Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina is a method – a discipline – of listening to Scripture in such a way as to hear Christ, and hearing Him, to become transformed in Him. It is ancient, simple, powerful and effective in a heart that is open to Him.

There are four traditional steps to the method, with a fifth step now often added as well. The steps are:

1. Lectio – prayerful listening to some passage of Scripture,
2. Meditatio – meditating upon the passage,
3. Oratio – praying in response to the passage, and
4. Contemplatio – a quiet resting in contemplation with Him.
5. Actio - The fifth step is enacting the truth of the passage in one’s own life.

These simple steps can be challenging, in our very busy lifestyles and culture. To listen to Scripture requires of us a certain discipline - an attentiveness, a respect, an intention, and precious time!

Here are some of the specific challenges that need to be met, in practicing Lectio Divina:

1. (To practice Lectio) – We are called to hold an attitude of proper reverence in the presence of The Holy in Scripture. In the company of solitude and of silence with His word, we are called to listen.
2. (To practice Meditatio) – We are called to listen for an objective and absolute revealed Truth. Here, we are challenged as well to submit to such Truth sincerely, personally, authentically.
3. (To practice Oratio) – We are called to an offering of consecration – a radically faithful self-offering of personal consecration in our prayer to God.
4. (To practice Contemplatio) – We are called, most deeply and most personally, into a communion in love with God in His word. Here, we are touching something crucial to Christian life and indeed to our very humanity! Here too, this is a challenge: such a call to love is radical.

These challenges – reverence, solitude, silence, truth, consecration, communion, love – are essentials! Human persons were made for these precious realities, yet in an impoverished world these treasures are so rare.

Revised from: R. Thomas Richard, PhD., Renew The Church1