10/26/06: Lectio Divina

I found this wonderful site on Misty's blog -- and as I spoke on Lectio at last spring's retreat for our church, I feel a real connection with the idea of Lectio.

I first ran across the term in Kathleen Norris' Cloister Walk, a marvelous book. And the idea of Lectio permeates what I want my life to be: slow, deliberate, pregnant with meaningful silences, contemplative, meditative. Now, living that kind of life while homeschooling four children is a near impossibility -- perhaps when I grow up (or when they do!).

But this website is a gem in understanding the deepness that comes from the practice of Lectio -- so enjoy!

http://www.valyermo.com/ld-art.html

Here are some excerpts:

A VERY ANCIENT art, practiced at one time by all Christians, is the technique known as lectio divina - a slow, contemplative praying of the Scriptures which enables the Bible, the Word of God, to become a means of union with God. This ancient practice has been kept alive in the Christian monastic tradition, and is one of the precious treasures of Benedictine monastics and oblates. Together with the Liturgy and daily manual labor, time set aside in a special way for lectio divina enables us to discover in our daily life an underlying spiritual rhythm. Within this rhythm we discover an increasing ability to offer more of ourselves and our relationships to the Father, and to accept the embrace that God is continuously extending to us in the person of his Son Jesus Christ.

And ....

THE READING or listening which is the first step in lectio divina is very different from the speed reading which modern Christians apply to newspapers, books and even to the Bible. Lectio is reverential listening; listening both in a spirit of silence and of awe. We are listening for the still, small voice of God that will speak to us personally - not loudly, but intimately. In lectio we read slowly, attentively, gently listening to hear a word or phrase that is God's word for us this day.

*****
So please peruse this site, as I certainly will as I desire the deepness of communion with our Lord and our God.