Lectio Divina

“Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” -St. Jerome

Prayer is not just about us - it is about a relationship with God, relating to Him as He is. This means we need to take time to get to know Him, to read what He said and did. What better way than to read how God the Father revealed Himself in the Person of Jesus Christ, His Son? Learn more about this tried and true method of prayer below, as well as find our top scripture picks for getting started with lectio divina!

Lectio Divina, in Latin “divine reading”, is simply a way of engaging Sacred Scripture. It is a method that has been used by the Church since the time of the early Church Fathers. It is a four step process: Lectio (read), Meditatio (meditate), Oratio (speak), and Contemplatio (contemplate). Click here for more details.

What is lectio divina?

Guide To Lectio Divina

step 1: lectio

Begin by slowly reading the text. The key here is attentiveness. Read it several times. What does the text literally say?

step 2: meditatio

A word or several words may stick out to you during your reading. Stay with the word or phrase: pray with it, turn it over in your mind and heart, repeat it softly to yourself.

Step 3: Oratio

Ask yourself: "What do I desire to say to God in response to what I have meditated on?" It may be a petition, thanksgiving, intercession, or praise.

Step 4: Contemplatio

Finish with a quiet resting with God, contemplating on what has transpired in the previous “steps”. It is an attentiveness, and being ‘within’.

Team's Top Scripture Picks

The Prodigal Son

Luke 15: 11-32

The Wedding at Cana

John 2: 1-12

The Agony in the Garden

Matthew 26: 36-46

Calming of a Storm at Sea

Mark 4: 35-41