Dr tim gray five steps to transforming your prayer life lectio divina. Respond speak out in prayer what you sense god is saying to you. Luke dysinger osbs booklet accepting the embrace of god. It was a monk named guigo ii in the 12th century that organized the lectio divina into four spiritual steps in his book called, the ladder of the monks. According to pope benedict xvi in the postsynodal apostolic exhortation, verbum domini nos. You can also grab a free printable guide that includes all the steps described below on one handy sheet right here. Lectio divina guide free printable more like grace. Lectio divina for holy wednesday, april 7, 2020 there are four steps to lectio divina.
Its an ancient practice that teaches us how to read, meditate on and live the word of god. It is an ancient method of prayer that helps us to encounter our lord in scripture. Here are instructions for several possible approaches to lectio divina, plus some links to some ways of doing lectio divina online. Reading and responding to the biblical passage three times. Tell him how you feel encouraged, challenged by what he is saying to you and ask that the seed of his word in your heart would develop deep rooted truth that would lead to fruitfulness in your life. Lectio divina is a slow, contemplative praying of the scriptures. The button will immediately open the file as a pdf. Choose a text of the scriptures that you wish to pray. These studies cover a wide variety of topics, including individual books or letters of the bible, the lives and writings of the saints, church teaching, and topics to. The goal of lectio divina is to encounter the word of god and to be open to the holy spirit, to allow him to guide ones thoughts and inspirations.
By focusing on a selected scripture, one waits and listens for gods voice. The practice of group lectio divina lectio divina, or holy reading, is an ancient practice from the christian tradition, dating from the early medieval era of prayerful study of scripture in monasteries. Come, holy spirit, enlighten my heart and mind to listen to your word. Steps for practicing lectio divina silence silencio prepare yourself. Slow down, relax, and intentionally release the chaos and noise in. Tim gray masterfully uses the ancient churchs tradition of lectio divina to show you the simple steps for making prayer an effort of love and. The steps of lectio divina choose a text of the scriptures that you wish to pray. The goal of this guide is to make lectio divina more accessible, memorable and doable for anyone interested in this ultimate guide, youll learn how to prepare for the prayer, the steps involved, scripture examples to follow, and when to take some time in silence as well as when is a good time to journal.
Guide to lectio divina spirituality for questioning minds. History tells us that it was the blessed guigo the carthusian, who wrote the most important stages of this way of meditating the word. Lectio divina is an ancient prayer method that is most literally known as divine reading. Stories provide a great way for beginners to get started. Click here to download the lectio divina worksheets spiritually hungry resources for every day discipleship we created this site to help christians bridge sunday to sunday to have resources for everyday discipleship at home.
The four steps of lectio divina 1 time to read your bible yes, dust it off and crack it open. It is a very natural way of prayer and was developed and practised by the early monks and thus came to the first carmelite hermits. The christian form of lectio divina was first introduced by st. The text version of this video can be read, copied, and shared below. The steps of lectio divina lectio divina is a very ancient prayer tradition. The term lectio divina is latin for divine reading. The latin word lectio means reading, and often refers to a careful and prayerful reading of scripture. Gregory of nyssa c 330 395, and also encouraged by st. Benedict of nursia 480543 was the fi rst to use the term lectio divina sacred reading when he included it in the rule of life for all of his monks.
Dec 16, 2019 if youd like to try lectio divina for yourself, i encourage you to read through the steps below and start with a story from the gospels. The second step of lectio divina is meditatio, which is meditation. A lover who is separated from the beloved doesnt let a love letter just sit on the kitchen table unopened for days on end with the evergrowing pile of junk mail, but instead quickly and eagerly opens it upon its arrival, reading and rereading it until the ink. Haggadah means telling and along with being a physical text, the word captures the practice of telling and retelling a story. The rhythm of the lectio divina is a gentle alternation between action and reception. A very ancient art, practiced at one time by all christians, is the technique known as lectio divina a slow, contemplative praying of the scriptures which enables the bible, the word of god, to become a means of union with god. A pdf file from us conference of catholic bishops about the process of lectio divina. In just the same way the steps or stages of lectio divina. Lectio divina is a meditative prayer, allowing god to speak through his living word. Click here to download the lectio divina worksheets. Outside of a church, it would be helpful to have a holy. The early monks understood that the fruitfulness of a monks prayer depends upon the simplicity, reverence, and openness.
A stepbystep description of the process of lectio divina. Lectio divina, pronounced lektseaho diveenah, is a latin term meaning divine reading and is a catholic meditative form of prayer. Step by step through lectio divina divine reading jesus said. The awesome power of the fivestep lectio divina method to. Lectio 20 days the website of the carmelite order welcome. Begin by choosing a brief passage of scripture, and a place where you can be quiet and undisturbed in. We therefore practice it every day, so that we may develop a deep and genuine love for it, and so that we may grow in the surpassing knowledge of christ. Tim gray masterfully uses the ancient churchs tradition of lectio divina to show you the simple steps for making prayer an effort of love and intimacy with god.
Lectio divina is an ancient spiritual practice for listening to a scripture passage with the ear of the heart. Reading meditation prayer contemplation lectio divina invites you to savour and mull over gods words quietly, slowly. Lectio divina is a contemplative way of reading the bible. The basic lectio divina steps the religion teacher. Lectio, or reading, is the first step in the prayer process.
Benedict of nursia c 480547, the founder of the benedictine order. It is meant to facilitate an encounter with god through an engaged reading of the scriptures. Through these four steps, gods word sinks deeper into our hearts and imagination. Lectio divina is a private devotion and while its useful to do it in common it was originally designed to be a private experience or encounter with the scriptures. Lectio divina correlates with the evangelizing mission of catechesis, which is no less than the mission of the gospel, the mission of jesus. The four steps of lectio divina diocese of westminster. It dates back to the early centuries of the christian church and was established as a monastic practice by benedict in the 6th century. In western christianity such as roman catholicism, lutheranism, or anglicanism lectio divina latin for divine reading is a traditional monastic practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with god and to increase the knowledge of gods word. Spiritual writers describe it in a variety of ways, but all agree that it has a definite pattern to it. Centering prayer is a method of prayer in which we consent to rest in gods presence.
Bible journaling as lectio divina i loved this example from tim grays book. My seventh day adventist paternal grandmother was very faithful to reading the bible every day until cataracts dimmed her eyes so she could no longer read. The earliest christians were jews who were very used to praying with scripture. How to practice lectio divina by father luke dysinger, o. Maybe read it a few times, and try to notice different words or phrases as they jump out to you. Begin by choosing a brief passage of scripture, and a place where you can be quiet and undisturbed in your prayer time. Lectio divina is a slow, quiet, and thoughtful encounter with scripture. How to do lectio divina and what are the steps of lectio.
That pattern is described here briefly as four steps. Lectio divina is a traditional way of praying the scriptures so that the word of god may penetrate our hearts and that we may grow in an intimate relationship with the lord. Guigo described the lectio as being like a ladder to heaven. Jun 19, 20 according to pope benedict xvi in the postsynodal apostolic exhortation, verbum domini nos. But even young children can try the basic movements of lectio divina following these steps. Facilitators may wish to use lectio with a scripture passage or poem as an opening or closing prayer for the groups meeting. Praying with scripture before the blessed sacrament is powerful. Lectio reading, meditatio meditation, oratio prayer, and contemplatio contemplation.
The process is a slow, reflective praying of the scriptures which enables the word of god, to unify us with godto be a fruitful source for growing our relationship with him. Download lectio divina worksheets spiritually hungry. For this first step, dont just skim through the passage if you already know the story, but read through and linger on each sentence. Guiding lectio divina it would be most helpful for you to. Centering prayer is a gift to lectio divina as it frees us. The mystery of prayer is made clear through the engaging teaching and cinematic artistry of the augustine institute in prayer. I invite you all to close your eyes and listen prayerfully as i read aloud todays passage the gospel of the day or next day. Ectio studies are designed for adult faith formation to help unveil both sacred scripture and sacred tradition. It is not simply a way to meditate on what god has already revealed to us in a text that we christians hold as divinely inspired, but it is a real encounter with jesus, who is the living word made flesh, and who. In the view of one commentator, it does not treat scripture as texts to be studied, but as the living. Lectio divina sacred reading a way to meditate on scripture. This prayerful way of approaching scripture works well in small groups but can also be practiced by individuals.
Lectio divina is a reading, reflecting, responding and resting in the word of god that helps one grow in relationship with god. The practice of group lectio divina communities of calling. Doing it together is a liturgy of lectio, because you are deliberately structuring the different levels of lectio, which is a good way to communicate it, and then sometimes. These steps do not necessarily need to be followed in a rigid order, although it may help to spend five minutes on reading, five on. Its a way of developing a closer relationship with god by reflecting prayerfully on his words. Mark 1,711 lectio divina is an authentic source of christian spirituality recommended by our rule.
It draws on the way jews read the haggadah, a text read during passover that retells the exodus story. Offer a prayer to the holy spirit for inspiration and guidance. It is a way of praying the scriptures that leads us deeper into gods word. These steps do not necessarily need to be followed in a rigid order, although it may.
Calm your anxieties and thoughts, and acknowledge gods presence. Christian culture thats inspirational, informative and fun twitter. One simple way to engage in lectio divina as catechists and catholic school teachers gather at a planning or faculty meeting, they might spend time praying with lectio divina. In six sessions on three dvds, renowned speaker dr. We wait quietly on the holy spirit, listening for the still, small voice of the lord to speak to us through his word.
Lectio divina and gospel contemplation are two ways to pray with scripture. An easy illustrated guide to praying lectio divina. Bible journaling as lectio divina the littlest way. Guiding lectio divina it would be most helpful for you to read this outline thoroughly before leading your group reflection. Jan 02, 2019 how to pray the basic lectio divina steps. In lectio divina, we read and reread a scripture passage slowly and prayerfully as a means of furthering our intimacy with jesus and hearing his voice. Lectio divina is a dynamic way of reading the scriptures that has been around since ad 300. Lectio divina is an ancient method for praying with the bible, and being open to hearing in the words of scripture a personally enlivening and transforming word from god. When you meditate on this psalm, it is a time to really use your mind, to use your imagination, to think about it, to ponder, and to apply it to your own life. It is a prayer that moves us beyond conversation with christ to communion with him. Lectio divina and centering prayer lectio divina and centering prayer are two distinct prayer forms.
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