How to Practice Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina (Latin for "Divine Reading") is an ancient method of praying with Scripture rooted in the practice of the early Church Fathers. Origen (3rd century) and Ambrose (4th century) both encouraged prayerful reading of Scripture. The method was given its classic four-step structure by Guigo II, a Carthusian monk, in his 12th-century work "The Ladder of Monks." He compared the stages to rungs of a ladder reaching toward God. The Benedictine tradition adopted and popularized the practice, making it central to monastic life.

Unlike Bible study, which seeks to analyze and understand a text, Lectio Divina seeks to encounter God through His Word. The practice moves through four stages: Lectio (reading), Meditatio (meditation), Oratio (prayer), and Contemplatio (contemplation). Each stage goes deeper, from the surface of the text to a place of silent resting in God's presence. A complete session typically takes 20 to 30 minutes, though even a shorter session can be fruitful.

The Second Vatican Council encouraged all the faithful to practice Lectio Divina, and Pope Benedict XVI affirmed its importance at the 2008 Synod of Bishops, saying it can "bring about a genuine interior transformation." It requires no special training, just a Bible, a quiet space, and a willingness to slow down and listen.