The Direction of Intention My God, give me the grace to perform this action with you

and through love for you.In advance, I offer to you all the good that I will do and accept

all the difficulty I may meet therein.

St. Ann, Pray for usSt. Francis de Sales, Pray for us.

Latin for Divine Reading A traditional Christian practice of scriptural

reading, meditation, prayer and contemplation intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God's Word.

What it is NOT◦ Academic study of Scripture◦ Bible Study and faith sharing◦ A simple interior spiritual

practice

What is Lectio Divina?

The roots of this practice date from the early 2nd century

Origen in the 3rd Century firsts writes about its practice◦ Teaches it to St. Ambrose who

in turn teaches it to St. Augustine

◦ Quickly spreads among the women and men of the desert (Mary of Egypt and Anthony of the Desert) and early monasteries of both the east and west.

Where did it come from?

Middle Ages◦ Practiced by monks, nuns, laity and clerics◦ 14th century - Gerard of Zutphen Dutch lay man

and mystic writes On Spiritual Ascents◦ 16th century – Martin Luther advises the practice

The Present◦ 20th century –

Pope Paul VI and Pope Benedict XVI recommend the laity should undertake the practice of Lectio Divina

Where did it come from?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lectio_Divina_.svg

How does one practice it? Beginning: Silence

◦ Finding a place to pray◦ Free from distractions◦ A consistent time◦ “Hear, O Israel!” – The need to

listen Lectio – The Reading

◦ Reverential listening◦ Listening both in a spirit of silence and of awe. ◦ We are listening for the still, small voice of God that

will speak to us personally - not loudly, but intimately.◦ Slowly, attentively, gently listening to hear a word or

phrase that is God's word for us this day

Meditation ONCE WE have found a word or a passage in the

Scriptures that speaks to us in a personal way “Ruminate” – Like a cow! The Virgin Mary “pondering in her heart” what she saw

and heard of Christ (Luke 2:19). Take in the word - that is, memorize it - and while gently

repeating it to ourselves, allow it to interact with our thoughts, our hopes, our memories, our desires.

◦ We allow God's word to become His word for us, a word that touches us and affects us at our deepest levels.

How does one practice it?

Prayer – Dialogue and Consecration◦ Dialogue

Both speaking and Listening◦ Consecration

In Baptism we are set apart as Priest, prophet and King

All prayer is made because of the priestly role we assume at our baptism

In this consecration-prayer we allow the word that we have taken in touch and change our deepest selves.

We hold up our most difficult and pain-filled experiences to Him, and to gently recite over them the healing word or phrase He has given us in our reading.

In consecration-prayer, we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the word of God.

How do we do it?

Contemplation◦ FINALLY, WE simply rest in the presence of the

One who has used His word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace.

◦ Wordless, quiet rest in the presence of the One Who loves us has a name in the Christian tradition - contemplation.

◦ Once again we practice silence, letting go of our own words; this time simply enjoying the experience of being in the presence of God.

How do we do it?

Many early Christians added a final step

Resolution◦ A decision to bring the internal

to the external,◦ Contemplative and Active◦ Could be as simple as a

resolve to recall throughout the day what it was we did during Lectio Divina

◦ A resolution to put into practice in some small or large way what it was we reflected on.

Something more?

Personal Practice Communal Practice Taking the Sunday Readings

◦ Or part of them as a starting point The Passion Narratives – during Lent The Resurrection Accounts during Easter The Infancy Narratives during

Advent/Christmas

Some Suggestions