Lectio Divina: How to Practice This Ancient Form of Scripture Reading

Introduction: Encountering God’s Living Word

In our fast-paced world of quick information and constant notifications, we often approach reading—even Scripture reading—as another task to complete or information to process. But what if there was a way to read the Bible that transformed the experience from mere information gathering into a profound encounter with God?

Lectio Divina, Latin for “divine reading,” offers exactly this opportunity. This ancient practice, dating back to early monastic traditions of the 6th century, invites us to read Scripture slowly and contemplatively, allowing God’s Word to penetrate our hearts and transform our lives.

Unlike Bible study, which focuses primarily on understanding the text through analysis, Lectio Divina emphasizes experiencing the text through prayer and contemplation. It’s not about reading many verses quickly, but about allowing a few verses to read us deeply.

In this guide, we’ll explore the rich tradition of Lectio Divina, its four traditional steps, and how you can incorporate this transformative practice into your own spiritual life.

The Historical Roots of Lectio Divina

While the formal structure of Lectio Divina was established by the Benedictine monk Guigo II in the 12th century, its origins extend much further back. The practice draws inspiration from how the early Church Fathers approached Scripture and how Jewish traditions engaged with sacred texts.

St. Benedict, who founded Western monasticism in the 6th century, included Lectio Divina as an essential element of monastic life. For these early monks, Scripture wasn’t just a text to be studied but the very breath of God to be inhaled into their souls.

The practice flourished in medieval monasteries, where monks would spend hours each day immersed in sacred reading. They approached the Bible not primarily as scholars but as disciples seeking transformation.

In recent decades, Lectio Divina has experienced a revival beyond monastery walls. Pope Benedict XVI particularly encouraged this practice, noting that it “opens for the faithful the treasures of God’s word but also creates an encounter with Christ, the living Word of God.”

The Four Traditional Steps of Lectio Divina

The classical practice of Lectio Divina unfolds in four movements or steps, creating a natural progression from mind to heart to soul. These Latin terms—Lectio, Meditatio, Oratio, and Contemplatio—describe a flowing process rather than rigid compartments.

1. Lectio (Reading): “What does the text say?”

The first movement is a slow, attentive reading of a short Scripture passage. This isn’t about covering ground but about creating space for a word or phrase to arise from the text and capture your attention.

How to practice Lectio:

• Choose a short passage (typically 5-10 verses)
• Read slowly, aloud if possible
• Be attentive to words or phrases that seem to “shimmer” or stand out
• Re-read the passage several times, allowing different words to emerge
• Don’t analyze yet; simply receive the text

Example: Reading John 15:5 (“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”), you might be drawn to the phrase “remain in me.”

2. Meditatio (Meditation): “What is God saying to me through this text?”

In meditation, we begin to ponder the word or phrase that captured our attention during reading. We consider what God might be communicating to us personally through this word.

How to practice Meditatio:

• Take the word or phrase that stood out and repeat it slowly
• Consider what this might mean in your life right now
• Allow associations, memories, or connections to arise
• Ask questions: What is God highlighting? Why might this word be significant today?
• Engage your imagination to enter the scene, especially with Gospel passages

Example: Meditating on “remain in me” might lead you to reflect on areas of your life where you’ve been trying to operate independently from God, or it might evoke questions about what it truly means to abide in Christ daily.

3. Oratio (Prayer): “What do I want to say to God about this text?”

Prayer is our response to what we’ve heard in the text. Having listened to God’s voice in Scripture and pondered its significance, we now speak from our hearts.

How to practice Oratio:

• Respond honestly to what you’ve heard in the text
• Express your thoughts, feelings, desires, or questions to God
• This might take the form of gratitude, petition, confession, or praise
• Speak as you would to a trusted friend
• Don’t worry about eloquent language; simplicity and honesty matter most

Example: Praying with “remain in me” might lead to a prayer like: “Lord, I confess I often try to bear fruit through my own efforts. Help me understand what it means to truly remain in you. Show me the areas where I’ve been disconnecting from your life-giving presence.”

4. Contemplatio (Contemplation): “Resting in God’s presence”

Contemplation is the quiet resting in God’s presence beyond words or thoughts. Here, we move from active engagement to receptive silence.

How to practice Contemplatio:

• Release your own words and thoughts
• Simply be present to God who is present to you
• Allow yourself to be loved and held in divine presence
• This is not about “achieving” anything but about receiving
• When thoughts arise, gently return to a simple awareness of God’s presence

Example: After engaging with “remain in me,” contemplation might involve simply resting in the awareness of being a branch connected to the vine, experiencing the flow of divine life without words or analysis.

Contemporary Additions: Extending the Practice

While the four traditional steps form the core of Lectio Divina, contemporary practitioners sometimes add two additional movements that help bridge the practice to daily life:

5. Operatio (Action): “How does this text call me to act?”

Divine reading is not meant to remain in the realm of ideas but should bear fruit in transformed living. In this extension, we consider how God’s Word calls us to concrete action.

Questions for Operatio:

• What specific invitation to action do I hear in this text?
• How might my daily behaviors change in response to this Word?
• Is there a particular relationship or situation where this Scripture applies?

Example: Reflecting on “remain in me” might lead to practical decisions like establishing a daily connection point with God, reconsidering activities that disconnect you from divine life, or approaching tasks with conscious dependence on Christ’s strength.

6. Collatio (Sharing): “How does this text speak to us as community?”

When practicing Lectio Divina in a group setting, sharing insights can enhance everyone’s experience of the text. This communal dimension reminds us that Scripture speaks both personally and collectively.

Guidelines for Collatio:

• Share briefly what word or phrase stood out to you
• Explain what meaning or invitation you found in the text
• Listen respectfully to others’ insights without debate or correction
• Recognize how the same passage speaks differently to different hearts

Practical Guide: How to Begin Practicing Lectio Divina

Setting the Stage

Creating the right environment can significantly enhance your experience of Lectio Divina:

1. Choose a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed
2. Set aside sufficient time (20-30 minutes is ideal for beginners)
3. Eliminate distractions (silence your phone, close the door)
4. Consider using symbols that support prayer (a candle, crucifix, or icon)
5. Adopt a comfortable but alert posture (sitting upright rather than reclining)

Selecting a Scripture Passage

Not all passages are equally suitable for beginners in Lectio Divina:

Recommended passages for beginners:

• Gospel narratives: Matthew 8:23-27 (Jesus calms the storm), Luke 15:11-32 (The Prodigal Son)
• Psalms: Psalm 23, Psalm 139
• Wisdom literature: Proverbs 3:5-6, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
• Pauline excerpts: Philippians 4:4-9, Ephesians 3:14-21

Start small: Choose 5-10 verses rather than entire chapters.

Consider liturgical alignment: Select passages from the day’s Mass readings to harmonize with the Church’s prayer.

Step-by-Step Guide for Individual Practice

1. Begin with a prayer inviting the Holy Spirit to guide your reading
2. Lectio (Reading):
   • Read the passage slowly, perhaps aloud
   • Read it again, noticing any words or phrases that stand out
   • Read a third time if needed
3. Meditatio (Meditation):
   • Repeat the word or phrase that caught your attention
   • Ask: “What might God be saying to me through this?”
   • Consider connections to your life circumstances
4. Oratio (Prayer):
   • Respond to God based on what emerged in meditation
   • Be honest and conversational in your prayer
   • Express whatever is in your heart: gratitude, petition, confusion, etc.
5. Contemplatio (Contemplation):
   • Release your own words and simply rest in God’s presence
   • When thoughts arise, gently return to awareness of being in God’s presence
   • Don’t rush this stage; allow 5-10 minutes if possible
6. Close with gratitude, perhaps praying the Our Father

Practicing in a Group Setting

Lectio Divina can be especially powerful when practiced in community:

1. Designate a facilitator to guide the process and keep time
2. Begin with an opening prayer and moment of silence
3. First reading: One person reads the passage aloud while others listen for words or phrases that stand out
4. Brief silence (1-2 minutes)
5. Sharing: Each person can briefly share the word or phrase that stood out (without elaboration)
6. Second reading: Another person reads the same passage aloud
7. Extended silence (3-5 minutes) for meditation on how the text speaks to each person
8. Sharing: Each person can share what they heard God saying through the text
9. Third reading: A third person reads the passage
10. Silence for prayer (3-5 minutes) as each person responds to God
11. Optional sharing of prayers
12. Final reading: A fourth person reads the passage
13. Extended silence (5-10 minutes) for contemplation
14. Closing prayer offered by the facilitator

Common Challenges and How to Address Them

Distraction

Nearly everyone experiences wandering thoughts during Lectio Divina. Rather than becoming frustrated:

• Gently notice the distraction without judgment
• Use it as an opportunity to practice returning to presence
• Consider briefly noting persistent distractions to address later
• If a particular distraction persists, it might actually be relevant to your prayer

Dryness

Sometimes Scripture seems to offer no spark or inspiration:

• Remember that faithfulness matters more than feelings
• Continue the practice even when it seems unfruitful
• Consider trying a different passage
• Recognize that periods of dryness often precede significant growth

Analysis Paralysis

Those with academic biblical training sometimes struggle to move beyond analytical reading:

• Intentionally shift from “studying” to “receiving” the text
• Try reading with the heart rather than just the mind
• Consider using your imagination to enter the passage
• Remember the goal is transformation, not information

Time Constraints

In our busy lives, finding time for contemplative practice can be challenging:

• Start with just 10 minutes if a longer period isn’t feasible
• Consider incorporating Lectio into existing routines (morning coffee, lunch break)
• Quality matters more than quantity
• Remember that even brief, consistent practice bears fruit over time

Integrating Lectio Divina into Your Spiritual Life

Daily Practice

For those who wish to make Lectio Divina a daily discipline:

• Establish a consistent time and place
• Start with a manageable commitment (perhaps 15 minutes)
• Consider using a journal to record insights and track growth
• Be gentle with yourself when you miss a day

Seasonal Intensity

Some find it helpful to engage in more extended Lectio during certain liturgical seasons:

• Advent and Lent are particularly suitable for deeper practice
• Consider a Lectio Divina retreat during these seasons
• Work with passages that align with the liturgical themes

Combining with Other Practices

Lectio Divina can complement other spiritual disciplines:

• Use Lectio before or after the Rosary
• Incorporate it into Eucharistic Adoration
• Combine with Ignatian practices like the Examen
• Use it to prepare for or reflect on Sunday Mass readings

Digital Age Adaptations

While traditional Lectio Divina involves physical Bibles and quiet spaces, modern adaptations can help make the practice more accessible:

Apps and Resources

Several digital tools can support your practice:

• Santo Catholic App: Our own app featuring guided Lectio Divina sessions, curated Scripture passages, and prayer timers designed specifically for this practice
• Hallow App: Offers guided Lectio Divina sessions
• Pray As You Go: Provides audio-guided Scripture meditation
• Laudate: Includes daily readings suitable for Lectio
• Bible Gateway: Helps locate specific passages across translations

Audio Lectio

For those who process better through hearing:

• Listen to audio Bible recordings at a slow pace
• Record yourself reading passages and then listen contemplatively
• Use guided audio Lectio resources

Visual Lectio

For the visually oriented:

• Consider incorporating sacred art related to your passage
• Try “visio divina” (divine seeing) with Scripture-inspired artwork
• Journal visually in response to the text

Fruits of Regular Practice

Those who practice Lectio Divina consistently often experience:

Deeper Biblical Familiarity

Beyond memorizing verses, practitioners develop an intuitive sense of Scripture’s patterns and themes, recognizing connections across the Bible’s narrative.

Heightened Spiritual Awareness

Regular practitioners often report increased sensitivity to God’s presence and voice in daily life, not just during formal prayer times.

Transformed Decision-Making

As Scripture seeps into consciousness, decisions naturally begin to align more closely with biblical wisdom and values.

Emotional Healing

Many find that allowing God’s Word to penetrate deeply brings healing to wounded areas of their emotional life.

Community Connection

Shared practice of Lectio Divina creates unique bonds among participants as they witness how the same text speaks differently to each person.

Conclusion: From Reading to Relationship

Lectio Divina transforms our engagement with Scripture from an intellectual exercise into a heart-to-heart conversation with God. Through this ancient practice, the Bible ceases to be merely a historical document or rulebook and becomes what it truly is: the living Word of God speaking directly to our lives today.

In a world of superficial scrolling and skimming, Lectio Divina invites us into the countercultural practice of deep reading and listening. It reminds us that some texts aren’t meant to be conquered but to be conversed with, not just read but ruminated upon.

As St. Augustine famously heard in his own moment of conversion: “Take and read.” Through the practice of Lectio Divina, we do more than take and read—we allow ourselves to be taken and read by the divine Author who continues to speak through sacred words.

Whether you’re just beginning this practice or returning to it after time away, may your journey with Lectio Divina lead you into deeper communion with the God who speaks, both in ancient texts and in the sacred story of your own life.