Lectio Divina Meditation

Recently, our son-in-law’s parents, Fred and Marion, visited from Florida. We were privileged enough to host a barbeque for them in our home. As usual, we thoroughly enjoyed our time together and spent hours dining, laughing, light debating, story telling and enjoying our new shared grandson.

Before Josh’s parents moved from this area to Florida three years ago, Fred led singing at a local Catholic church. Fred also took part in our children’s wedding ceremony as the one who, seconds before I gave our daughter away and prior to my continuing the ceremony as officiate, asked me the sixty four million dollar question, “Who gives this woman?”.

During our banter, I teased Fred about being Catholic. He takes my ribbing well. However, I was just as quick to warmly inform him that Jayna’s and my chosen method of prayer and meditation is, in fact, an ancient art of worship originating from Catholicism. It is one which I understand all Christians practiced at one point. The name of the method is “Lectio Divina”.

Although I’ve provided a brief outline below, I heartily encourage you to explore the full description, entitled “Lectio Divina” on our website. This article was put in the public domain by Father Luke Dysinger in his article, “Accepting the Embrace of God: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina” which can be found at: http://www.valyermo.com/ld-art.html.

Lectio: Which means Listen/Reading

The art of Lectio Divina begins with cultivating the ability to listen. Lectio is reverential listening; for the still, small voice of God that will speak to us personally - not loudly, but intimately. In Lectio we read slowly, attentively, gently listening to hear a word or phrase that is God’s word for us this day.

Meditatio: Meaning Meditation

Once we have found a word or a passage in the Scriptures that speaks to us in a personal way, we take in the word - memorize it - and while gently repeating it to ourselves, allow it to interact with our thoughts, our hopes, our memories, our desires. Through Meditatio we allow God’s word to become His word for us that touches us and affects us at our deepest levels.

Oratio: Is Prayer

The third step in Lectio Divina is Oratio - Prayer: Prayer understood both as dialogue with God - a loving conversation with the One who has invited us into His embrace. In this consecration-prayer we allow the word we have taken in and on which we are pondering to touch and change our deepest selves. In this Oratio, this consecration-prayer, we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the word of God.

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

In conclusion: Fred, Marion, Jayna and I share two wonderful children and now a precious grandson. The only bond which could possibly be stronger than this one between us is Accepting the Embrace of God.

To explore this subject further, please visit the Lectio Divina section of our website. You can also find it in the Library’s navigation menu.