Lectio Divina, or “divine reading,” is an ancient Christian contemplative practice. It involves slowly reading, meditating, praying, and contemplating Scripture. This practice allows one to experience God’s word personally. This method typically includes four movements. They are lectio (read), meditatio (reflect), oratio (respond), and contemplatio (rest). It transforms Bible reading from study into a personal conversation.
Steps of Lectio Divina
Preparation: Choose a passage and quiet your mind.
- Lectio (Read): Read the passage slowly, listening for a word or phrase that strikes you.
- Meditatio (Reflect): Meditate on that word or phrase, repeating it and allowing it to touch your life.
- Oratio (Respond): Pray, responding to God about what you have read, using the passage as a starting point for conversation.
- Contemplatio (Rest): Rest in silence, allowing God’s word to sink in and just being in His presence.
- Actio/Operatio (Action): Sometimes added as a fifth step, this focuses on how the meditation impacts your life.
Purpose and Benefits
- Intimacy with God: The goal is communion with God rather than theological analysis.
- Transformation: It promotes a deeper, living understanding of Scripture.
- Peace and Guidance: It allows for spiritual reflection in a hectic life.
