Lectio Divina

• Slow, contemplative praying of the Scriptures
• Discover an underlying spiritual rhythm in daily life
• Cultivate an increasing ability to:
• offer ourselves and our relationships to God
• accept His embrace in the person of Jesus Christ
• hear God speak to me, recognize His voice
  

Stages of Lectio Divina

Lectio - Listening to God - First Reading

• Reading/Listening, choose a short text from the Bible
  
• Hear with “the ear of the heart” (1 Kings 19:12)
• An awareness of the presence of God
• Listen to hear a word or phrase that is God’s word for us this day
• Group process: 1st time one group member reads aloud. 2nd time silent reading
  After reading, 1-2 minutes silence, reciting/pondering your word or passage
  At the end share your word. No elaboration, just say the word/verse you received, don't explain why you think that's important yet.
  

Meditatio – “Ruminating” - Second Reading

• Meditation, taking in what we have heard
  
• “Ponder in our hearts” (Luke 2:19)… let God's word interact with my desires, hopes, memories and thoughts, getting to know God's word "by heart"
  
• God’s Word becomes His Word for me, it touches and affects me at the deepest level
• Group process: Read text again aloud in group. Silence for 2-3 minutes: Focus on my verse in the context of my life. What am I doing today? How is the word trying to address me today? At the end share briefly how His word is speaking to me: “I hear God talking to me about how I am doing …(fill the blank)… today/this week”
  

Oratio – “Answering” - Third Reading

• Prayer, dialogue with God as both conversation and consecration
• Offering our “real selves” (difficult situations and experiences) to God, reciting over them the healing word or phrase He has revealed to us: so that we are not only touched… but changed
• We accept this word as our call, we commit to put it to practice in faith
  
• Group process: Read text again aloud in group. In silence, 2-3 minutes, reflect on what God is inviting me to do today, this week. Sharing aloud the results of one’s reflection. After full sharing, pray for the person to your right. Note: Anyone may “pass” at any time (just close your silent prayer with "Amen")
  
  

Contemplatio – “Resting in God”

• Contemplation, resting in the presence of God
• A practice of silence, letting go of our own words and simply enjoying being in the presence of God
• Group process: Simply rest in God's presence and enjoy His loving embrace. If time allows, finish group time with silence and/or meditative song, for example “O Lord, Hear My Prayer” (Taize), see below

O Lord hear my prayer (Taize)
O Lord hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer:
when I call, answer me
O Lord hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer:
come and listen to me.

Nada Te Turbe (Taize)
Nada te turbe, nada te espante:
quien a Dios tiene nada le falta
Nada te turbe, nada te espante:
Solo Dios basta
(Santa Teresa da Jesus)