Guide to Augustinian Lectio Divina
Simplified steps of Augustinian Lectio Divina*
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* This is Augustinian version of Lectio Divina is developed and improved by the Simply Professed friars according the the Augustinian way of life. This version is used by the San Agustin Center of Studies Community.
- Opening Prayer
- Lectio – 1st reading of the Scripture
- Brief Silence
- Meditatio – 2nd reading of the Scripture
- Brief Silence
- Choose a word, phrase or sentence, then repeat it three times by memorization.
- Oratio – 3rd reading of the Scripture
- Brief silence
- Collatio – sharing
- Contemplatio – spontaneous prayers or Intercessory prayers
- Closing Prayer or closing song
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- Inviting the Lord and His Spirit
- Lectio Divina begins with the invocation of the Holy Spirit for it is the Spirit who allows the intellect to strengthened by purity of heart and who prepares us to obey the Word.
- It should be:
- loud and clear
- Direct and friendly invitation
- Quoted from the Bible
- Trinitarian
- KISS (Keep It Short and Simple)
- Reading the Text (LECTIO)
- Lectio consists in listening to the message of the sacred text, which means that while one member of the group reads the text aloud, the other members are listening.
- We should allow ourselves to listen for the still, small voice of God (1 Kings 19:12); the “faint murmuring sound which is God’s Word for us, God’s voice touching our hearts. This gentle listening is an “attunement” to the presence of God in that special part of God’s creation which is the Scriptures.
- After reading, a moment of silence has to be observed.
- Abiding with the Text (MEDITATIO)
- The text is read the second time by another member. After the reading, members are to observe a moment of silence.
- Then, the members are asked to say aloud a word or a sentence or a phrase that is of special importance to him/her. This word, phrase or sentence in the Scriptures speaks to us in a personal way; therefore, we must take it in and “ruminate” on it. The image of the ruminant animal quietly chewing its cud was used in antiquity as a symbol of the Christian pondering the Word of God. Christians have always seen a scriptural invitation to lectio divina in the example of the Virgin Mary “pondering in her heart” what she saw and heard of Christ (Luke 2:19).
- Each can repeat interiorly two or three times this word or phrase or sentence that was spoken allowing them to sink in. We must take in the word – that is, memorize it – and while gently repeating it to ourselves, allow it to interact with our thoughts, our hopes, our memories, our desires.
- Through meditation we allow God’s word to become His word for us, a word that touches and affects us to our deepest levels.
- Reading the Text the third time (ORATIO)
- Once all have spoken, the whole text is read again for the third time by another member. Then, the facilitator allows the members to be silent in order to prepare them for reflection and sharing. Authentic “oratio” is love for God who is known through love and encountered in a dialogue that is carried on in the bosom of love without the need of many words.
- As understood both as dialogue with God, that is, as loving conversation with the One who has invited us into His embrace; and as consecration, oratio is the priestly offering to God of parts of ourselves that we have not previously believed God wants. In this consecration-prayers we allow the word that we have taken in and on which we hare pondering to touch and change our deepest selves. Just as a priest consecrates the elements of bread and wine at the Eucharist, God invites us in lectio divina to hold up our most difficult and pain-filled experiences to Him, and to gently recite over them the healing word or phrase He has given is in our lectio and meditation. In this oratio, this consecration-prayer, we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the word of God.
- Sharing what has touched their life (COLLATIO)
- Participants are invited to share spontaneously from their hearts about the phrase that has touched them. Following the path St. Augustine, the penetration of the message continues in the collation which consists in the sharing of reflections of the participants based on their individual feelings and experiences. Members are asked what to share also what Christ is calling them to do.
- Praying together (CONTEMPLATIO)
- Contemplation is a very personal experience of God and is continuous desire for the beloved Spouse. In contemplation, we cease from interior spiritual doing and learn simply to be, that is to rest in the presence of our loving Father. Just as we constantly move back and forth in our exterior lives between speaking and listening, between questioning and reflecting, so inour spiritual lives we must learn to enjoy the refreshment of simple being in God’s presence, an experience that naturally alternates (if we let it!) with our spiritual practice.
- The facilitator invites the group to pray. Participants respond with spontaneous prayers to God who has spoken to them through the text.
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* This is Augustinian version of Lectio Divina is developed and improved by the Simply Professed friars according the the Augustinian way of life. This version is used by the San Agustin Center of Studies Community.