21
Lectio Divina A Way of Praying A Way of Praying the Scriptures the Scriptures
Lectio DivinaLectio Divina
A Way of Praying the A Way of Praying the ScripturesScriptures
A Way of Praying the A Way of Praying the ScripturesScriptures
“We wish to see Jesus” Jn 12:21“We wish to see Jesus” Jn 12:21
“ “The contemplation The contemplation of Christ’s face of Christ’s face cannot fail to be cannot fail to be inspired by all that inspired by all that we are told about we are told about him in Sacred him in Sacred Scripture.”Scripture.”
Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul IINovo Millennio Inuente, Novo Millennio Inuente,
1717
“ “The contemplation The contemplation of Christ’s face of Christ’s face cannot fail to be cannot fail to be inspired by all that inspired by all that we are told about we are told about him in Sacred him in Sacred Scripture.”Scripture.”
Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul IINovo Millennio Inuente, Novo Millennio Inuente,
1717
“We wish to see Jesus” Jn 12:21“We wish to see Jesus” Jn 12:21
“ “It is especially necessary It is especially necessary that listening to the word of that listening to the word of God should become a life-God should become a life-giving encounter, in the giving encounter, in the ancient and ever valid ancient and ever valid tradition of tradition of lectio divinalectio divina, which , which draws from the biblical text draws from the biblical text the living Word which the living Word which questions,directs and shapes questions,directs and shapes our lives.”our lives.”
Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul IINovo Millennio Ineunte,39Novo Millennio Ineunte,39
“ “It is especially necessary It is especially necessary that listening to the word of that listening to the word of God should become a life-God should become a life-giving encounter, in the giving encounter, in the ancient and ever valid ancient and ever valid tradition of tradition of lectio divinalectio divina, which , which draws from the biblical text draws from the biblical text the living Word which the living Word which questions,directs and shapes questions,directs and shapes our lives.”our lives.”
Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul IINovo Millennio Ineunte,39Novo Millennio Ineunte,39
““My dear young friends, I urge you to become My dear young friends, I urge you to become familiar with the Bible, and to have it at hand so familiar with the Bible, and to have it at hand so that it can be your compass pointing out the road that it can be your compass pointing out the road to follow. By reading it, you will learn to know to follow. By reading it, you will learn to know Christ. Note what St. Jerome said in this regard, Christ. Note what St. Jerome said in this regard, ‘Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of ‘Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.’”Christ.’”
Pope Benedict XVIPope Benedict XVI World Youth Day XXIWorld Youth Day XXI
““My dear young friends, I urge you to become My dear young friends, I urge you to become familiar with the Bible, and to have it at hand so familiar with the Bible, and to have it at hand so that it can be your compass pointing out the road that it can be your compass pointing out the road to follow. By reading it, you will learn to know to follow. By reading it, you will learn to know Christ. Note what St. Jerome said in this regard, Christ. Note what St. Jerome said in this regard, ‘Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of ‘Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.’”Christ.’”
Pope Benedict XVIPope Benedict XVI World Youth Day XXIWorld Youth Day XXI
“We wish to see Jesus.” Jn 12:21“We wish to see Jesus.” Jn 12:21
Five-Step Communal Process*Five-Step Communal Process*
LectioLectioMeditatioMeditatioOratioOratioContemplatioContemplatioActioActio
LectioLectioMeditatioMeditatioOratioOratioContemplatioContemplatioActioActio
*Adapted from YES! Youth Engaging Scripture Program, Saint Mary’s Press
LectioLectio A simple reading A simple reading
and listeningand listening Listen with the “ears Listen with the “ears
of your heart”of your heart” Be attentive to a Be attentive to a
particular word or particular word or phrasephrase
Journal and share Journal and share word or phrase word or phrase without commentwithout comment
A simple reading A simple reading and listeningand listening
Listen with the “ears Listen with the “ears of your heart”of your heart”
Be attentive to a Be attentive to a particular word or particular word or phrasephrase
Journal and share Journal and share word or phrase word or phrase without commentwithout comment
MeditatioMeditatio
““This is a moment This is a moment of interior of interior reflection in which reflection in which the soul turns to the soul turns to God and tries to God and tries to understand what understand what his word is saying his word is saying to us today.”to us today.”
Pope Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI World Youth Day XXIWorld Youth Day XXI
““This is a moment This is a moment of interior of interior reflection in which reflection in which the soul turns to the soul turns to God and tries to God and tries to understand what understand what his word is saying his word is saying to us today.”to us today.”
Pope Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI World Youth Day XXIWorld Youth Day XXI
MeditatioMeditatio Scripture ContextScripture Context Scripture is read a second timeScripture is read a second time As you listen imagine yourself As you listen imagine yourself
in the storyin the story Who do you see?Who do you see? What do you hear?What do you hear? To whom do you most relate?To whom do you most relate?
How does this passage relate How does this passage relate to something in your life right to something in your life right now?now?
Journal and share this with the Journal and share this with the groupgroup
Scripture ContextScripture Context Scripture is read a second timeScripture is read a second time As you listen imagine yourself As you listen imagine yourself
in the storyin the story Who do you see?Who do you see? What do you hear?What do you hear? To whom do you most relate?To whom do you most relate?
How does this passage relate How does this passage relate to something in your life right to something in your life right now?now?
Journal and share this with the Journal and share this with the groupgroup
Oratio Oratio
““Only Only the experience of silence and the experience of silence and prayerprayer offers the proper setting for offers the proper setting for the growth and development of a the growth and development of a true, faithful and consistent true, faithful and consistent knowledge of that mystery… knowledge of that mystery… ‘And ‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son of the Father’” (Jn 1:14).only Son of the Father’” (Jn 1:14).
Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul IINuevo Millennio Nuente, 20Nuevo Millennio Nuente, 20
““Only Only the experience of silence and the experience of silence and prayerprayer offers the proper setting for offers the proper setting for the growth and development of a the growth and development of a true, faithful and consistent true, faithful and consistent knowledge of that mystery… knowledge of that mystery… ‘And ‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son of the Father’” (Jn 1:14).only Son of the Father’” (Jn 1:14).
Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul IINuevo Millennio Nuente, 20Nuevo Millennio Nuente, 20
OratioOratio
Take time to speak Take time to speak intimately with God intimately with God
What are you What are you feeling? Joy, grief, feeling? Joy, grief, fear, gratitude? fear, gratitude? What has the word What has the word inspired in you?inspired in you?
Take time for the Take time for the Lord to respond and Lord to respond and make his voice make his voice heard in your heartheard in your heart
Take time to speak Take time to speak intimately with God intimately with God
What are you What are you feeling? Joy, grief, feeling? Joy, grief, fear, gratitude? fear, gratitude? What has the word What has the word inspired in you?inspired in you?
Take time for the Take time for the Lord to respond and Lord to respond and make his voice make his voice heard in your heartheard in your heart
ContemplatioContemplatio
“…“….we cannot come to .we cannot come to the fullness of the fullness of contemplation of the contemplation of the Lord’s face by our own Lord’s face by our own efforts alone, but by efforts alone, but by allowing grace to take allowing grace to take us by the hand.”us by the hand.”
Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul IINuevo Millennio Nuente, Nuevo Millennio Nuente,
2020
“…“….we cannot come to .we cannot come to the fullness of the fullness of contemplation of the contemplation of the Lord’s face by our own Lord’s face by our own efforts alone, but by efforts alone, but by allowing grace to take allowing grace to take us by the hand.”us by the hand.”
Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul IINuevo Millennio Nuente, Nuevo Millennio Nuente,
2020
ContemplatioContemplatio
Simply rest in God’s Simply rest in God’s presencepresence
Just enjoy God and Just enjoy God and be at peacebe at peace
Feel free to journal Feel free to journal your experience your experience
Simply rest in God’s Simply rest in God’s presencepresence
Just enjoy God and Just enjoy God and be at peacebe at peace
Feel free to journal Feel free to journal your experience your experience
ActioActio
““To build your life on To build your life on Christ, to accept his word Christ, to accept his word with joy and put its with joy and put its teachings into practice. teachings into practice. This, young people of the This, young people of the third millennium, should third millennium, should be your program.”be your program.”
Pope Benedict XVIPope Benedict XVI World Youth Day XXIWorld Youth Day XXI
““To build your life on To build your life on Christ, to accept his word Christ, to accept his word with joy and put its with joy and put its teachings into practice. teachings into practice. This, young people of the This, young people of the third millennium, should third millennium, should be your program.”be your program.”
Pope Benedict XVIPope Benedict XVI World Youth Day XXIWorld Youth Day XXI
ActioActio Third reading of passageThird reading of passage Listen and reflect on Listen and reflect on
what God is calling you what God is calling you to do or to beto do or to be
Journal your responseJournal your response Share with the groupShare with the group Listen attentively to the Listen attentively to the
work of the Spirit in each work of the Spirit in each others’ livesothers’ lives
Join hands and pray for Join hands and pray for each other in the words each other in the words that Jesus taught us… that Jesus taught us… Our FatherOur Father
Third reading of passageThird reading of passage Listen and reflect on Listen and reflect on
what God is calling you what God is calling you to do or to beto do or to be
Journal your responseJournal your response Share with the groupShare with the group Listen attentively to the Listen attentively to the
work of the Spirit in each work of the Spirit in each others’ livesothers’ lives
Join hands and pray for Join hands and pray for each other in the words each other in the words that Jesus taught us… that Jesus taught us… Our FatherOur Father
“We wish to see Jesus” Jn 12:21“We wish to see Jesus” Jn 12:21
Our Scripture reading will be Our Scripture reading will be taken from the Gospel of taken from the Gospel of John:John:
The Coming of Jesus’ HourThe Coming of Jesus’ Hour John 12:20-32John 12:20-32
Please write this passage on Please write this passage on your journal page.your journal page.
Our Scripture reading will be Our Scripture reading will be taken from the Gospel of taken from the Gospel of John:John:
The Coming of Jesus’ HourThe Coming of Jesus’ Hour John 12:20-32John 12:20-32
Please write this passage on Please write this passage on your journal page.your journal page.
LectioLectio A simple reading A simple reading
and listeningand listening Listen with the “ears Listen with the “ears
of your heart”of your heart” Be attentive to a Be attentive to a
particular word or particular word or phrasephrase
Journal and share Journal and share word or phrase word or phrase without commentwithout comment
A simple reading A simple reading and listeningand listening
Listen with the “ears Listen with the “ears of your heart”of your heart”
Be attentive to a Be attentive to a particular word or particular word or phrasephrase
Journal and share Journal and share word or phrase word or phrase without commentwithout comment
Meditatio - Scriptural Context John 12:20-32Meditatio - Scriptural Context John 12:20-32
End of the Book of End of the Book of Signs; the hour of Jesus Signs; the hour of Jesus will be the greatest signwill be the greatest sign
Greek converts wish to Greek converts wish to see Jesus; the whole see Jesus; the whole world is coming to himworld is coming to him
To see Jesus is to To see Jesus is to understand why he had understand why he had to suffer, die, and riseto suffer, die, and rise
It is the same pattern of It is the same pattern of life for those who serve life for those who serve the Lordthe Lord
End of the Book of End of the Book of Signs; the hour of Jesus Signs; the hour of Jesus will be the greatest signwill be the greatest sign
Greek converts wish to Greek converts wish to see Jesus; the whole see Jesus; the whole world is coming to himworld is coming to him
To see Jesus is to To see Jesus is to understand why he had understand why he had to suffer, die, and riseto suffer, die, and rise
It is the same pattern of It is the same pattern of life for those who serve life for those who serve the Lordthe Lord
Jesus understands that Jesus understands that it is not easy it is not easy
The elevation of Jesus The elevation of Jesus on the cross is his on the cross is his moment of death and moment of death and glory; He will draw all glory; He will draw all people to himselfpeople to himself
If anyone serves the If anyone serves the Lord, the Father will Lord, the Father will also honor himalso honor him
Jesus understands that Jesus understands that it is not easy it is not easy
The elevation of Jesus The elevation of Jesus on the cross is his on the cross is his moment of death and moment of death and glory; He will draw all glory; He will draw all people to himselfpeople to himself
If anyone serves the If anyone serves the Lord, the Father will Lord, the Father will also honor himalso honor him
MeditatioMeditatio
Scripture is read a second timeScripture is read a second time As you listen imagine yourself As you listen imagine yourself
in the storyin the story Who do you see?Who do you see? What do you hear?What do you hear? To whom do you most relate?To whom do you most relate?
How does this passage relate How does this passage relate to something in your life right to something in your life right now?now?
Journal and share this with the Journal and share this with the groupgroup
Scripture is read a second timeScripture is read a second time As you listen imagine yourself As you listen imagine yourself
in the storyin the story Who do you see?Who do you see? What do you hear?What do you hear? To whom do you most relate?To whom do you most relate?
How does this passage relate How does this passage relate to something in your life right to something in your life right now?now?
Journal and share this with the Journal and share this with the groupgroup
Oratio & ContemplatioOratio & Contemplatio
Take time to speak Take time to speak intimately with God intimately with God
What are you What are you feeling? Joy, grief, feeling? Joy, grief, fear, gratitude? fear, gratitude? What has the word What has the word inspired in you?inspired in you?
Take time for the Take time for the Lord to respond and Lord to respond and make his voice make his voice heard in your heartheard in your heart
Take time to speak Take time to speak intimately with God intimately with God
What are you What are you feeling? Joy, grief, feeling? Joy, grief, fear, gratitude? fear, gratitude? What has the word What has the word inspired in you?inspired in you?
Take time for the Take time for the Lord to respond and Lord to respond and make his voice make his voice heard in your heartheard in your heart
Simply rest in God’s Simply rest in God’s presencepresence
Just enjoy God and Just enjoy God and be at peacebe at peace
Feel free to journal Feel free to journal your experienceyour experience
Simply rest in God’s Simply rest in God’s presencepresence
Just enjoy God and Just enjoy God and be at peacebe at peace
Feel free to journal Feel free to journal your experienceyour experience
ActioActio Third reading of passageThird reading of passage Listen and reflect on Listen and reflect on
what God is calling you what God is calling you to do or to beto do or to be
Journal your responseJournal your response Share with the groupShare with the group Listen attentively to the Listen attentively to the
work of the Spirit in each work of the Spirit in each others’ livesothers’ lives
Join hands and pray for Join hands and pray for each other in the words each other in the words that Jesus taught us… that Jesus taught us… Our FatherOur Father
Third reading of passageThird reading of passage Listen and reflect on Listen and reflect on
what God is calling you what God is calling you to do or to beto do or to be
Journal your responseJournal your response Share with the groupShare with the group Listen attentively to the Listen attentively to the
work of the Spirit in each work of the Spirit in each others’ livesothers’ lives
Join hands and pray for Join hands and pray for each other in the words each other in the words that Jesus taught us… that Jesus taught us… Our FatherOur Father
