Do you want to have a more intimate prayer life? Do you want a relationship with God but you don’t know how? You should learn to practice lectio divina.
I began lectio divina in 2005 shortly after Pope Benedict’s election. Almost immediately, he started speaking about the great benefits of lectio and recommending it to all the faithful. One quote in particular caught my eye and never gave it back. He said, “I would like in particular to recall and recommend the ancient tradition of lectio divina…If it is effectively promoted, this practice will bring to the Church—I am convinced of it—a new spiritual springtime.” When someone like Pope Benedict says he’s convinced…I listen!
That’s why I was excited when Verbum Domini came out last week and I saw the section on lectio divina. I want to quote a few selections from Verbum Domini on lectio divina and add some commentary along the way. I hope this helps you grasp a little of the mechanics of this awesome prayer form.
Benedict writes, “It [lectio divina] opens with the reading (lectio) of a text, which leads to a desire to understand its true content: what does the biblical text say in itself?” It’s very important for us to first understand what the human author is trying to convey to his audience. The literal interpretation is the basis for what the Holy Spirit is specifically trying to say to you.
He continues, “Next comes meditation (meditatio), which asks: what does the biblical text say to us? Here, each person, individually but also as a member of the community, must let himself or herself be moved and challenged.”
The object of prayer is not to change God’s mind, but to align our minds and our will with God’s thought and will. In meditation, we go deeper into the text to understand the theological and ecclesial meaning of the text. How has the Church traditionally interpreted this passage? What is God saying to me about my life? Do I need to change something to be in conformity with his will?
“Following this,” the pope said, “comes prayer (oratio), which asks the question: what do we say to the Lord in response to his word?” Prayer is an honest conversation where with God we relate what stirred in us during the meditation and receive what God has to tell us. Listening is a necessary part of prayer.
“Finally,” he remarks, “lectio divina concludes with contemplation (contemplatio), during which we take up, as a gift from God, his own way of seeing and judging reality, and ask ourselves what conversion of mind, heart and life is the Lord asking of us?”
Again, the object of lectio is to have our hearts and minds transformed and brought into union with God’s thought and way of being. In contemplation, we rest with the Lord and soak in the message received from our reading, meditation and prayer.
Benedict concludes by saying, “We do well also to remember that the process of lectio divina is not concluded until it arrives at action (actio), which moves the believer to make his or her life a gift for others in charity.” Transformed by prayer, the Christian must act on this great gift. The goal of prayer is share the fruits of Christ with others, not to keep it hidden within.
God is talking. Do you know how to listen? Consider practicing lectio divina and transform a stale prayer life into a dynamic conversation with God.
