Cross explaining the four steps of Lectio Divina REFLECT and meditate on the word or phrase that caught your heart – “chew” RESPOND in prayer to what God called to your attention – “savor” Choose a passage of scripture.
What is contemplation in relation to Lectio Divina?
This step in the practice of lectio divina is simply meant to give space for this more spontaneous gift of the Spirit by allowing for “unscripted time.” In the end, contemplation teaches us that prayer is not doing.
What is catechesis and Lectio Divina?
In concrete terms, catechesis should be ‘an authentic introduction to lectio divina, that is, to a reading of the Sacred Scriptures done in accordance to the Spirit who dwells in the Church’.” When you introduce lectio divina to your students, I invite you to share with them this short video as an explanation for how to pray lectio divina:
What is the first step in the reading process?
The first step is lectio or reading. The idea is simple enough, you must begin by reading the text and discerning what is its most basic meaning, also called the literal sense. This should not be confused with literalism.
What are the 5 steps of Lectio Divina?
Terms in this set (5)Reading. Read a passage slowly and carefully within the bible.Prayer. Having a loving conversation with God.Meditation. Thinking deeply or swelling upon a spiritual reality within a text.Contemplation. Resting in Gods presence.Action. Go and do likewise.
How do I start Lectio Divina?
How to pray: Lectio DivinaRead. Or when using Hallow, listen. Take a short passage from the Bible and listen to it carefully. ... Meditate. Then, after reading or listening for a second time, consider: What sticks out to you? ... Pray. Respond to the text and to God. ... Contemplate. Rest with God.
What is an example of Lectio Divina?
Dear Jesus, may your words and actions, by the power of the Holy Spirit, inspire and enlighten my prayer and my day, according to Our Father's will. I make this prayer in your Holy Name, Amen.
What are the 5 steps of Lectio Divina in Latin?
Lectio (reading), Oratio (praying), Meditatio (meditation), and Contemplatio (contemplating). Let's use the analogy of eating for this.
What is Lectio Divina Catholic Answers?
Lectio divina then, is the meditative reading of a text of God's Word, the Scriptures, alone or with others, which leads to prayer, the transformation of life, and, through that transformed life, the sharing with others of the mystery of God entrusted to us. This practice of prayer involves the whole person.
Why Lectio Divina is important?
Lectio divina—the “sacred reading” of the Bible—is not just one more instrument that the Christian can add to his spiritual toolbox to better read the Word of God. Inherent to its practice are elements that lead the reader away from the meaning of the text and toward the reader's own subjective intuition.
What does the Word lectio mean?
A readingNoun. lēctiō f (genitive lēctiōnis); third declension. A picking, selecting. A reading, perusal.
How do you pronounce Lectio Divina in English?
0:251:15How to Pronounce Lectio Divina? (CORRECTLY) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDie wien als lektion die weh.MoreDie wien als lektion die weh.
What lectio 360?
WHAT IS LECTIO 360? Inspired by a centuries-old group. practice of reading scripture, Lectio 360 is a nonsectarian guided contemplation of poetry or prose selected from the world's great writers. You are invited to simply listen, attend to your internal processes and be guided to your own personal meditation.
What type of prayer is Lectio Divina?
In Western Christianity, Lectio Divina (Latin for "Divine Reading") is a traditional monastic practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God's word.
Which is an example of meditative prayer?
Christian meditation is a method of prayer to help us set our eyes on God in silence and grow closer to Him with gratitude and love. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
How do you practice contemplation?
Common forms include meditation (e.g., transcendental meditation, contemplative meditation, breathing meditation), mindfulness, Tai Chi/Qigong, yoga and prayer, often practiced twenty minutes or more, once or twice daily, but can extend into daily life as well.
What is contemplation in Lectio Divina?
The final step of Lectio Divina is contemplatio – "contemplation." In the Christian tradition "contemplation" doesn't mean "thinking deeply about something," but rather the opposite – moving beyond thought to an experience at a deeper level than the mind.
1. Reading
In this first step, read through your selected passage of Scripture. Take your time. Make sure you’re understanding and absorbing the words in front of you. Is there a phrase or verse that really stands out to you? Take note of it.
2. Reflecting
After your first read through the passage, take another look at it with the intent of reflecting. This second time through, let the words interact with your thoughts, feelings, and your life circumstances—past, present, and future. The image used in antiquity is that of the cow chewing its cud. Read. Reflect.
3. Responding
The third time of reading through the passage is for response. You might be moved to praise, adoration, or giving thanks. You might respond to pray for someone using the Scripture at hand. Is there a word or phrase that the Spirit brought your attention to on your first read-through? Consider responding to it.
4. Resting
The fourth step in lectio divina may be the hardest for modern people. As you read through this passage once more, focus on resting in God’s presence. You don’t need to do anything. Just be. The stillness can be uncomfortable for some, and you might be tempted to cut your time short.
What is the first phase of lectio divina?
Lectio (Reading) In the first phase of lectio divina we understand what the passage we are reading says in itself. This is the literal meaning of the Scripture passage and the lessons everyone should recognize in reading it. At this stage we do not yet consider our own lives in connection with the Scriptures.
What is the Lectio Divina?
Lectio divina is an ancient Catholic prayer method for reading and praying with the Bible. Don’t let the Latin scare you away from learning to do it yourself or from sharing it with your students. It is an essential practice for all Catholics to learn and certainly not something we should avoid teaching young people to do.
What does Pope Benedict XVI say about lectio divina?
As Pope Benedict XVI wrote in Verbum Domini, “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” (no. 87).
What is the Latin word for lectio divina?
86-87), lectio divina is broken down into the following steps named in Latin: Lectio (reading), Meditatio (meditation), Oratio (prayer), and Contemplatio (contemplation). Then, as a result of the encounter with God in Scripture, ...
What is the process of encountering God in his sacred word called?
and Contemplatio (contemplation). Then, as a result of the encounter with God in Scripture, we are also called to Actio (action). Each of these steps together form a process by which we encounter God in his sacred word and respond to his grace.
What is the meaning of Oratio in prayer?
Oratio (Prayer) Through a meditation on Scripture, we experience an intimate encounter with God that leads us to respond in prayer .
Start with Silence
This is a way of praying that starts with our silence. We can often make the mistake of thinking prayer is about what we say to God. It is actually the other way around. God wants to speak to us, and He will do this through the Scriptures.
First reading of the passage: Listen
Begin to read your selected passage for the first time. Remember to read it slowly and patiently. Resist the urge to rush through it.
Second reading of the passage: Ponder
Read the passage again. Consider how this word or phrase speaks to your life and why it has connected with you. Ponder it carefully.
Third reading of the passage: Pray
Read the passage a final time and ask what Christ is calling from you. What is it that you need to do, consider, relinquish, or take on as a result of what God is saying to you in this word or phrase?
Contemplation
The final step of the lectio divina practice is contemplation; a period of silent and loving admiration for what has been read and suggested by the Holy Spirit.
What Is Lectio Divina?
Lectio Divina, “divine reading,” is a way to connect with God’s word through prayer. It’s sometimes described as reading scripture with the “ear of the heart.”
What is the process of reading, reflecting, responding, and resting in a piece of scripture?
Lectio Divina is a process of reading, reflecting, responding, and resting in a piece of scripture.
What is deep prayer?
It’s a prayer method with deep roots and a powerful connection to God. This form of prayer is different from reading the Bible for study or analysis. Rather the passage is read as the living Word of God, through which he can speak into your heart. Deepen and inspire your prayers with the Pray Deep Prayer Cards!
How to use God's word to speak into your heart?
The word or phrase that grabs your heart may not be the main idea of the passage. Listen and be open to how God wants to use his Word to speak into your heart. Begin to repeat that word or phrase over and over slowly, soaking your heart in the words.
How to respond to God's word?
Respond in prayer to what you heard from God and how the words spoke to your heart. Offer up a prayer of praise, thanksgiving, or petition, depending on how you’re moved. Continue turning your word or phrase over and over in your mind. Share your heart with God in prayer, responding to his Word.
How to be with God?
Sit in the silence and just “be” with God for a few minutes. Open your heart to God’s presence and allow His words to permeate your soul. You may want to journal your experience so you can see how God is moving in your life. Record the verse you used and what you heard God speak to your heart.
How to open your time of prayer?
Open your time of prayer by calling upon the Holy Spirit to guide your reading.
What does lectio divina mean?
Lectio divina means to read the Bible with reverence and openness to what the Spirit is saying to us in the present moment. When we approach the Word of God as a word spoken to me, God’s presence and will can be made known. The regular practice of lectio divina presents occasions when my story and God’s story meet, ...
How to express the Sacred One?
Still yourself and rest in the loving embrace of your Maker. Words are never sufficient to express all that stirs within. Simply be present to the Sacred One. Savor the silence . Connect with the Presence deep in your soul.
What is meditative prayer?
The practice of meditative prayer opens our hearts to communion with the indwelling spirit of God that over time fosters what Thomas Merton called “life itself, fully awake, fully aware that it is alive … a spontaneous awe at the sacredness of life, of being.”.
How to read a passage?
Read the passage — preferably out loud — two or three times. The first time, just get a feel for the passage. When you read the passage a second time, note the word or phrase to which your attention is being drawn. It is God drawing your attention to this word or phrase. The divine has a special message just for you in this moment. If nothing stood out to you, read the passage a third time. Sometimes a word stands out as clear as a bell while at other times the experience may be more subtle.
Is Visio Divina the same as Lectio Divina?
Stay tuned for our next reflection on the meditative practice of Visio Divina, sacred seeing. It is similar to Lectio Divina, but art is the subject of reflection. Over time meditative practices open our hearts to experience the divine in all of life.
