Lectio Divina
The Carmelite Constitution No 82 says that, “Lectio divina is an authentic source of Christian spirituality recommended by our Rule. We therefore practice it every day, so that we may develop a deep and genuine love for it, and so that we may grow in the surpassing knowledge of Christ. In this way we shall put into practice the Apostle Paul’s commandment, which is mentioned in our Rule: “Let the sword of the spirit, the Word of God, live abundantly in your mouth and in your hearts; and whatever you must do, do it in the name of the Lord”
The word Lectio is a Latin word which means reading and divina is also a Latin word which stands for ‘divine’. Therefore, Lectio Divina would mean “divine reading”. It is the reading of Sacred scripture in a way that helps us to let go of our own motives by opening ourselves to the will of God. Lectio Divina then is pre-eminently an act of prayer which must be practised in an atmosphere that allows silence, reflection and prayer.
The following Bible texts and citations help us see the need to read the Sacred Scriptures in our daily life:
“… the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe” (Deuteronomy 30:14)
“The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (that is the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and is so justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.” (Romans 10:8b-10)
In Lectio the Spirit gives us inner ears to hear the divine Word. (Karl Barth)
It is a pilgrimage in search of “the face of the Beloved beyond any sensible image, in the depths of the heart, in the most perfect silence” / “Learning to know the heart of God in the word of God”. (St. Gregory the Great)
Lectio Divina, the personal closer drawing to the scriptures is a right of every baptised person and must be made accessible to them. (Carlo Martini).
Lectio Divina is authentic when the heart opens to the influence of the Holy Spirit who, enlivening the flame of faith, allows us to discover in the pages of the Bible the treasures of divine wisdom and knowledge that are placed or hidden there: the unfathomable riches of the saving plan of the Father (cf. Romans 11:33; Colossians 1:27). (S.A. Panimolle).
Lectio Divina is a prayed reading. (J. Leclercq).
HOW TO PRACTICE LECTIO DIVINA
This is the first stage which begins by asking the power of the Holy Spirit to help us comprehend and live the scripture. Hence the “Spirit gives us inner ears to hear the divine Word” (Karl Barth). As we read the Word of God we hear the voice of God speaking to our hearts. We need to create an attitude of both exterior and interior silence as St John of the Cross advices us that the Word of God which is spoken in silence and which must be heard in silence by the soul. Reading of the text should not be in haste, but slowly and attentively to facilitate a deeper comprehension of the Word.