Lectio Divina, which is also called holy reading or prayerful reading, is a bible reading method to have a conversation with God. Prayer is founded and nourished by the previous hearing of the divine word. For a long time it was considered a monastic practiceand, was specifically associated with the Carmelite tradition; This way of drawing on biblical texts has been developing in lay circles in recent decades. This trend was promoted by Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, after the Second Vatican Council, who urged all Christians to reappropriate lectio divina. “There is no higher priority than this: to open again to the man of today the access to God, to the God who speaks to us and communicates his love to us so that we may have life in abundance. “(Verbum Domini two)
What is lectio divina?
It is a path that begins with a reading of the Holy Scripturess, serene and slow, leading to “listen” to what the Lord wants to tell us today. From it, a dialogue between Him and us is produced to lead us to a communion of spirit. This practice, inspired by the Pardes of the Hebrew tradition, is accessible to all. Although exegesis can nourish meditation, it is not a necessary condition since it is above all about allowing oneself to be touched. Lectio divina does not seek to know the biblical texts better, but to know God better.
Origin’s gate
Thanks to Origen, a theologian of the third century, we discovered the term “lectio divina”. He alluded to a practice of prayer in three steps, through a deep reading of the Bible.
• First, knock or call: it is a conscious and voluntary step on the part of the person praying.
• Later, Search: God never forces the encounter. He allows himself to be found by those who seek him.
• Finally ask: therefore, this stage leads us towards prayer.
Three gestures made in the faith that Christ himself had transmitted to us: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you”. (Matthew 7:7)
The holy staircase of Guigues el Carthusian
This is a much older practice. It was a 12th century monk who illustrated this path of sacred reading, evoking the image of the ladder from Jacob’s dream. “And he dreamed. And behold, a ladder was set on the ground, and its top reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it” (Genesis 28:12). We must separate ourselves from the purely earthly in stages; the last stage of this ascent is communion with God. Starting from the words, we approach the Verb.
How to practice lectio divina?
Opening to the Holy Spirit
Above all, it is important to invoke the Holy Spirit. We need his help to give us the necessary capacity and quality of listening, the light to grasp what is said to us and understand it, and to find the words to express our prayer. “My God, send me your Spirit that makes me know what I am and what you are”. (Saint Jean-Marie Vianney, parish priest of Ars)
Of course, it is possible to make other prayers to the Holy Spirit.
The stages of lectio divina
Traditionally, lectio divina is divided into four stages (although sometimes only three stages are mentioned):
• Lectio, the leisurely reading of the biblical passage
• Meditatio, meditation and the search for what it tells us
• Oratio, prayer addressed to God
• Contemplatio, the moment of adoration
All these steps are important, as they enrich each other and allow progress. Together, they outline the possibility of a dialogue: there is no longer ascending prayer, nor descending word, but rather reciprocal listening and a lively exchange.
God speaks to us (lectio), we must listen, welcome. After listening, we have to listen to it, understand it (meditatio). After hearing his message for us today, we can respond to him, talk to him, ask him… (oratio). Finally, after this exchange, we can enter into communion with him, agreeing our wishes to his (contemplatio). It is important to give yourself enough time for these four stages; at least twenty minutes is ideal (approximately five minutes for each stage).
Lectio divina alone or in a group?
Lectio Divina allows dialogue and intimacy with God, and is therefore very personal. In fact, our Father, who knows us intimately, through the same text, will have a message for each of us.
However, sharing the word is also very beneficial, especially in the meditation stage. We can decide to practice lectio divina with others: as a couple, as a family, among friends, in a group of parishioners.
It is in the diversity of sentiments, of understandings, that we perceive how alive these texts are. Therefore, it is important to have an attitude of welcome and benevolent listening to the other. Let us not forget that the Holy Spirit comes to enlighten each one of us, so that we may enlighten each other.
Why practice lectio divina?
The Church, beginning with the Second Vatican Council, has fostered this divine pedagogy, because it allows all Christians to experience an encounter with God, and better understand the relationship they wish to forge with Him.
This practice promotes our spiritual growth. The word of God, just like a seed sown, must bear fruit; any germination process takes time and requires that the ground be prepared to receive it. Inside the seed there is already everything, but it is the encounter with the ground that will cause the fruit to be born. Our prayer takes on another dimension when it becomes an answer (and not just a request on our part).
Feed on the word of God with the prayer communities of !
offers you numerous options for you to learn to pray and grow in your daily prayer life. For example, if you join the “reflection of the day” community, you can, through the Holy Scriptures, have a spiritual moment and live an encounter with God through prayer.
You can also deposit a prayer intention, so that other Christians pray with you for your request.