What Is Lectio Divina? How To Do Lectio Divina Like The Monks
Published February 20th, 2019
I have been teaching religious education to children – generally fourth graders – for a little over 20 years. It is a volunteer position and I always tell them at the first class that I consider it the most important class they will ever have.
More important than math or English or any of their other classes they have at school because this class will be important to every aspect of their lives throughout their lives. I ask them to think of someone they do not like, don’t tell me who that person is but tell me why they don’t like them.
As they all call out to me why they don’t like their particular person I list the qualities of that person on the chalk board. I always end up with a long list of vices like bully, mean, rude, angry, dishonest, lazy, unkind, selfish, etc.
Then I ask them to think of someone they like, love and respect – don’t tell me who that person is and list the reasons why they like, love, respect them. I always end up with a long list of virtues like kind, considerate, honest, leader, brave, patient, hard working, etc.
The two lists are in vertical columns beside each other on the chalk board by this stage and then I ask them to look at the columns and decide which kind of person they would like to be. One type is a drain, the other is a fountain. They always choose to be a fountain not a drain.
Everyone wants to be a fountain.
So everyone wants to be a fountain but we become drains because, by failing to regularly read and absorb (ponder) Jesus’ words, we are like the branches who are not connected to The Vine.
The path to fountain hood is found by following Jesus our Good Shepherd. He has opened a door for us but we don’t automatically pass through it – we actually have to do something to go through the door.
If I were a fireman going to put out a fire there is absolutely nothing I could do to help stop the fire if I were not able to connect to a source of water.
Trying to be the good person God created us to be, producing the good fruits that we are meant to produce out in the world is similarly impossible without first connecting to God.
So What Exactly Is Lectio Divina?
Lectio Divina is practiced throughout the worldwide Church because it is one of the greatest ways to connect to the Source of Goodness. Lectio Divina or Sacred Reading is a form of prayer I learned from the Cistercian monks at Holy Spirit Monastery in Conyers Ga.
It is part of their daily prayer practices and involves reading the Gospel for the day slowly and more than once to see if any part of the Gospel sticks out in their mind. If some part of it does, they then wonder about why that part struck them.
Some of the monks will write down the word or phrase that caught their attention on a piece of paper, stick it in their pocket and look at it once in a while throughout the day, pondering.
Sometimes they will ponder the same message for many days at a time. The end result of this pondering – which can also be called “contemplation” – is that by doing so, one’s mind is turned to God, inviting Him to teach us, guide us.
It is one of the many ways that a person can connect themselves to “The Vine” as Jesus refers to himself in the parable where he compares us to branches who can not produce any fruit or even be alive if we are not connected to him – The Vine.
When I go on retreat at Holy Spirit Monastery, I have attended, more than once, the Lectio Divina retreat.
The monk who gives that retreat describes the process of Lectio Divina in these steps:
- Listen to the Word
- Ponder the Word
- Respond to the Word
- Delight in God’s Presence
The Bible instructs us in various places to “rejoice in the Lord” and “let rejoicing in the Lord be your strength”. The word “rejoicing” is the word used by God to describe what He ultimately wishes for us.
He wants us to be happy and his instructions to us on how to live were meant to lead us to the “fullness of life and love”. The step of Pondering the Word includes experiencing God talking to us, guiding us, shepherding us.
Some people find it ridiculous to think that God talks to people. I believe God can and wants to talk to everyone. The Good Shepherd shepherds. Sometimes He uses words if He wants to do so.
Sometimes those words come out of the mouths of people we don’t necessarily like but we know He has spoken to us when His words touch our heart no matter who He decides to speak to us through.
This stage requires profound Humility.
If we are too proud to be corrected by Him through others we never make it to the Respond to the Word stage. This stage requires profound Humility.
It requires us to know that we don’t know everything and that we can do better if we allow Jesus to guide us. If we make it through the Respond stage we enter into the place where the church choir is singing “Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.”
Delight In God’s Presence
This is the Delight in God’s Presence stage. I would like to witness it has been my experience that this prayer practice genuinely does lead to this delight and rejoicing.
In Conclusion
It is something I do every morning before I begin my day. Compared to beginning my day by reading the newspaper I can definitely say that it is more joyful to start with Lectio Divina than the news.
One is a source of joy and the other a source of distress. The monks limit their news consumption to the point where they don’t know the daily news but are informed by one appointed monk to know the big stories that are out there so they can keep the world in prayer.
They don’t need to know every little thing going on in the world at all times and doing so is considered a big distraction to prayer. They consider their prayer practices to be their actual work and the Church refers to their prayer practices as “the work of God”.
As a mother, wife and employee I consider these prayer practices essential to carrying out my duties. Embarking on my day is like embarking on an unseen journey even if I know what my plans are going to be.
Who would go on a trip somewhere and not take a look at the map before getting started. My morning prayers are my map, my connection to The Vine, my joy.
I am very grateful to the Church, the monks and God for having been blessed to learn this an other prayer methods like the Rosary and the Mass.
(Related: Most Beautiful Cistercian Monasteries and Abbeys Around the World)
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Lay Cistercians of South Florida, is a community of lay people who seeks to have a deeper connection with God by living a life inspired by the monks and nuns through Lay Monasticism. Learn more about what is a Lay Cistercian on our website. Anyone who aspires to do the same as us, and is a confirmed Catholic is welcome to join us! We meet every second Saturday of the month at Emmanuel Catholic Church in Delray Beach, Florida.
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About The Author
Nancy Heise is a devoted Catholic and a member of the Lay Cistercians of South Florida based in Delray Beach Florida. This private group is affiliated with the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers Georgia.
