Lectio Divina

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I’ve been reading about different prayer practices used in the Church today and in history and this one sparked my interest, and apparently Pope Benedict has recommended it as well. The problem is is that I can’t figure out what it is 😊
Apparently it is the ‘contemplative reading of Scripture’, but how exactly does one ‘contemplatively, prayerfully read Scripture, seeking the hushed word of God unto you’?
 
One way:

Start with a prayer to the Holy Spirit asking that he open your heart to receive the word of God. [assuming you have entered in to your quiet time for prayer].

Read one chapter of the gospel once, immersing yourself mentally into the scene. Picture yourself with the disciples. Imagine your reaction to the words and actions of Christ as you are ‘there.’ When He speaks to His disciples, imagine that He is addressing His words to you.

Your response can be a form of prayer or a resolution to become more Christ-like by eliminating those things in your life that detract from a closer union with Him.

Joe
 
Here is a link to several descriptions of how to do lectio divina. You will see links to descriptions of lectio divina by Benedictines, Jesuits, Carmelites, and Franciscans and there is even a link to the Orlando Roman Catholic Examiner and her article and video. You will be an expert!
 
Most of that makes sense, and I intend to try it later tonight. But I don’t quite understand the meditation part. How do I practice that? Do I simply focus on the word or verse, consider it’s deeper meaning?
 
I think it’s simplicity is what makes it so complex - we deceive ourselves into thinking that since it is so simple that we must be doing something wroing or not understanding it correctly. After all, that God should speak to us in so simple a fashion, that’s just not proper, is it?

If contemplation here is used in the strict sense though, then it is “optional”. Contemplation in the strict sense is infused prayer, so it’s really not up to us.
 
A great quote from Pope Benedict on Lectio Divina:

My dear young friends, I urge you to become familiar with the Bible, and to have it at hand so that it can be your compass pointing out the road to follow. By reading it, you will learn to know Christ. Note what Saint Jerome said in this regard: “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ” (PL 24,17; cf Dei Verbum, 25). A time-honoured way to study and savour the word of God is lectio divina which constitutes a real and veritable spiritual journey marked out in stages. After the lectio, which consists of reading and rereading a passage from Sacred Scripture and taking in the main elements, we proceed to meditatio. This is a moment of interior reflection in which the soul turns to God and tries to understand what his word is saying to us today. Then comes oratio in which we linger to talk with God directly. Finally we come to contemplatio. This helps us to keep our hearts attentive to the presence of Christ whose word is “a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2 Pet 1:19). Reading, study and meditation of the Word should then flow into a life of consistent fidelity to Christ and his teachings.

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/youth/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20060222_youth_en.html
 
I’ve only done Lectio Divina once when I was on a retreat. Reading about it again makes me want to give it another try. Thanks for all the links and information.
 
+Lectio Divina (divine reading) is a way of encountering and reading 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 and The Catechism of the Catholic Church . . . and as such . . . when prayer:gopray2:fully read the . . . **Holy Spirit **. . . Wonderful Counselor of Our God . . . is abundantly available to help regarding the reading and understanding of same . . .

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, prayer:gopray2:ful 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 Sweet Spirit of our Holy God+
. . . thank you Blessed Holy St. Benedict+
. . . thank you Holy Mother Church+​
 
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