Lectio Divina

Meditation engages thought, imagination, emotion, and desire. This mobilization of faculties is necessary in order to deepen our convictions of faith, prompt the conversion of our heart, and strengthen our will to follow Christ. Christian prayer tries above all to meditate on the mysteries of Christ, as in lectio divina or the rosary. This form of prayerful reflection is of great value, but Christian prayer should go further: to the knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus, to union with him (CCC 2708).



"Assiduous reading of sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer makes that intimate dialogue possible in which, through reading, one hears God speaking, and through prayer, one responds with a confident opening of the heart." (Pope Benedict XVI)


Lectio Divina is simple. It consists of four stages, or movements:

1. Reading (Lectio)
In the first movement, read the Bible passage slowly. Use your imagination and immerse yourself in the biblical scene. What do you see, hear, touch, smell, taste? Look for a particular word, phrase or image that captures your attention and speaks to you.

2. Reflecting (Meditatio)
Next, reflect on what God wants to say to you through that particular word, phrase, or image. Is He encouraging you, calling you to repent, teaching you, etc? Be sure to simply listen attentively to the Lord’s promptings.

3. Responding (Oratio)
In this third movement, it is time for you to respond to the promptings the Lord gave you in the second movement. Speak to him with your whole heart in prayer, asking for graces to spiritually grow.

4. Resting (Contemplation)
The final movement is a time to simply rest in God’s presence and gaze upon Him in filial, loving contemplation, grateful for his graces and kindness.

Take as much or as little time praying with the Scriptures in this manner. Don't let distractions dissuade you. If prayed consistently, God will indeed speak to you in the words of Scripture.

For more resources, please view the links to the left. Enjoy the video below too. It's a humurous take on how not to pray with Lectio.