Lectio Divina on your own

Lectio Divina: on your own

This is one way of praying which Ignatius recommends in the Spiritual Exercises, and which has great value beyond the Exercises and into regular prayer. Lectio Divina is usually used with the scriptures, although it can also be value in reading other spiritual books. For example, I once had a marvellous time on retreat using lectio divina as part of my reading of Ste. Thérèse’s Story of a Soul.

Literally, divine or holy reading, is a method of reading very slowly. Start by choosing a passage to read. Why not try Psalm 139? First, read the whole passage through. Take a moment to be silent, asking the Holy Spirit to speak to you, and then read the passage again, this time giving full attention to yourself and your responses as well as to the passage you are reading.

Read slowly, paying attention to every word. If a word or a phrase attracts you, stop. Stay with that phrase, letting it roll over in your mind. If you find that it begins a thread of thought or prayer, stay with it. Perhaps there is something that you need to say to God as a result of this line of thought – or perhaps there is something that God wants to bring to your attention. I recommend using a notebook, diary or prayer journal to write down your thoughts as you do lectio divina, but it is not essential. When you have exhausted the line of thought, go back to the passage and read on, again, stopping if a word or phrase stands out.

You may find that you read most of a passage before something really speaks to you; or that you read a long section and find that the overall impression of that section is what you are caught up by; or you might pray for two hours and not get beyond the first verse. It does not matter, in this exercise, how far you get or how much of the passage you read. On this occasion you are not reading in order to increase Bible knowledge – you can do that another time. This is about having a conversation with God which is sparked off by, and rooted in, his word – or sometimes in the words he has given to other servants.

Lectio divina takes time. Don’t try it if you are in a hurry to go somewhere – you should allow yourself at least an hour. I usually find it helpful to have time afterwards to let the thoughts and prayers settle, perhaps by sitting quietly in a chapel or church, or by going for a walk.

Ideally, do this kind of prayer in a place and/or at a time when you know you will not be disturbed. If you have to stop to answer the phone or the front door you will lose the flow of prayer and the exercise will be devalued.