Lectio Divina (divine reading)

Our third session was about Lectio Divina (pronounced LEK-tee-oh Di-VEEN-a). In Latin, it literally means "divine reading."

I found a website that had some specifics about Lectio Divina in a group and individually. I used the group exercise and it was a good way to practice this type of reading/praying/meditation for our groups.

Here is the description of the method we used:

Lectio Divina as a Group Exercise

The same text from the Scriptures is read out three times, followed each time by a period of silence and an opportunity for each member of the group to share their thoughts about the reading.

First reading - hearing a word or passage that touches the heart. When the word or phrase is found, the group's members take it in, gently recite it, and reflect on it during the silence that follows. After the silence, each person shares which word or phrase has touched his or her heart.

Second reading - "hearing" or "seeing" Christ in the text. Each ponders the word that has touched the heart and asks where the word or phrase touches his or her life that day. Then, after the silence, each member of the group shares what he or she has "heard" or "seen."

Third and final reading - experiencing Christ "calling us forth" into doing or being. Members ask themselves what Christ in the text is calling them to do or to become today or this week. After the silence, each shares for the last time.

http://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/catholic/2000/08/how-to-practice-lectio-divina.aspx

The same website has a good description of Lectio Divina for individuals, and I put that on our handout so people had that as well.

As with the other practices and prayers we've looked at, there are many ways that people practice Lectio Divina. A web search yields all kinds of them! James Martin, SJ, who I call my favorite Jesuit, has a few videos where he describes the practice. He uses a method of asking yourself 4 questions. I think this is a great approach, but I like to keep it simpler than that. Having to remember 4 questions could be a bit taxing for my tiny brain.

We had a good session but it was with just two people in the group -- a couple. I actually had begun to leave and was locking the church door when they walked up. It's a little discouraging that attendance has dipped so much, but I try not to let it discourage me. People are busy, it's not surprising, and even more than that, this is in God's hands, not mine.