For today's busy Christians, finding time for formal prayer and scripture study can be difficult, and the plethora of Bible studies available can be downright overwhelming.  Happily, many are rediscovering the ancient practice of lectio divina, or "divine reading," to help them cultivate an enriching prayer life in the midst of the chaos of the modern world:

Lectio divina

A monastic tradition first introduced by St. Benedict, and later formalized by Carthusian monk Gugio II, lectio divina is a contemplative reading of scripture.  It's a form of Bible study that's easily adaptable to nearly any lifestyle. Maybe you'd love to study Scripture, but don't have the time for a formal Bible study or perhaps you're a convert and you're unsure exactly how to begin praying and studying scripture; or maybe you're simply looking to try something new. 

Whatever your circumstances, and wherever you are in your faith journey, this beginner's guide will help introduce you to this cherished form of prayer and Bible study.

Introduction

For laity, there are four steps to this method (monastics add three additional steps).  Briefly, they are:

• Lectio (reading)
• Meditatio (meditation)
• Oratio (prayer)
• Contemplatio (contemplation)

There are many ways in which to approach each step, but for beginners, it's best to keep it simple.  As your spiritual practice grows, you may naturally find yourself expanding on one or more of the steps and delving deeper into God's Word.

However, don't worry if your first few attempts at lectio divina are awkward and not as fruitful as you'd hoped, particularly if you struggle with meditative prayer in general.  Focus on staying open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and simply familiarizing yourself with the underlying rhythm of lectio divina.

Lectio

To begin, select a passage from the Bible.  It can be a selection from the Gospels, the Mass readings for the day, or a familiar passage you feel particularly drawn to.  If nothing jumps out at you, you could also choose at random.  Having chosen a passage, say a short pray for receptivity to the Word of God.  A simple "come, Holy Spirit" will suffice, but feel free to say the full prayer if you'd like. 

Read the selected passage, slowly and deliberately, listening for that "still, small voice" of God.  In this initial step, you're just looking to understand the words themselves, in the context of the specific book of the Bible or overall passage.

Meditatio

Once you understand the "bigger picture" of what your passage is saying, it's time to move deeper.  As you meditate, ask God if He has something to reveal to you in this passage.  What is God trying to say to you, at this moment, with this piece of Scripture? 

Oratio

After meditating on the passage, speak to God.  Thank Him for His revelation to you, if one came; if not, simply thank Him for the opportunity to read His Word.  Ask Him for the grace to fulfill what's been revealed.

Contemplatio

Finally, practice silence.  Let go of your words and rest in His presence and His transforming embrace. 

These steps can take as little or as much time as you have.  When you're deep in communion with God, you may feel as though only minutes have gone by, but find it's been hours.  Or, you feel you spent an eternity in His presence, when truly it was only minutes.  Neither is right or wrong.  You won't always have a deeply moving experience, but by persevering in your practice of lectio divina, you will surely find your prayer life and relationship with God enriched.

For more help on understanding this, contact a company like the Church of Christ with any questions or concerns you might have.