The Practice of Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina (Latin for “sacred reading”) is a time-honoured method for reading and engaging with a short passage of scripture as a contemplative practice. For 1,500 years Christian monks have followed this tradition with the intention to transcend common mental processing in favour of deeper spiritual ingestion, and into the knowing that comes from the heart. It is a simple yet profound way for prayerfully absorbing the written word into one’s being where, like food, it provides nurturance and the energy for growth.

Originally lectio divina was practiced as a solitary activity using selected passages of biblical scripture, providing a contemplative method to build on and illumine the cumulative wisdom of this tradition. In more recent times other spiritual texts or even sacred poetry is sometimes used for a lectio divina practice, engaging the selected content with the same step by step process.

The underlying presupposition of this practice is based upon approaching the sacred writing as a living word, and even as a source of personal guidance. Using this practice we are encouraged to reach far beyond the literal information-collecting or analytical processing commonly employed when reading. Instead we are invited to enter into the sacred writing and open ourselves to receive the assistance and wisdom or deeper understanding or inspiration for conscious action.

Like other contemplative practices, lectio divina can be practiced alone or with a group, and essentially will follow the same four distinct, usually sequential, steps:

Lectio (reading)

  • Start by collecting yourself with a moment of silence or brief prayer.

  • Read the selected passage slowly and attentively, and if possible aloud. The passage should be brief enough to take in as a whole, ideally no more than a paragraph, but even as short as a sentence or two.

  • Pause for a moment, and then read the same passage a second time.

  • Following the movement of your spirit allow yourself to be drawn to a sentence or phrase or even a single word that engages your interest.

  • If in a group, gently speak aloud the sentence, phrase or word you were drawn to.

  • The important movement at this stage is your willingness to trust that as you open to the passage in a deep listening and receptive way, something will be calling to you, and that you follow that lead.

Meditatio (meditation)

  • Unlike the term meditation that usually implies an emptying or focused practice, at this stage of meditatio you quietly allow your faculties—including your reason, imagination, memory, and emotions—to begin to work with the passage.

  • Whatever catches your attention, stay with it. Engage your imagination, perhaps visualizing the scene, or even imagine yourself role-playing a particular character in the reading.

  • This is the time to allow the text to reach and resonate with the authority of your own heart.

Oratio (prayer)

  • You may notice an arising sense of grace or thanksgiving, or sadness, grief or other emotions. Allow these responses from your heart-to-heart encounter with the sacred words to be present and acknowledged.

  • If you are so moved, you can shape your experience into an inner prayer of sorts, even if the prayer is not formed into specific words but more a felt sense of relating to God.

Contemplatio (contemplation)

  • At this stage you simply sit and “rest in God.”

  • You may find yourself drifting back to the prior step of prayer, which is fine, or perhaps your experience opens to a more still or empty spaciousness.

  • Nothing needs to be rejected or excluded in this experience of contemplatio.

  • Many groups or individuals naturally flow from this stage into a period of Centering Prayer, or pre-determine an amount of time to sit together in silence or meditation.

* The above introduction and instructions have been adapted from chapter 13, Lectio Divina, from The Wisdom Jesus by Cynthia Bourgeault (Source: https://wisdomwayofknowing.org/resource-directory/lectio-divina-sacred-reading/)

Suggested Texts for Lectio Divina from the Contemplative Society

James Martin, S.J. provides a brief explanation of Lectio Divina with Bible scripture.

Practice Notes from Community Members

A resource I return often for lectio divina is J. Philip Newell's book, Celtic Benediction: Morning and Night Prayer. It contains 14 parts: morning and night prayer and reflections for each day of the week.  It flows from and embodies Celtic spirituality. A sample from Sunday Morning's prayer:

I watch this morning

For the light that the darkness has not overcome.

I watch for the fire that was in the beginning

And that burns still in the brilliance of the rising sun.

I watch for the glow of life that gleams in the growing earth

And glistens in  sea and sky.

I watch for your light, O God,

In the eyes of every living creature…

And another source I go to for contemplative reading is a collection of Thomas Merton's writings compiled as a Book of Hours. It gives reflections and prayers for Dawn, Day, Dusk, and Dark for each day of the week.

And another kind of contemplative prayer – reading a Gospel passage, using imagination to put myself into the scene I'm reading, and noticing what I see, hear, smell, feel – my reactions as the scene unfolds, the reactions of others in the scene. Maybe I'm Peter, or John, or the blind man, or his father, or Jesus. I re-read the passage, entering into the scene again and find who I identify with, what I sense, what I feel, how others react, how they feel. Then maybe talk to God, or Jesus, or to someone else in the scene.

– Bruce Lemire-Elmore

Reading the Daily Meditations from the Centre for Contemplative Action inspires me. I find the readings help to Centre my mind and heart and help keep me on track for the day. Quite often the readings help me to see something in a completely new light which leads me to feel a sense of peace and gratefulness.

- Leslie Cox