select your passage
for beginners best to choose the daily or Sunday Gospel readings and follow them
prepare the passage - read it through once, with notes if you have questions on meaning of words etc., look up references to obscure topics if they puzzle you. this takes place before lectio begins, even earlier in the day, don’t take too much time, just enough to eliminate distractions from confusing words or terms.
preparation also includes the essential of establishing a quiet time and place where you will not be interrupted. go to the chapel, or turn the phone, TV, radio, etc. off. lock the door. no music that is a distraction
lectio
as always when reading scripture, invoke the the Holy Spirit in any of the common prayers, or simply, Come Holy Spirit, let me come to the Word in your light.
lectio
read the passage through
read the passage again, slowly, by phrase or sentence, aloud is good. stop when a word or phrase seems to resonate with you. repeat that word or phrase. stop in silence and listen meditatively. this is
meditatio (meditation, chewing, ruminating)
literally, the word or phrase stays in your mouth, as a bit of food does as you chew enough to make it digestible.
when the phrase no longer speaks, “swallow” as it were, and move on to the next section.
continue in this way to the end of the passage.
read the passage through again. at this time you may wish to note in your journal the phrases or sentences that speak loudest to you (not your own commentary, just the quote).
oratio - prayer
acknowledge and express the feelings that arise from your meditation – I feel, I smell, I hear, I sense that, I imagine, – these you can also note in your journal, if you like
most important (and the part most people skip over) is to pray from those feelings, or using the words that spoke to you. first say or think the prayer, then if you wish, write it in your journal, but end with the speaking the prayer again.
contemplatio – this should never be omitted and do not try to force it, to rush it. this is the time God himself implants his Word in you and the communion that is the goal of all prayer happens. Give it the time. Whether or not you are aware of it, feel it, have emotion or feeling of closeness, God always communicates, but not through the sense in this prayer. You cannot make it happen. You can only remain in silence, with body and mind stilled, and wait. no mantra, no chant, no soft music in the background, just silence and waiting.
this is the step most people skip because the don’t “feel” anything, and it is the core of lectio divina, so that is very sad. people who skip the prayer and contemplation, and see the meditation and journalling as the core of the prayer, usually abandon the practice after a while because “I am not getting anything out of it”.
when it seems natural, or at the end of about an hour for the whole session, “wake”, close in a prayer of thanksgiving, and return to your daily duties in the world.
there is no set time, probably 20 min is a good minimum, an hour a prudent maximum. I am sure there are mystic saints who remain in contemplation longer and certainly I can’t prescribe.
do not evaluate the quality of the experience by feelings or what “happened” or did not happen.
But then again, I can’t usually read ANYTHING for more than about five minutes and I fall asleep - no matter the time of day or night.