Lectio Divina is Latin for Sacred Reading. The goal of Lectio Divina is to encounter Jesus when we read the Bible. This form of prayer helps us to engage with scripture and is one of the oldest forms of prayer.
Lectio Divina is a powerful way to encounter God in Sacred Scripture. Through the ancient practice of lectio, meditatio, oratio, and contemplatio we encounter a personal God by praying with his sacred word. The final step is ACTION. This step ‘moves the believer to make his or her life a gift for others in charity’. (Pope Benedict Verbum Domini (2010:87)
Pope Benedict also speaks about the use of four questions.
They are:
Reading (lectio): What is the biblical text talking about?
Meditation (meditation): What does the bible passage say to us?
Prayer (oratio): What can I say to God in response to his Word?
Contemplation (contemplatio): What conversion of the mind, heart and life is the Lord asking of us.
Resource file: Pentecost Lectio Divina for young people. Suggested Bible passages have been included in the document.
References:
Pope Benedict XV1 (2010) Verbum Domini of the Holy Father Benedict XV1 to the Bishops, Clergy, Consecrated Persons and the Lay Faithful on the Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church
