Lectio Divina
/“The soul is like a wild animal…and contemplation is anything that pierces illusions so we can touch Reality.”
Lectio Divina (Divine Reading), is a contemplative way of paying attention to how our soul is stirring and how the Divine is moving within us as we prayerfully read a text, either from sacred scripture or another source.
This is not “bible study”. As we connect with a passage we are not analyzing its cultural context, its historical significance, the author’s intent, or any other aspect of critical thinking. This is a more prayerful interaction with the text, allowing God to use it on a more personal, emotional, and psychological level.
In the Christian tradition, we see this approach first in the third and fourth centuries with the Desert Mothers and Fathers. They spent a great deal of time meditating with scripture in a contemplative approach. Lectio Divina was made much more popular in the fifth century with Saint Benedict.
Some have likened Lectio Divina as letting the scripture “work on you” like any good meal does as it is digested and metabolized. We “eat” and absorb the text, taking time to savour all the flavours and trusting the feast will nourish us as we need it.
There are four simple steps. Provided below is the Latin root and the English meaning.
LECTIO (Read) | Read a short section of scripture (not too long), or another text like a poem, song lyrics, a number of times out loud (3-5 times), noticing what is stirring within you. What words are “jumping off the page”, or “shimmering” to you. What images, feelings, memories, ideas are coming up for you as you read?
MEDITATIO (Meditate) | Taking note of what was coming up for you as you read, we move into a time to meditate on these words, images, and feelings and see how they connect to your specific life. Is it reminding you of a relationship? A struggle? Something you’re thankful for or anxious about? Simply asking yourself the question: why is this word(s) jumping out and how does it connect to my life today?
ORATIO (Speak) | This is where we bring our conscious thoughts we’ve been meditating on into our relationship with the Divine. You can speak your prayer out loud or to yourself, but it is your conscious time of prayer, bringing your thoughts into your relationship with God.
CONTEMPLATIO (Contemplate) | Here we rest. We let our thoughts and conversation with God fall to silence, trusting we have been heard. We enjoy just being present with Presence, instead of doing anything. You’ve experienced this in your human relationships… there is something sweet in being in the quiet company of someone you trust - words fall away and just being with one another is where your heart is content.
