20 Days of Lectio

Lectio Divina, Latin for “Divine Reading,” is a traditional monastic practice of prayerful scripture reading, meditation, and contemplation that aims to foster communion with God and deepen one's understanding of His word. It's not primarily about academic Bible study; but instead, it represents a slow, deliberate engagement with scripture, allowing the text to speak to the heart rather than just the intellect.

Traditionally, Lectio Divina involves four main steps:

* Lectio (Reading): This first step involves reading a chosen passage of Scripture slowly and attentively.

* Meditatio (Meditation): After reading, you reflect deeply on the word or phrase that resonated with you.

* Oratio (Prayer): This step is a conversation with God about what you've read and reflected upon. This could involve praise, gratitude, confession, petition, or simply expressing your thoughts and emotions to Him.

* Contemplatio (Contemplation): The final step is a time of quiet rest in God's presence. It's about simply "being" with God.

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For 20 days, I've used Lectio to develop a deeper relationship with God. It’s been both a meditative practice and a test of my ability to open my heart and mind to God's love and grace. In your own time, I encourage you to try Lectio, or some form of spiritual mediation, to foster a deeper connection to oneself, others, and God.

Words from my 20 days of Lectio:

1. Reconciliation

2. Break

3. Fellowship

4. Dwell

5. Near

6. Truth

7. Torn

8. Poured

9. Disquieted

10. Wait

11. Wilderness

12. Guide

13. I am

14. Separated

15. Desires

16. Strength

17. Beloved

18. I will

19. Tent

20. Owe

Isaiah 55:3 (NIV): "Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live"

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Lectio Divina has a rich and continuous history within Christian spirituality, evolving from ancient practices of engaging with sacred texts into the formalized method known today.

It’s early roots are in the Jewish and Early Christian Traditions. Meditation on the Torah and sacred scriptures date back to at least the 3rd century B.C and possibly earlier. The very early Church valued the sacramental relationship of scripture. Figures like Ambrose of Milan and Augustine of Hippo encouraged the faithful to engage deeply with scripture, moving beyond mere intellectual understanding to a transformative encounter with God.

In the 3rd and 4th centuries, the Desert Fathers and Mothers in Palestine and Egypt practiced a form of constant prayer centered on the Word of God. They would hear scripture recited publicly and then ponder those words privately. While not yet the formalized four-step Lectio Divina, this emphasis on dwelling on scripture was a crucial precursor.

The formal establishment of Lectio Divina as a regular monastic practice is largely attributed to St. Benedict of Nursia born around 480. He integrated Lectio Divina as a core component of the daily life in Benedictine monasteries. This slow, thoughtful, and prayerful reading of Scripture became their form of meditation, a contemplative joy that emphasized "listening with the ear of our hearts" to God's word.

While the practice was integral to monastic life for centuries, the explicit four-step process of Lectio Divina was formalized by Guigo II, a Carthusian monk, in the late 12th century. In his work, The Ladder of Monks, he clearly articulated the four "rungs" of Lectio that we know today.

However, the popularity of Lectio began to fade with the rise of Scholasticism and the emphasis on systematic theological study in the Middle Ages. Later, the Reformation's focus on sermon-based teaching also challenged the direct, personal, and contemplative approach of Lectio Divina.

The resurgence of Lectio is anchored in the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). The Council's Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation encouraged all Christians, not just monastics, to engage in spiritual reading of scripture. Since then, its popularity has significantly increased, not just by Catholics, but among many Protestants and other Christians seeking a deeper, more contemplative relationship with God.