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SRM77
Guest
Does anyone use this technique, and if so, any tips or concerns I should have with this?
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OraLabora
Guest
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christofirst
Guest
As to the question of practice, I have to admit I have some difficulty. My education trained me to read either for information (like a text book) or entertainment (like a novel). The idea of reading as prayer - slowly, almost as a type of meditation, and certainly leading to meditation - seems very unnatural to me. I have to force myself to slow down, to stop looking at my reading of the text as just another thing to be accomplished. It does not come easily for me, but I’m working at it. 
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Memaw
Guest
I never heard of it until recently, can you give us some information about it and what it is??? Always something new to learn, thats what I love about the Catholic Faith. I’m nearly 80 years old and never heard of it until lately. God Bless, MemawAs to the question of practice, I have to admit I have some difficulty. My education trained me to read either for information (like a text book) or entertainment (like a novel). The idea of reading as prayer - slowly, almost as a type of meditation, and certainly leading to meditation - seems very unnatural to me. I have to force myself to slow down, to stop looking at my reading of the text as just another thing to be accomplished. It does not come easily for me, but I’m working at it.
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hazcompat
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Lily_Rose
Guest
SRM77 This is a wonderful question. Lectio Divina is certainly a treasure and an ancient method of prayer. Firstly, it is an encounter - a true encounter - with Jesus in His Word, that is, in the readings of the Bible. In Lectio Divina, Jesus Himself nourishes us with the Words of Life and this encounter should transform us -daily.
Simply put; Lectio Divina involves finding out what Jesus wants from me through His Word, and putting what He asks of me into practice. The aim of Lectio Divina is to listen to Jesus and by His grace, to do what He asks.
Because we are trying to listen to Jesus through His living Word and put what he asks of us into practice; we are aligning ourselves to God’s will and acknowledging that without Him we can do nothing! (John 15:5).
I have started practicing Lectio Divina, and try to do this daily - and I have to say, it has been an amazing journey. My husband first introduced me to it, and after seeing the transformation that he went through - I was determined to learn about it and how to practice it. A very good resource is a manageable book called “Lectio Divina: Spiritual Reading of the Bible” by the Spiritual Theologian Jean Khoury, available on amazon and on this link: amorvincit.com/books.htm
This books is very practical and speaks of how to be receptive to what Jesus wants to tell you through His Word, what challenges you might encounter when in front of the texts and how and why Lectio transforms a person.
The website www.amorvincit.com also contains useful videos on the steps on the method of Lectio Divina!!
In the meantime, I would be happy to try share anything else on this or practical points.
My best piece of advice is consistency, perseverence in this effort, and trying to do Lectio daily. You will not regret it. Ask the Holy Spirit for help. I use the daily readings of the Mass.
Simply put; Lectio Divina involves finding out what Jesus wants from me through His Word, and putting what He asks of me into practice. The aim of Lectio Divina is to listen to Jesus and by His grace, to do what He asks.
Because we are trying to listen to Jesus through His living Word and put what he asks of us into practice; we are aligning ourselves to God’s will and acknowledging that without Him we can do nothing! (John 15:5).
I have started practicing Lectio Divina, and try to do this daily - and I have to say, it has been an amazing journey. My husband first introduced me to it, and after seeing the transformation that he went through - I was determined to learn about it and how to practice it. A very good resource is a manageable book called “Lectio Divina: Spiritual Reading of the Bible” by the Spiritual Theologian Jean Khoury, available on amazon and on this link: amorvincit.com/books.htm
This books is very practical and speaks of how to be receptive to what Jesus wants to tell you through His Word, what challenges you might encounter when in front of the texts and how and why Lectio transforms a person.
The website www.amorvincit.com also contains useful videos on the steps on the method of Lectio Divina!!
In the meantime, I would be happy to try share anything else on this or practical points.
My best piece of advice is consistency, perseverence in this effort, and trying to do Lectio daily. You will not regret it. Ask the Holy Spirit for help. I use the daily readings of the Mass.
B
Bookcat
Guest
"…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.
Saint James tells us: “Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act - they will be blessed in their doing” (1:22-25). Those who listen to the word of God and refer to it always, are constructing their existence on solid foundations. “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them”, Jesus said, “will be like a wise man who built his house on rock” (Mt 7:24). It will not collapse when bad weather comes.
To build your life on Christ, to accept the word with joy and put its teachings into practice…"
–Pope Benedict XVI
vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/youth/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20060222_youth_en.html
Latin: lectio divina -divine reading
lectio: reading
meditatio: meditation
oratio: prayer
contemplatio: contempation
also:
"We are grateful to God that in recent times, and thanks to the impact made by the Dogmatic Constitution “Dei Verbum” the fundamental importance of the Word of God has been deeply re-evaluated. From this has derived a renewal of the Church’s life, especially in her preaching, catechesis, theology and spirituality, and even in the ecumenical process. The Church must be constantly renewed and rejuvenated and the Word of God, which never ages and is never depleted, is a privileged means to achieve this goal. Indeed, it is the Word of God, through the Holy Spirit, which always guides us to the whole truth (cf. John 16:13).
In this context, I would like in particular to recall and recommend the ancient tradition of “Lectio divina”: “the diligent reading of Sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer brings about that intimate dialogue in which the person reading hears God who is speaking, and in praying, responds to him with trusting openness of heart” (cf. “Dei Verbum,” n. 25). If it is effectively promoted, this practice will bring to the Church – I am convinced of it – a new spiritual springtime.
As a strong point of biblical ministry, “Lectio divina” should therefore be increasingly encouraged, also through the use of new methods, carefully thought through and in step with the times. It should never be forgotten that the Word of God is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path (cf. Psalm 119[118]:105)" (Sept 16, 2005)
All from Pope Benedict XVI
Saint James tells us: “Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act - they will be blessed in their doing” (1:22-25). Those who listen to the word of God and refer to it always, are constructing their existence on solid foundations. “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them”, Jesus said, “will be like a wise man who built his house on rock” (Mt 7:24). It will not collapse when bad weather comes.
To build your life on Christ, to accept the word with joy and put its teachings into practice…"
–Pope Benedict XVI
vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/youth/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20060222_youth_en.html
Latin: lectio divina -divine reading
lectio: reading
meditatio: meditation
oratio: prayer
contemplatio: contempation
also:
"We are grateful to God that in recent times, and thanks to the impact made by the Dogmatic Constitution “Dei Verbum” the fundamental importance of the Word of God has been deeply re-evaluated. From this has derived a renewal of the Church’s life, especially in her preaching, catechesis, theology and spirituality, and even in the ecumenical process. The Church must be constantly renewed and rejuvenated and the Word of God, which never ages and is never depleted, is a privileged means to achieve this goal. Indeed, it is the Word of God, through the Holy Spirit, which always guides us to the whole truth (cf. John 16:13).
In this context, I would like in particular to recall and recommend the ancient tradition of “Lectio divina”: “the diligent reading of Sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer brings about that intimate dialogue in which the person reading hears God who is speaking, and in praying, responds to him with trusting openness of heart” (cf. “Dei Verbum,” n. 25). If it is effectively promoted, this practice will bring to the Church – I am convinced of it – a new spiritual springtime.
As a strong point of biblical ministry, “Lectio divina” should therefore be increasingly encouraged, also through the use of new methods, carefully thought through and in step with the times. It should never be forgotten that the Word of God is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path (cf. Psalm 119[118]:105)" (Sept 16, 2005)
All from Pope Benedict XVI
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Memaw
Guest
Thanks, God Bless, Memaw
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