Preparing for my board exam, I decided to level up my prayer life by adding spiritual discipline into my routine. I then discovered Lectio Divina. Closing my eyes in front of a sea, savoring the bible verse I picked, I found myself listening to God like never before, immersing in the divine. In this blog post, we will tackle the steps in doing Lectio Divina, guiding you completely on how to do it.
What is Lectio Divina?
Before we deep dive into the steps, let’s discuss first what is Lectio Divina.
Lectio Divina is a spiritual practice of meditation on the scripture. An ancient monastic discipline, it is performed by prayerfully reading and rereading God’s word to listen and apply it to your life.
The goal of Lectio Divina is to have a conversation with God through the scriptures, focusing on reflection and prayer, emphasizing personal feelings and desires.
History
Lectio Divina was introduced by St. Gregory of Nyssa (c 330- 395) and later encouraged by the founder of the Benedictine Order, St Benedict of Nursia (c 480- 547). It is a way to develop a closer relationship with God by meditating on His words.
In the 12th century, Guigo, a Carthusian Monk systematized the process of Lectio Divina with the four (4) steps forming a spiritual ladder of being intimate with God.
Lectio Divina Steps
Now that we already have an idea about this practice, let’s proceed to how to do Lectio Divina.
Here are the steps of Lectio Divina.
Choose a Scripture Passage
The first step is to choose a bible verse or passage. It can be from Old or New Testament. You can pick it on random or based on the reading of the day. In preparation, some pick a reading for the Sunday Mass.
Prepare
Before starting, stay in a quiet environment. Prepare yourself both physically and mentally. Abandon your worries or thoughts, acknowledging God’s presence. In addition, offer a prayer for guidance. Ask for the grace of humble reception on what God will speak to you through the entire process of Lectio Divina.
Lectio (Reading)
Start by slowly and prayerfully reading your Scripture passage. You may re-read it multiple times to keep your focus. Pause and listen for a specific word or phrase that you are drawn to and that speaks to you at the moment.
Meditatio (Meditation)
Gently repeat the word or phrase that strikes you the most. Rest with it. Let it speak to you on a personal level. Reflecting on what could God is saying to you. Memorizing and repeating it to yourself allows you to relate it to your life bringing out your thoughts, desires, and hopes.
Oratio (Prayer)
Prayer is your response to the scriptures. This is how you converse with God. What do you want to say to Him? It could be your feelings, struggles, dreams, or your needs. Be open to Him.
Contemplatio (Contemplation)
In contemplation, you are allowing God to act in you. Words are not necessary at this point. You just have to sit still and be at peace, resting in His loving presence.
Action
Although not officially part of the process, having an action on what you just learned from doing Lectio Divina must also be considered. In this step, you will think of ways in applying the word of God in your life and boldly do and live it. Through this, you are not only connecting to God but also to His will for your life.
Resources
Here are the resources available for Lectio Divina.
- Daily Bible Reading– This will help you navigate and choose a bible passage you can use for Lectio Divina.
- Catholic Bible for Beginners– If you want to get a passage from the Bible directly, this list of Catholic Bibles is the best for beginners.
- Lectio Divina Journal– This printable journal will guide you to practice Lectio Divina with the ability to record the moment of prayer in a simple manner.
RELATED POST– Printable Prayer Journals
Conclusion
There you have it! Above are the steps in doing Lectio Divina.
Lectio Divina is a powerful practice. You can incorporate this into your daily routine together with the other devotions. It will surely change your spirituality, helping you to grow closer to God.
May you have a fruitful Lectio Divina!
