Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina, meaning "divine reading" or "spiritual reading," is an ancient contemplative practice of prayerfully engaging with Sacred Scripture. This practice originated in the early Church and was formalized by the monastic tradition, particularly through St. Benedict in the sixth century who established it as a core element of his Rule alongside liturgical prayer.
The practice follows four traditional movements:
Lectio (Reading): Taking a short passage of Scripture and reading it carefully multiple times, allowing the words to sink deeply into the heart.
Meditatio (Meditation): Reflecting on the text by engaging the imagination to enter the Biblical scene, seeing the setting, people, and unfolding action to discover its meaning for one's life.
Oratio (Prayer): Responding personally to the text through prayer—asking for graces, offering praise, seeking healing or forgiveness.
Contemplatio (Contemplation): A receptive gaze toward Christ where, by God's grace, one may be raised to experience the text as mystery and reality, coming into experiential contact with God beyond the words.
This approach to Scripture was likely how Jesus himself read the Hebrew Scriptures, and how early Christians engaged with the Gospels—not merely as texts to be analyzed, but as living encounters with God. The Church Fathers, including Origen, Jerome, and later spiritual masters like St. John of the Cross and St. Ignatius of Loyola, all encouraged and developed this practice.
Pope Benedict XVI affirmed that Lectio Divina, when effectively promoted, could bring "a new spiritual springtime" to the Church. Like Eucharistic communion, it allows Christ to enter "under our roofs," infusing body and soul with divine presence. Through this daily practice, our lives become more attentive, merciful, and purposeful as we are formed into the likeness of Christ.
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© 2025, Lawain McNeil, Mission Surrender, LLC.
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