Lectio divina: reading the Bible the way monks do

Lectio divina, or "divine reading", is a way of reading the Bible slowly, in order to pray it rather than study it. Practiced by monks since the early centuries, it is often described in four stages: reading, meditating, praying, contemplating. It asks for very little: a text, a quiet moment, fifteen to thirty minutes. In abbeys and monasteries, it has a place of its own every day, alongside the Divine Office and work.

What is lectio divina?

A reading that listens

The Rule of Saint Benedict begins with one word: "Listen". Lectio divina carries this attitude further. The aim is not to read a lot, or quickly, or to exhaust the meaning of a passage. You read a little, reread, stop on a word or phrase that catches your attention, and let it resonate. Monks speak of "rumination": the text is taken up again, chewed over, and kept in mind throughout the day.

A particular text

Lectio divina is practiced first of all with the Bible, read as a word addressed personally to the reader. It can also draw on the texts of the day's liturgy, especially the Gospel, which makes it possible to read at the same pace as the Church and as the community where you are staying.

What it is not

Lectio divina is not Bible study, even if it benefits from a good understanding of the text. Nor is it a relaxation technique. It is prayer: a dialogue in which you listen before answering.

Where does lectio divina come from?

The Fathers of the Church

The expression dates back to the 3rd century. Origen, a theologian from Alexandria, recommends in a letter to his disciple Gregory that he apply himself to the "divine reading" of the Scriptures, with attention and perseverance. The Desert Fathers, and then the first monks of East and West, learned long passages of the Bible by heart and recited them while working.

The Rule of Saint Benedict

In the 6th century, Saint Benedict includes lectio divina in the monks' daily schedule (chapter 48 of his Rule). He opens this chapter with a now famous sentence: "Idleness is the enemy of the soul". The days therefore alternate between manual work and reading, at hours set according to the seasons. Even today, the typical day of a monk includes times set aside for lectio.

Guigo the Carthusian and the four rungs

In the 12th century, Guigo II, Prior of the Grande Chartreuse, set the method down in writing in a letter known as The Ladder of Monks. In it he distinguishes four rungs: reading, meditation, prayer and contemplation. He compares the process to a meal: reading brings the food to the mouth, meditation chews it, prayer draws out its flavor, and contemplation is the sweetness that remains.

Today

The Second Vatican Council recommends diligent reading of Scripture to all the faithful (constitution Dei Verbum, 1965). In 2010, Benedict XVI again describes the steps of lectio divina in the exhortation Verbum Domini. The practice has spread far beyond monasteries: parishes, prayer groups, individuals.

The four steps of lectio divina

1. Lectio: reading

Read the chosen passage slowly, first all the way through, then a second time. In a low voice if it helps: the monks of antiquity read half aloud. Simply ask yourself: what does the text say? Who is speaking, to whom, and in what situation?

2. Meditatio: meditating

Pause on the word, image or phrase that caught your attention. Repeat it inwardly, connect it with other passages and with your own life. The question becomes: what is this text saying to me today?

3. Oratio: praying

Respond. Meditation gives rise to a request, a thank you, a question, sometimes a resistance. You say it to God, in your own words or in those of the text. The question is then: how do I answer him?

4. Contemplatio: contemplating

Fall silent, and remain there. This last step cannot be forced: it is a rest, a presence, which may last a few seconds or longer. Several authors add a fifth step, actio: the reading continues in a concrete decision for the day.

These steps are not a procedure to be followed to the letter. You often move from one to another, or go back. They describe a movement: from reading to prayer, then to silence.

How to practice lectio divina at home

• Choose a regular time and place: in the morning before the day begins, or in the evening, always in the same spot.
• Set a length of time, for example twenty minutes, and stick to it, even on days when nothing seems to happen.
• Choose a short text: the Gospel of the day (on the AELF website, for example), a psalm, a few verses.
• Begin with a time of silence, and a short prayer to become attentive.
• Read, meditate, pray, contemplate, without trying to get to the end of the passage.
• Write down a word or phrase in a notebook, to keep it in mind during the day.

Which texts to choose to begin with?

The psalms lend themselves well to lectio, for example Psalm 23 (22), "The Lord is my shepherd". In the Gospels, the parables of Luke 15 (the lost sheep, the prodigal son), the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) or the image of the vine in John 15 are good starting points. You can also follow a whole book, a few verses a day, as monks do.

Common difficulties

Distractions are normal: simply return to the text, without blaming yourself. On some days, nothing seems to happen; regularity matters more than how you feel in the moment. Finally, the temptation to understand everything can turn lectio into study: it is better to keep a single word than ten explanations.

Lectio divina in a group

Lectio divina can also be practiced with others. After a reading aloud and a time of silence, each person shares, if they wish, the word that touched them and what they hear in it, without commenting on what others say. The sharing ends with a time of prayer. This form is common in parishes and during preached retreats.

Experiencing lectio divina during a retreat at a monastery

A retreat is a good time to discover lectio divina or to take it up again. The setting helps: the silence, the absence of demands, and the Divine Office, where you hear the psalms sung and the texts of the day read. You can take the Gospel of the Mass as your text for lectio, and find it again sung or commented on during the day.

Some communities offer introductory sessions on lectio divina, or preached retreats built around a book of the Bible. In others, a monk or nun can often suggest a text or answer questions: just ask at the guest house. During Lent, lectio takes on a special place in monastic life.

To find a place, you can search by region on RITRIT for abbeys and monasteries that welcome retreatants.

Frequently asked questions about lectio divina

What does lectio divina mean?

Lectio divina is a Latin expression meaning "divine reading". It refers to a prayerful reading of the Bible, practiced by monks since the early centuries.

What are the four steps of lectio divina?

Lectio (reading), meditatio (meditating), oratio (praying) and contemplatio (contemplating). They were described in the 12th century by Guigo II the Carthusian. Some add actio, putting it into practice.

How long does lectio divina last?

There is no set length. Fifteen to thirty minutes is enough to begin. In monasteries, time for lectio often exceeds an hour a day.

Do you need to be a believer to practice lectio divina?

Lectio divina is a Christian prayer: it presupposes reading the Bible as a word addressed by God. Yet a person who is searching can try it, with their questions. Reading slowly and in silence is already an experience in itself.

What is the difference between lectio divina and meditation?

Meditation, in the usual sense, often focuses on breathing or attention to the present moment. Lectio divina starts from a biblical text and leads to a prayer addressed to God. Meditation is only one of its steps.

Which Bible should you use for lectio divina?

Any recognized translation will do. The liturgical translation, published online by the AELF with the readings for each day, lets you read the same texts as those of the Mass and the Divine Office.