What is lectio divina?
Lectio divina (“holy reading”) is a contemplative practice from the Christian tradition. A short passage of scripture is read slowly, reflected on, prayed with, and then rested in silent communion with God. The worksheet below notes that many people experience it as a sense of being connected with God, blessed, and loved, and that it may also support relaxation, wellbeing, and groundedness. It adds that the practice can be done with any text you hold sacred.
The four steps of lectio divina
To begin, you might choose a scripture and a small passage from it (a page or less), prepare a comfortable, quiet reading space, and close the eyes to get centered and still. Holy reading is traditionally done in four steps, which have Latin names:
- Lectio (reading): reading the passage slowly and carefully several times, aloud or silently, and perhaps noting anything that captures your attention.
- Meditatio (thinking about): thinking about the text in depth, opening the mind to its nuances, perhaps picturing scenes or writing notes. Traditionally, the Holy Spirit is understood to help with scriptural understanding during this step.
- Oratio (praying): opening the heart to God, imagining a conversation about the passage and what it means for you, and allowing intuition and “the small voice within” to take part.
- Contemplatio (meditating): letting go of all words and resting in silent communion with God.
Lectio divina typically takes about an hour.
History of lectio divina
Lectio divina has a long history in the Christian Church. According to the rules of Pachomius, Augustine, Basil, and Benedict, holy reading is one of the three bases of monastic life, along with labor and liturgy. In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI recommended the ancient tradition, describing the prayerful reading of Sacred Scripture as an intimate dialogue in which the reader hears God speaking and responds with trusting openness of heart. The worksheet notes that holy reading goes by many names and is practiced in nearly every tradition that has scriptures.
