Lectio Divina

Wednesday, August 19• Please be seated with• Paper and pen for taking notes• Your Bible• A sheet of white paper, hole-punched• Sharpened colored pencils or your own

markers for Lectio Divina• Quiz on Lectio Divina Friday, plus Homily Quiz

1

Prayer

• Leads us to• Knowing self• Knowing God• But just as important, God wants to know

you!• Open yourself to a relationship with God.• And God will find you!

This year, we will explore many forms of prayer

• Mass—greatest prayer of the Church!• A communal prayer• Rosary—private devotion, but also communal prayer

on Wednesdays• Prayer in small CBGs• Liturgy of the Hours• Eucharistic Adoration—another private devotion• Scripture

Scripture as prayer

• Why read scripture?• To learn facts, bible stories, history, law?

• Ultimately, we read scripture to

• Listen to God in His WORD

But not just read, we pray scripture to . . .

• Listen to Bible truths• To hear God’s WORD; His Living WORD• To pray/communicate with God• Scripture is God’s love letters –With his people–So it is important to be still & listen to the

God in His WORD

Lectio Divina—A Way into the Word

• Lectio Divina means Holy Reading

• Ancient prayer form with roots in Benedictine monasticism

• Over 1500 years old

• Rule of St. Benedict: “Listen with the ear of your heart”

4 steps of Lectio Divina

• Lectio--reading the Word

• Meditatio--meditate on word

• Contemplatio--resting with the Word

• Oratio--thanksgiving for the Word

Lectio—Reading the Word• Read 3 times, aloud

1. Read it cold; • Followed by Who, What, When, and Where

2.Read it as if to tell the story3.Once more—slowly, deliberately, pausing

wherever the Spirit suggests• immediately capture the word, words, phrase, or image

that stays with you, touches you, that speaks to you• transfer to piece of paper; write it boldly, with great

importance.

Meditatio—meditate on word• Read the word or words again, silently, once or several more

times and think—• Why this word or image?• Make a drawing around or near each word• http://prayingincolor.com/examples• Meditate, chew it over, mull over, listen– What does this word, image, or concept touch in my life?– What does it say to (or about) my relationships with God,

self, and others? My community, family?• What does the Word call me to do?

• Be patient

Contemplatio—Resting with the Word

• After all the thoughts & drawings in meditatio, • Be still!• Listen!• Rest!• Wait in silence for a Word from the Lord• Be patient, silent• Remember, sometimes God speaks in only a

whisper!

OratioThanksgiving for the Word

• Oratio is a prayer of thanksgiving• Comes from the fruit of your meditatio and

contemplatio• A desire to give thanks and praise• God is listening. It is your turn to speak, so

write a prayer to God.

In review:• The 4 steps of Lectio Divina are

• Lectio--reading the Word

• Meditatio--meditate on word

• Contemplatio--resting with the Word

• Oratio--thanksgiving for the Word

Lectio Divina

• Create quiet, sacred space• Prayer table, low light, light candle• Begin with invocation of the Holy Spirit• “Come Holy Spirit, open my heart that I may

receive the Word of God”

(Scripture

Passage for

day

goes

here)

“Come Holy Spirit, open my heart that I may receive the Word of God”

Closing Prayer

May the Word of the Lord Jesus and his Holy Spirit burn within my heart.

May I have the eyes to notice those in need. May I develop a keen mind to help understand how to

respond to them. And may I have a courageous and compassionate heart

to act on their behalf. Amen