It is a way of steeping ourselves in the experiential knowledge of god by engaging in conversation with the one who we know loves us. The steps of lectio divina lectio divina is a very ancient prayer tradition. Usually the text comes from the scriptures, but other texts may be used as well, such as the writings of the desert. A group of more than seven should be considered a large group. Constantly shape our minds, we pray, o lord, by the practice of good works, that, trying always for what is better, we may strive to hold ever fast to the paschal mystery.
Offer a prayer to the holy spirit for inspiration and guidance. It is not scripture study, nor is it spiritual reading. Practical application of lectio divina for carmelites chris hart, ocds and theresa thomas, ocds lectio divina is latin for divine reading. Copyright 2017, united states conference of catholic bish ops, washington, dc. Mar 18, 2020 lectio divina literally divine reading is a way of becoming immersed in the scriptures very personally. The steps of lectio divina choose a text of the scriptures that you wish to pray. Lectio divina it was with the renewal of religious life at the second vatican council that lectio divina reclaimed its rightful place in monastic life. After a bit of experience, independent small groups can happily practice lectio. It dates back to the early centuries of the christian church and was established as a monastic practice by benedict in the 6th century.
Lectio divina latin for divine reading has long been cherished as a. Haggadah means telling and along with being a physical text, the word captures the practice of telling and retelling a story. Lectio divina is a reading, reflecting, responding and resting in the word of god that helps one grow in relationship with god. Choose a word or phrase of the scriptures you wish.
Calm your anxieties and thoughts, and acknowledge gods presence. 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. Lectio divina for the solemnity of mary, mother of god. Pdf lectio divina the sacred art download full pdf. The purpose of this blog is to share a small storehouse of information in an effort to better equip and foster those interested in the practice of lectio divina. A beginners guide by elizabeth manneh lectio divina literally divine reading is a way of becoming immersed in the scriptures very personally. Incline a merciful ear to our cry, we pray, o lord. That persecuted christians may be supported by the prayers and material help of the whole church. Return to that quiet spot youve been savoring throughout our shared practice these last two weeks heres mine and decide how youd like to move through the four stages of lectio divina. 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.
Jul 11, 2018 this is a 10 minute guided lectio divina of psalm 16. Lectio divina is a slow, quiet, and thoughtful encounter with scripture. Pray make yourself open to the holy spirit ask for his guidance as. Lectio divina for the solemnity of christmas we begin our prayer. The intention is to encourage an active and in earnest engagement with the word of god. Oct 01, 2017 as carmelites we live our life of allegiance to jesus christ and to serve him faithfully with a pure heart and a clear conscience through a commitment to seek the face of the living god the contemplative dimension of life, through prayer, through fraternity, and through service diakonia. The practice naturally flows from one part to the next. The when women pray journal provides encouragement and support to build a daily practice of prayer. Lectio divina by deacon frederick bartels lectio divina latin for divine reading has long been cherished as a spiritually fruitful method of meditation on scripture, especially the gospels and the person of jesus christ, dating back to the early monastic communities of the church. Reading and responding to the biblical passage three times. Lectio divina a sixsession course featuring the foundations and practice of lectio divina welcome. In the 12th century, a carthusian monk called guigo, described the stages which he saw as essential to the practice of lectio divina.
Mar 17, 2017 what better way to prepare for lent and easter than to listen to conferences from a monk about prayer. Lectio divina is the classical monastic practice of the prayerful reading of the bible. Lectio divina latin for divine reading has long been cherished as a spiritually fruitful method of meditation on scripture, especially the gospels and the person of jesus christ, dating back to the early monastic communities of the church. Lectio divina sunday, april 26th, 2020 american bible society. In the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy spirit. Lectio divina is a contemplative way of reading the bible. Lectio divina for lent lectio divina is a form of meditation which dates back to early monastic communities.
Lectio divina sacred reading a way to meditate on scripture. Lectio divina and centering prayer becoming a word of god. Grant, we pray, almighty god, that, as we are bathed in the new radiance of your incarnate word, the light of faith, which illumines our. Bestow on us, we pray, o lord, a spirit of always pondering on what is right and of hastening to carry it out, and, since without you we cannot exist, may we be enabled to live according to your will. This series of practice sessions is designed to introduce you to lectio divina, prayerful reading of the scripture, also called holy reading or divine reading. Lectio divina year a 2017 lectio divina september 2017.
Lectio divina for the solemnity of mary, mother of god diocese of. That our parishes, animated by a missionary spirit, may be places where faith is communicated and. Tim gray masterfully uses the discipline of lectio divina to show you how to make prayer an effective effort of love and intimacy. What, why, where, how to do lectio divina the collaborative of holy redeemer and immaculate conception invites you to begin the practice of lectio divina. In the view of one commentator, it does not treat scripture as texts to be studied, but as the living word. Lectio divina, grounded in benedictine tradition, provides an accessible approach to praying with scripture as well as several concrete and creative ways of praying lectio with different texts such as poetry, icons, and movies. 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.
Lectio divina for the sixth sunday of easter we begin our prayer. In fact, a benedictine monk is uniquely qualified to t. Lectio divina in a group lectio divina can be practiced in very small groups or large ones, as well as in solitude. It is a way of praying the scriptures that leads us deeper into gods word. Lectio divina can be practiced in very small groups or large ones, as well as in solitude. Bring to the lord the praise, petition, or thanksgiving that the word inspires in you. Lectio divina for the second week of advent united states. If practicing lectio divina as a family or in a group, after the reflection time, invite the participants to share their responses. Lectio divina for the solemnity of jesus christ, king of the universe we begin our prayer. Lectio divina march 2017 the website of the carmelite. November 2017 the following is the schema of readings for the month, which we encourage you to consider as a prayerful preparation for the sunday. Lectio divina is latin for divine reading and is an ancient practice of hearing and receiving the word of god. 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.
Lectio divina, pronounced lektseaho diveenah, is a latin term meaning divine reading and is a catholic meditative form of prayer. Lectio divina or sacred reading is the slow, repetitive reading of a sacred text that leads one to the ultimate step of resting in god. I would like in particular to recall and recommend the ancient tradition of lectio divina. Enzo bianchi published on 20150401 by paraclete press. Lectio divina when in doubt meditating and praying with the scripture using the ancient practice of lectio divina. Lectio divina or sacred reading is an ancient method of praying with sacred texts that dates to the fourth century. 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. 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 18 junio 2017 american bible society. Prayer oratio read the scripture passage one more time. With a renewed emphasis on productive silence, individual cells, and time dedicated to meditation, the time was ripe for a return to lectio divina. Lectio divina lectio divina lectio divina, which means divine reading, is an ancient form of praying with scripture that is still practiced by many today. 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. Now, with the clear teaching and artistry of the augustine institutes lectio series, dr.
Copyright 2017, united states conference of catholic bish. Sep 08, 2019 lectio divina divine, or sacred, reading is the name given to a spiritual tradition among christians over the last two thousand years, in which they attentively and pray erfully read the word of god. In catholicism, 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. Lectio divina may 2017 christians in africa that christians in africa, in imitation of the merciful jesus, may give prophetic witness to reconciliation, justice, and peace.
It draws on the way jews read the haggadah, a text read during passover that retells the exodus story. That christians in asia, bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed, may promote dialogue, peace, and mutual understanding, especially with those of other religions. When leading a group, you will want to take your time, so that. Its an ancient practice that teaches us how to read, meditate on and live the word of god. It is an invitation to take a long, loving look at scripture, says spiritual director teresa blythe. Lectio divina, a latin term, means divine reading and describes a way of reading the scriptures whereby we gradually let go of our own agenda and open ourselves to what god wants to say to us. It provides a solid conceptual background for the practice of lectio divina. In the name of the father, and of the son, and of the. Home lectio divina in english lectio divina in english. Lectio divina october 2017 the website of the carmelite. Grant, we pray, almighty god, that, as we are bathed in the new radiance of your incarnate word, the light of faith, which illumines our minds, may also shine through in our deeds. The bible is ancient, enigmatic, and from a culture vastly different from our own. Lectio divina session 5 in this session the words of scripture have been provided for you.
The mystical practice of lectio divina posted on june 19, 2017 june 19, 2017 by elizabethprata several mystical practices have been making their way into the more conservative quarters of the faith. Unlike other types of writings school textbooks, poetry, legal codes, mystery novels, and so on, the sacred scriptures are inspired by god. Lectio divina and centering prayer lectio divina and centering prayer are two distinct prayer forms. Twenty fourth week in ordinary time twenty fifth week in ordinary time twenty sixth week in ordinary time twenty seventh week in ordinary time twenty eighth week in ordinary time twenty ninth.
The desert fathers were some of the first monks, christians who moved into the. Lectio divina holy redeemer and immaculate conception. Lectio divina when in doubt meditating and praying with. Lectio divina for the solemnity of jesus christ, king of. It involves focused reading of scripture lectio, meditation on the word of god meditatio, contemplation of the word and its meaning in ones life contemplatio and prayer oratio. The earliest christians were jews who were very used to praying with scripture. Lectio divina for the third week of advent we begin our prayer. Lectio divina latin for divine reading is a traditional benedictine practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with god and to increase the knowledge of gods word. So how can we understand its importance in the church, and how. When leading a group, you will want to take your time, so that everyone can take. May your unfailing compassion, o lord, cleanse and protect your church, and, since without you she cannot stand secure, may she be always governed by your grace.
Lectio divina year a 2017 the website of the carmelite. It is suggested that you simply print out this session, grab a notebook, and enter into the spirit of lectio plus journaling. Lectio divina november 2017 the website of the carmelite. Come holy spirit, pour into my heart from the depths of the trinity, the rays of your light. Lectio divina divine, or sacred, reading is the name given to a spiritual tradition among christians over the last two thousand years, in which they attentively. Lectio divina december 2017 the website of the carmelite. Centering prayer is a method of prayer in which we consent to rest in gods presence. Lectio divina is a form of meditation which dates back to early monastic communities. Jan 08, 2017 the purpose of this blog is to share a small storehouse of information in an effort to better equip and foster those interested in the practice of lectio divina. The book also explores ways of bringing lectio into scripture study and integrating lectio into busy lives.
Bible study is the reading of the scriptures for information and an understanding of the context of the passage. Book lectio divina pdf free download lectio divina pdf books by. It originated with the desert fathers of the fourth and fifth centuries. Lectio divina is a weekly framework for a faithful and respectful reading of the bible, coordinated with the catholic lectionary calendar. If practicing lectio divina as a family or in a group, after the reflection.
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