LECTIO DIVINA
[Lectio Divina] is meditative reading of the Scriptures done
with simplicity, prayer, and faith, with a goal of
hearing what the Lord wants to say to one today in order to be
enlightened and transformed by it.
— Called to Life, p.110
Meditation on Scripture is the
foundation of any authentic Christian prayer
life. God speaks to us and awakens a response from us
through meditation. Here is how dialogue in prayer
begins.
— Called to Life, p.35
The more prayer is nourished by Scripture, the more it will be authentic and fruitful, at once fully human and yet capable of placing us in communion with the incomprehensible divine mystery. With Scripture in one’s memory and heart, it becomes possible to respond to the mandate to “Pray constantly!” (1 Thess 5:17). — Called to Life, 36
The reading must be done in the
context of prayer. Only the Holy Spirit can open
to us the profound, living sense of Scripture.
Humble, persevering, confident prayer is the basis of
all exegesis.
— Called to Life, p.52
Although it is important that
Scripture speak to each of us personally, the
reading of the Word of God should not become
individualistic. What we think we have discovered there
must be tested by the teaching of the Church and
received in communion with all those who, with
us, make up the body of Christ.
— Called to Life, p.55
Much
of the advice that applies to prayer applies also
to lectio divina: the importance of perseverance, accepting
arid periods, the fundamental role of faith and
hope, etc. Indeed, lectio divina is the most ancient, most
universal, and most practiced of all the “methods of prayer.”
— Called to Life,
p.111
When interpreting Scripture,
sages of rabbinic tradition love to make the
richness of the texts leap out by “stringing necklaces.” The
pearls are verses from different parts of
Scripture—the Torah, the Prophets, the Psalms, and wisdom writings.
Jesus did the same after the Resurrection for the two
disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24:27 and 24:44).
This tradition of drawing together different texts
that shed light on one another was followed by the
Fathers of the Church and is practiced by spiritual writers
up to this day.
— Called to Life, 113
“Meditate,” in the biblical
tradition, signifies not so much reflecting as repeating
and ruminating. It is more physical than
intellectual at first. Do not hesitate to repeat a passage
many times, since this often is how what God wishes to
say by it today will emerge.
— Called to Life, p.115
What is crucial in this
enterprise is not how much one knows but the attitude of
one’s heart—an attitude of thirst for God, confidence
that he wants to speak to one, and a great desire for
conversion. Here is the great secret of lectio.
— Called to Life, p.110
