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THE STAGES OFTHE STAGES OF

LECTIO DIVINALECTIO DIVINA

Giorgio Zevini SDBGiorgio Zevini SDB

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THE EIGHT STAGESTHE EIGHT STAGES

The eight stages are:

1. LECTIO - READ

2. MEDITATIO - MEDITATE

3. ORATIO - PRAY4. CONTEMPLATIO - CONTEMPLATE

5. CONSOLATIO - JOY

6. DISCRETIO - DISCERN

7. DELIBERATIO - DECIDE

8. ACTIO ACT

- The first three stages are active the next four passive the final oneis active again

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THE MODELTHE MODEL -- MARYMARY

The model is Mary Behold, I am the

handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to

me according to your word (Lk 1:38) Mary is available

She is open anawim = a servant

She will allow the WORD to happen in Her

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1. LECTIO = READ (1)1. LECTIO = READ (1)

Read the text with attention

Re-read the text (if necessary even 10-100times)

Read slowly

Stop (stay-repose in the text) whennecessary, proceed calmly without any

hurry

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1. LECTIO = READ (2)1. LECTIO = READ (2)

Read with a pencil underline the verbsand the key words that touch you andremain with you

Identify the principal persons in the textand the secondary ones

Reflect on the context and circumstances Look for biblical cross-references, parallels

(read the Bible with your Bible)

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2. MEDITATIO = MEDITATE (1)2. MEDITATIO = MEDITATE (1)

Reflect at length and with attention

Ruminate over the values that the text presents

Interiorize allow the word to warm your heart

Confront the WORD

Place yourself before the mirror of the WORD

Place yourself within the WORD

Measure yourself against the WORD

Identify yourself with the persons in the text

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2. MEDITATIO = MEDITATE (2)2. MEDITATIO = MEDITATE (2)

Ask questions like:

What does this text mean for me?

What does it ask me to do?

Is the Lord happy with me?

Am I living this text?

What am I asked to change in my life?

True Meditation calls for digging within my life

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3. ORATIO = PRAY3. ORATIO = PRAY

Respond to God

Pray the WORD (using the WORD)

I praise you Lord

I thank you Lord I am sorry Lord

I ask you Lord

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4. CONTEMPLATIO =4. CONTEMPLATIO =

CONTEMPLATECONTEMPLATE

Know God by heart experience Him

with your heart

To contemplate is to see yourself as being

within God You are a creature within theCreator.

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5. CONSOLATIO = JOY5. CONSOLATIO = JOY

Experience the joy of the divine reality

Experience the deep interior peace, serenity of

life that flows from reflecting on the WORD

Experience the joy of your work, the satisfaction

of your duty done in harmony with the Gospel

ideal Experience the joy of courageous witness to the

Gospel

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6. DISCRETIO = DISCERN6. DISCRETIO = DISCERN

See reality with the eyes of faith, judge bythe light of the Holy Spirit

Develop the capacity to distinguish what isgood and what is evil; what comes fromthe spirit of God and what comes from the

spirit of the world Develop the capacity to choose what is

just and right

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7. DELIBERATIO = DECIDE7. DELIBERATIO = DECIDE

Choose that which conforms to the WORD the fruit of your discernment

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8. ACTIO = ACT8. ACTIO = ACT

Let your life be lived in accordance withthe Spirit; become proclamation-evangelization

Conform yourself to Christ by means of

the WORD

Act in rectitude and in love

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COLLATIO =COLLATIO =

COMMUNITY LECTIO DIVINACOMMUNITY LECTIO DIVINA

What it is: Collatio =

The community listening to the Lord by means of His WORD duringwhich each brother and sister seeks to build up the family, bysharing in simplicity of heart his/her experience of the WORD

This presumes that we are in a group to reflect - not todiscuss

This requires an attitude of welcoming avoiding prejudices and criticism

the conviction that my brother/sister can enlighten me since eachof us possesses the Holy Spirit.

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The steps that can be followed are:

1. Invoking the presence of the Holy Spirit

2. Proclamation of the WORD

3. Meditative silence4. Sharing: Communicating the WORD heard in the intimacy of

ones heart

Serenely confronting the WORD with my life

5. Praying the WORD6. Concluding with a prayer of praise and

thanksgiving