THE
LECTIO DIVINAE WEB SITE
About this site.
This web site has been created as a thank offering to God for His work
through church figures such as St. Benedict and Teresa of Avila in helping to
open the mysteries of scripture to the Christian seeker through lectio divina, the inspired reading of scripture.
Yet the seeker will find new treasures here among the old. Not only are
there numerous actual lectio divinae, useful in the preparation of sermons,
but there is also presented a practical method for increasing the power of
lectio divina to transform one's life.
What is lectio divina?
Lectio divina involves reading and meditating on scripture. It
is probably the oldest and best developed Christian mystical practice.
Lectio is generally divided into lectio (reading), meditatio (meditation), contemplatio (contemplation) and oratio (prayer). Lectio divina is
practiced in order to approach God through His Counselor, the Holy
Spirit. Study through lectio has considerable power to transform one's
life.
A number of organizations have excellent sites for lectio divina on the
web. These include the
Order of St. Benedict,
St. Andrew's Abbey, the
Carmelite Order, the
Carmelites of Austria, the
Cistercian Order and many other organizations.
What is lectio? Lectio divina is more than just
understanding scripture. It is a means of approaching God through a
practice. Behind every art, there is a skill. Lectio divina is a
skill. The art is drinking from the Rock.
How to engage in lectio.
In performing lectio divina, let the text be absolutely true, even if
only for the time of the study. Afterwards, be governed by your
conscience rather than by the words. In fact, let us be as little children
and let the Bible be a kaleidoscope, a holy toy given by a loving Father to
His children. Reading scripture, constantly through a new lens, may we
discover God-- and ourselves.
What does it mean
to be a Christian?
A theological note
A primer on lectio
divina
Samples of lectio
divina