Lechio Divinia

 the prayers of the Lectio Divina, a way of praying with the Sacred Scripture. Lectio Divina means “divine reading” and it involves four steps: reading, reflecting, responding, and resting in God’s word1. You can choose any passage of scripture for Lectio Divina, but it is recommended to start with a short and simple one. Here is an example of how to pray Lectio Divina with Psalm 23:

1. Read Psalm 23 slowly and attentively, noticing any word or phrase that stands out to you.
2. Reflect on the meaning and significance of the word or phrase that caught your attention. What does it say about God, about yourself, or about your relationship with Him?
3. Respond to God in prayer, expressing your thoughts and feelings about the word or phrase. You can thank Him, praise Him, ask Him for help, or share your struggles with Him.
4. Rest in God’s presence, listening for His voice and enjoying His love. You can also repeat the word or phrase silently in your heart as a way of staying connected to Him.

Lectio Divina is a powerful and personal way of encountering God through His living word. I hope this helps you to pray with the scriptures. God bless you! 

“Seek in reading and you will find in meditation; knock in prayer and it will be opened to you in contemplation.” ~St. John of the Cross explaining the four steps of Lectio Divina

1. READ a brief passage of Scripture – “take a bite”
2. REFLECT and meditate on the word or phrase that caught your heart – “chew”
3. RESPOND in prayer to what God called to your attention – “savor”
4. REST in God, contemplating his word to you – “digest”