Lectio Divina & Suggested Readings
Touching the Sacred
Your words were found and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart
The Experience of LECTIO DIVINA
Lectio Divina means deep reading. It allows a sacred text to unfold its richness into you. Healing, wisdom, joy, peace and fortitude flow from it. It is a specific form of prayer and so needs its own time set aside for it. But it can be short or long and can precede or follow a time of meditation in which all thoughts and words are surrendered into silence.
To describe the experience of Lectio, a traditional set of stages is often used. But they are simply a sketch of the elements of the Lectio experience which is a subtle, free and dynamic process, so we don’t have to ‘follow’ these stages mechanically.
Lectio Divina means deep reading. It allows a sacred text to unfold its richness into you. Healing, wisdom, joy, peace and fortitude flow from it. It is a specific form of prayer and so needs its own time set aside for it. But it can be short or long and can precede or follow a time of meditation in which all thoughts and words are surrendered into silence.
To describe the experience of Lectio, a traditional set of stages is often used. But they are simply a sketch of the elements of the Lectio experience which is a subtle, free and dynamic process, so we don’t have to ‘follow’ these stages mechanically.
Lectio Divina literally means ‘divine reading’. It is a contemplative practice that we find in all the monastic traditions — where the practitioner rests quietly with a text, allowing themselves in their unhurried reading to be open to the many layers of its meaning.
In the monastic traditions of all cultures, great spiritual texts have emerged from the personal lectio practice of their major teachers. These texts will speak to us on our retreats today, if we learn to read and listen to them.
Most of us have forgotten how to read spiritually.
It may help to have some guidance on lectio divina — on how to read as a way of listening to the text as an experience unfolding from within and for you. The experience is of ultimate reality, absolute love. It communicates itself through the text and will show you that the same experience is awakening in your heart.
In everyday reading, we read as we were taught at school — to get to the end of the text with as much information and as quickly and efficiently as possible. The aim being to apply the text for whatever needs to be accomplished — knowledge then becomes power. So we plunder texts, rushing through them or we want a text to entertain and distract us. In fact, today we do this more often by ‘reading’ Netflix or web-browsing.
Monastic and contemplative wisdom teaches that spiritual texts are also windows into higher reality. They are aspects of “revelation” and so deserve our quiet and still attention. We surrender the habit of “getting to the end of the text” and learn the habit of “being caught and held by the text”, “opened” by it, “communicate to” by the text.
This is especially true of the sacred texts of humanity. They deserve our reverence and our time and attention. In fact, it takes time, a life-time, to really get to know these texts and let them teach us so we are read by them. In the great spiritual texts, there are ever deeper layers that seek to be in conversation with us.
Texts for the contemplative practitioner are vehicles for the divine intimacy. They lead us from reading the text as an observer to:
- feeling a deeper empathy with what it means for you
- identifying and resonating with your own experience
- calling you deeper into the life of the Spirit
In Lectio Divina there will be moments:
- of reflection when you stop to ‘chew’ a word or phrase that captures you.
- to savour the wisdom that it is secreting.
- to ruminate and ponder in a moment of insight of opening your heart in humility and gratitude.
- of realising that we are reading in the presence of God consenting to being read by God.
- and for the Word to become Flesh in us.
During Lectio Divina, you may be sitting in your favourite chair by your favourite window with a cup of tea or in a structured moment of your timetable, like morning prayer. Be free. Open your mind and then your heart by paying attention to the text moment by moment. Be ready and willing to be surprised. Let yourself be taught. Allow the text to be your teacher. Let the the Word become the silence of “I AM.”
Preparation
You can do this in a way similar to how you prepare for a time of meditation. Take a moment or two to detach from the thoughts or activity that have been occupying you immediately beforehand: a short stretching session, a walk in the open air, listening to music or simply watching your breath for a short time.
Reading
Normally we read quickly with the eye and the brain thinks about what the eye read. Lectio reading is done with the eye of the heart and listened to with the ear of the heart. The ‘heart’ in this sense means a point of integration not analysis and of insight not ideas. Take your time. Avoid jumping to judgements, explanations, conclusions about what the text means. Be open. Be surprisable. Be slow.
Repetition
Feel if there is a word or phrase that invites you specially. Repeat it gently and slowly, chewing it, tasting it. What is its flavour? Keep the heart rather than the head as the main place where this happens. Patiently, let it to sink into and act on your heart.
Don’t feel you have to arrive at a conclusion or explanation. Let any feelings, thoughts or doubts arise and be non-judgemental.
Listening and Connecting
Listen to how the Spirit in you is guiding, inspiring, healing or calling you through this Lectio? See if it connects to any issue in your life of particular importance now – a problem, suffering, decision or relationship. Stay quietly with whatever is unfolding and trust it. The Word is a messenger of love. Allow yourself to get the message and feel loved. Allow the Word now to read you.
Being
Now move from the text into silence, from even subtle thought to stillness of mind. Allow the mantra to surface and say it, sound it, listen to it. Let go of all thoughts and imagination. Do this for a full meditation session, as usual, or even for a few moments depending on how much time you have.
Concluding Prayer
Your Word is alive and active. It sifts the purposes and thoughts of the heart. It sees all and forgives all. May your Word become flesh in me.
Amen.
In the centuries-old tradition of lectio divina – which is Latin for sacred reading – it is suggested that, before or after your morning or evening meditation, you read a passage of scripture. Read slowly and lovingly, pausing whenever the words draw you into silence. Close your eyes and experience the meaning of the words for you now. But even more, experience the Presence found in them. Let the reality of the words become more and more a part of your being.
During the time of lectio, the historical setting of the passage is not as important as the place it has in your life now. In a real sense, you are not the same person you were ten, five or even a year ago. Since you are always a ‘new person’ your response to the World will never be the same. One day you may rest in a deep peace. Another day you may be aware of tension, anger or sorrow. These feelings should not cause any anxiety because they are all part of God’s healing action at work in you. In time, you will learn to accept yourself as a work-in-progress, and your growing appreciation for the Living Word of God will lead you to a life of constant wonder, gratitude and love.
from Gregory Ryan: The Burning Heart
Some Additional Resources
- WCCM app; with gong for timing meditation
- The Bible
- Use your own Bible if you have one,
- or Bible GateWay offers all the translations and versions in many languages (www.biblegateway.com)
- The Hebrew Psalms are beautiful ancient poetry-songs that reflect almost every kind of human state of mind. You can read them selectively. An excellent selection for a retreat experience is The Psalms edited by Bede Griffiths
- The traditional Morning and Evening prayer in the monastic daily rhythm include the Benedictus or Song of Zechariah and the Magnificat or Song of Mary
- Universalis is a free online resource for prayer at set times of the day
Four Key Pocket-Size Texts
- Christianity: The New Testament
- Hindusim: The Upanishads
- Taoism: Tao Te Ching
- Buddhism: Dhammapada
Sister Traditions
The Tao
The Upanishads
The Bhagavad Gita
The Dhammapada
Koran
Rumi
Kabir
Mystics from all Traditions…
…are Common Friends to Accompany the journey. For example:
- St Paul
- Philokalia
- John Cassian
- Evagrius Pontus
- The Cloud of Unknowing
- St John of the Cross
- Julian of Norwich
- Hildegard von Bingen
- Meister Ekhart
- Simone Weil
- Ettie Hilesum
- Abhishiktananda, Satchidananda
- Ramana Maharsi
- Rumi
- Sayings from the Zen Masters