Lectio (pronounced "lek-see-o") divina means "sacred reading." It is a way of praying with the Bible in which one reads (lectio), meditates (meditatio), prays (oratio), and contemplates (contemplatio). Divine reading is not for the sake of information but for insight.

St. John of the Cross's paraphrase of a verse from Luke's gospel (Luke 11:9) provides us with an outline of the four steps of Lectio:

Seek in READING,
And you will find in MEDITATION;
Knock in PRAYER,
And it will be opened to you in CONTEMPLATION.

Lectio

• Choose a text of the scriptures or other sacred reading that you wish to pray.
• Place yourself in a comfortable position and allow yourself to become silent.
  • Pay attention to posture and breathing.
  • You may use a "prayer word" or phrase to center yourself.

• Read the text slowly, gently – savor the text.
  • Whisper the words or read aloud to involve the body.
  • Read the words silently.
  • Read the text with different emphasis or inflections.
• Listen to the text.
  • "Still, small voice" of a word or phrase that is "for you."
  • Begin to reflect upon that word or phrase – beginning of meditatio.

Meditatio

• Reflect (ponder, ruminate) upon the text – word or phrase.
• "Four senses of scripture"
  • Literal – meaning and cultural background / information
  • Moral – implication of the text for life and practice / application
  • Allegorical – find your spiritual journey mirrored in the text / incarnation
  • Unitive – immersion in word as continuing revelation / assimilation

• Allow this inner reflection to lead you into dialogue with God.

Oratio

• Speak to God. Give to God what you have found in your heart.
• Pray questions. Wait for answers.

Contemplatio

• Rest in God's embrace in quiet contemplation.
• Centering prayer / Silent listening

Contemplative Prayer

• spiraling movement of prayer within a single period of Lectio Divina
  • from discursive reflection on the word
  • to affective response
  • to resting in contemplation

Mental Prayer

• preoccupation after the Reformation
  • late scholastic Middle Ages
  • final stages of lectio (purpose of the other stages) left out

The Method of Lectio (Basil Pennington)

• Take the Sacred Text with reverence and call upon the Holy Spirit
• For ten minutes (or longer, if you are so drawn) listen to the Lord speaking to you through the Text, and respond.
• At the end of the time, choose a word or phrase (perhaps one that will have been "given" to you) to take with you, and thank the Lord for being with you and speaking to you.
• More briefly:
  • Come into the Presence and call upon the Holy Spirit
  • Listen for 10 minutes
  • Thank the Lord and take a word

Text Dwelling

• Focus on the same text for a number of sessions of Lectio

If I Were to Spend 45 Minutes in Lectio...

• Read and listen to a text for 10 minutes – read, silence, re-read, silence…
• Reflect upon the text for 10 minutes
• Pray – speak my heart to God for 5 minutes
• Be silent in God's presence for 20 minutes