Lectio divina? Which ways to do it?

[UnityofTrinity]

I have read many articles on lectio divina. A book called “Sacred reading” by Michael Casey suggest that it is a repetitive circular reading of a certain book of the Bible. Other ssay you have to meditate on the words, so what really is lectio divina? Have anyone ever successfully read it this way and if not, what other ways do you read the Bible?

 

[Dorothy]

Lectio Divina is successful in that it can get you understanding in new ways how the Lord is speaking to you right now.

Lectio is the slow reading of a few verses of scripture. Focus on what it is saying, and dwell on it for a while. Then read the passage again slowly…a phrase or two may jump out at you, and you can focus on that for a while.

Then read the scripture you chose again slowly, and allow a prayer to form in you from the subject matter in the scripture.

Read it once again slowly, and ponder what it means to you personally.

Take about 1/2 hour to do this.

It takes discipline and patience to do this, but you will allow the Lord to speak to you in new ways. It helps you to get to know yourself.

 

[Jesus_123]

+There has been considerable interest expressed in Lectio Divina (divine reading) here at CAF . . . below is some material I posted on another thread where we were exploring and contrasting prayer and Lectio Divina experiences of the soul in its communion with our Wonderful God . . . perhaps for anyone new to Lectio Divina this might help a bit in understanding the term . . .

Prayer is essentially the heart of one’s soul “talking” to its God . . . on the other hand . . . meditation is taught in Sacred :bible1: Scripture and by Holy Mother Church as essentially being the heart of one’s soul “listening” to its God . . . the ultimate goal of these actions of the soul being that at the center . . . of the deep interior quiet within the heart of the soul . . . the soul enters into . . . *constant holy conversation and communion with its God *. . .

Lectio Divina (divine reading) is perhaps the clearest most well lit holy pathway for the soul to “listen” to its God . . . essentially it is encountering God in the reading of a literary level of holy writings in Christendom believed to be especially blessed and anointed of God . . . first order and always primary of which is God’s **Holy Word **. . . Sacred :bible1: Scripture . . . and which group of writings can also include The Holy Rule of St. Benedict . . . The Catechism of the Catholic Church . . . writings of the Fathers and Saints of the Church, etc., . . . and as such . . . when prayerfully read the . . . **Holy Spirit **. . . Wonderful Counselor of Our God . . . is abundantly available to help regarding the reading and understanding of same . . .

The holy Benedictine monk Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki , O.S.B. of the Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania here in the United States . . . recommends that we . . . *slow down radically *. . . when reflecting on inspired material . . . so as to . . . ***open up freely ***. . . to the treasury of insights contained therein . . . he goes on further to share with beautiful simplicity:

Lectio Divina (divine reading)
Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki , O.S.B. (Order of St. Benedict)

“It is the **monastic insight **that reading, if it be authentic, cannot be undertaken simply with the eyes and the mind. Rather it must involve the whole person: mind, heart, body and spirit. It is reading not so much for information as for formation, that is, for encounter with the living God in this moment in such a way that one’s heart catches fire and one’s life is transformed … In St. Benedict’s day reading a sacred or spiritual text was practiced not so much for the sake of ‘information,’ but rather in order to be ‘formed’: that is, to be inwardly changed or shaped. …

Thus the aim of lectio divina (divine reading), i.e., pondering the material in a slow, prayerful way, is to dispose ourselves to welcome God’s ever-present grace and His efforts to conquer our hearts and transform us more and more into a holy people . . . ”
​

. . . all for Jesus+
. . . thank You Dear Lord+
. . . Sweet Spirit of Our Holy God+
. . . guide and direct+​

 

[Little_One0307]

Hi,

Lectio Divina also works with the Catechism of the Catholic Church, I am going through the Roman Catechism with Lectio Divina. It’s slow work for sure, but the blessings are priceless and innumerable.

I am still on 1st Peter doing lectio divina and have been for several months. If I can find a homily given on Lectio Divina, in my notes I will post it. To me it succintly stated the entire process.

God bless.