How to Practice Lectio Divina

Reflective reading of the Bible to lead us into prayer has been a practice in the church from the earliest centuries. It can take many forms, from singing the Psalms as a community, to reciting the Lord’s Prayer, to a systematic reading of each section of a book with pauses for reflection and prayer. This last method is often called lectio divina, from the Latin for “divine (or sacred) reading.” Spiritual writers describe it in a variety of ways, but all agree that it has a definite pattern to it. That pattern is described here briefly as four steps:

1. a slow and thoughtful reading of a passage from the Bible

2. a time of reflection and thinking about the meaning of that text to me as a reader

3. a period of prayer to God to bring its message or wisdom to fruit in myself

4. a decision on what I should do in my own life as a result—that is, an action plan or decision to change or improve

Lectio divina is simple to do. It can be done in any place where there is some quiet or peace. It can be done at any time of day when one can find a few minutes. It can be as long or short as you wish to make it. And it has no difficult demands only for the elite; anyone can find pleasure and spiritual enrichment in it. The only real requirement is to concentrate on what you are doing through each of the four steps so that you are not distracted and forget where you are. You could give three minutes to the process or fifteen, but it is important to hold the four steps together so that the reading actually turns to prayer.

This is an introduction to what should hopefully become a lifelong source of fulfilling prayer. After all, what better way to converse with God than sharing together the very words that our divine Friend inspired?

How to Practice Lectio Divina by Lawrence Boadt, CSP