One of the oldest of Christian devotional practices, Lectio Divina basically consists of reading a short piece of biblical text slowly and repeatedly, allowing some short phrase or even a word to emerge as somehow significant. You then sit with that word or phrase, chewing it over and letting it begin to speak.
Phases of this activity include reception, contemplation and response.

week one

The four stages of Lectio Divina are 1. Lectio (reading), 2. Meditatio (meditation), 3. Oratio (prayer), 4. Contemplatio (contemplation).

Here's what to do at each stage:

1. Read slowly through a selected passage. When a word or phrase resonates particluarly with you, stop reading, and stay with that word or phrase. Note, the resonance of the phrase might be warm and comforting, or it might be an anger response, or one of shock or disruption. All of these are fine - Lectio Divina is about honest engagement, not approved reactions.

2. Meditate on the word or phrase. Roll it round in your mind. Free associate with it - let images, feelings, memories, other words, arise.

3. Pray...respond to God about what you have meditated. You can speak, write, draw...make any kind of response, reflecting on your word/phrase and what it has meant to you. Tell God how you feel, what you think, regardless of whether your response is positive or negative towards the text or God.

4. Sit a while, resting in God's presence, and love. Let thoughts go.

Then, you can either finish, or, if you like, return to the passage, and pick up where you left off and keep reading until a new word or phrase resonates.

Over the next six weeks, we will recommend six Bible passages for you to practice Lectio Divina with. We begin with a psalm of hope and oasis, as we prepare to enter on the Lenten journey. For the following weeks, we have chosen passages from some of the darker Psalms in the Bible that have traditionally been associated with Jesus' crucifixion. You are, of course, free to choose your own passages as the weeks pass.

this week:

Go through the Lectio process with Psalm 23

week two

Go through the Lectio process with Psalm 22 verses 1-11

week three

Go through the Lectio process with Psalm 22 verses 12-21

week four

Go through the Lectio process with Psalm 22: 22-31

week five

Go through the Lectio process with Psalm 69: 1-15

week six

Go through the Lectio process with Psalm 69: 16-36

week seven

We hope that you have found value in engaging with a prayer path through this Lenten season. As Lent draws to a close, you might like to reflect on the following questions:

- How easy/hard was it to maintain a regular meditation practice?

- What did you gain from the experience?

- What did you struggle with?

- How might you develop this practice in an ongoing way?

click to return to the prayer paths page.