Is Lectio Divina Just S.O.A.P?

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I’m new to the concept. I’ve heard it explained a few times, but I feel like I’m slow in understanding.

I used to do S.O.A.P. Bible studies a lot, and it seems similar.

S (Scripture) - write the scripture that stood out to you.

O (Observation) - write your observation of the scripture. Find context, look at the original language, dissect the meaning, etc.

A (Application) - write how you can apply the scripture to your life.

P (Prayer) - write a prayer to God to help you live out what you’ve learned from the scripture.

I heard somewhere that Mary wants us to do 2 Lectio Divinas a day. I am willing and want to. I just don’t know how. If someone could explain it to me like I’m 5, I would appreciate it.
 
Where did you read that? It sounds wonderful and I’d also like to do it. Lectio is similar to that but a different order of steps: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina - article (private lectio only) (Monastic source explaining it).

Step 1: Lectio. THE art of lectio divina begins with cultivating the ability to listen deeply , to hear “with the ear of our hearts” as St. Benedict encourages us in the Prologue to the Rule. The reading or listening which is the first step in lectio divina is very different from the speed reading which modern Christians apply to newspapers, books and even to the Bible. Lectio is reverential listening; listening both in a spirit of silence and of awe. We are listening for the still, small voice of God that will speak to us personally - not loudly, but intimately. In lectio we read slowly, attentively, gently listening to hear a word or phrase that is God’s word for us this day.

Step 2: Meditatio. ONCE we have found a word or a passage in the Scriptures which speaks to us in a personal way, we must take it in and “ruminate” on it. The image of the ruminant animal quietly chewing its cud was used in antiquity as a symbol of the Christian pondering the Word of God. Christians have always seen a scriptural invitation to lectio divina in the example of the Virgin Mary “pondering in her heart” what she saw and heard of Christ ( Luke 2:19 ). For us today these images are a reminder that we must take in the word - that is, memorize it - and while gently repeating it to ourselves, allow it to interact with our thoughts, our hopes, our memories, our desires. This is the second step or stage in lectio divina - meditatio .

Step 3: Oratio. THE third step in lectio divina is oratio - prayer: prayer understood both as dialogue with God, that is, as loving conversation with the One who has invited us into His embrace; and as consecration, prayer as the priestly offering to God of parts of ourselves that we have not previously believed God wants. Just as a priest consecrates the elements of bread and wine at the Eucharist, God invites us in lectio divina to hold up our most difficult and pain-filled experiences to Him, and to gently recite over them the healing word or phrase He has given us in our lectio and meditatio . In this oratio , this consecration-prayer, we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the word of God.

Step 4: Contemplatio. FINALLY , we simply rest in the presence of the One who has used His word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace. No one who has ever been in love needs to be reminded that there are moments in loving relationships when words are unnecessary. It is the same in our relationship with God. Wordless, quiet rest in the presence of the One Who loves us has a name in the Christian tradition - contemplatio, contemplation.

Here is a wonderful lecture by a Benedictine monk going into great detail on each of the steps:


Another method that I find is good to mix with the above steps: A Method for Lectio Divina Based on Jungian Psychology
 
Lectio Divina is pretty similar, but less writing, more just thinking.

You’re supposed to start by reading the scripture passage over a couple of times, letting it sink in.

Then you do the SOAP stuff, but like I said you don’t usually have to write it down. Some people use a notebook, some people just think about it.

Done this way, lectio divina is supposed to bring one to exciting and surprising new insights about Scripture. I wish I could say it did that for me. It actually doesn’t do much for me except just make me get bored reading the same passage 2 or 3 times and remind me of how bored I often was in school religion classes.
 
So, to summarize:
  1. Read the Bible and wait for God to point out a verse to you.
  2. Keep repeating the verse to yourself, and memorize it.
  3. Recite the verse over some broken part of your life over and over as a prayer.
  4. Sit quietly, conscious of the presence of God.
Is that somewhat correct?
 
I don’t have the best attention span, so writing helps 😓

I will attempt a Lectio Divina though. I want to do it if Mary wants us to.

Thanks for your brief explanation.
 
I just did a Lectio Divina :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:! Funnily enough, I didn’t realize I did this today during mass. The psalm for today stood out so I kept repeating it to myself, then as a prayer.

Now when I was wondering what verse should do a lectio divina on, the psalm popped in my head from this morning, so I started repeating it, and remembered I already did that this morning, and was sincerely praying the verse in hopes of being perfected. I just didn’t finish by doing the contemplation part until now.

Thank you, both, so much for your explanations 😊
 
Yes, this is it. I’m glad the prayer method is working for you. May God illuminate your heart with it. ❤️

[Sirach]
{2:6} Believe God, and he will restore you to health. And straighten your way, and hope in him. Observe his fear, and grow old in it.
{2:7} You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy. And do not turn away from him, lest you fall.
{2:8} You who fear the Lord, believe in him. And your reward will not be taken away.
{2:9} You who fear the Lord, hope in him. And mercy will approach you, to your delight.
{2:10} You who fear the Lord, love him. And your hearts will be illuminated.
 
The Church doesn’t teach that Mary wants us to do this. If you find it spiritually profitable, go for it. If you struggle with it, put it down. We have an immense treasury of spiritual wealth to draw from. Don’t limit yourself to what is popular. Ask God to help you dig through and find the devotions that will help you grow in virtue. For me, the only western devotions I still maintain are the occasional rosary (15 decade Marian Rosary-no luminous mysteries) and the brown scapular. What has been spiritually edifying for me is maintaining my Byzantine prayer rule every day. I have started with the Rule of St. Pachomius the Great (used by some Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Christians). It’s a good starting point. In the Eastern Churches your spiritual director (typically the parish priest) helps you adjust your rule throughout your life. Father is always molding it to the changing circumstances of your life. The more consistent you are with your prayers/studies, the more is added (albeit a very little at a time). This consistency is designed to help people grow in virtue. Guided by one’s spiritual Father, it’s far less likely you will take on too much too quickly and burn yourself out. While Roman Catholics don’t really use prayer rules (per se) there’s no reason you can’t ask your parish priest (or a trusted confessor) to help you create one for yourself and/or your family.
 
Some people have trouble figuring out where to start in the bible for Lectio. If this is a problem a good starting place is to use the current day’s gospel reading. You will get the words of Jesus to meditate on.
 
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