Pope Benedict XVI – On Lectio Divina
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Transcript of Pope Benedict XVI – On Lectio Divina
Pope Benedict XVI – On Lectio Divina
“I would like in particular to recall and recommend the ancient tradition of Lectio Divina: the diligent reading of
Sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer brings about that intimate dialogue in
which the person reading hears God who is speaking, and in praying, responds to him with trusting openness of heart (cf.
Dei Verbum, n.25) If it is effectively promoted, this practice will bring to the
Church – I am convinced of it – a new spiritual
springtime.”
How I am different today
How I was
Key blessing/ grace/ moment of conversion
Elements of a 3-Minute Testimony
Contemplatio (Receive)
Lectio (Read)
Meditatio (Notice, Reflect)
Oratio (Speak to God)
Lectio Divina
Pay attention & Meditate on what grabs your attention
Read Slowly, repeatedly
Notice when something grabs your attention
Lectio
What do you sense God is saying to you?
Ponder the word or verse that grabbed your attention.
What truth strikes you in this word?
How does that truth impact your life?
Meditatio
What thoughts, feelings, desires, memories are evoked for you?
Are any questions stirred in your mind?
Tell God all about it.
Talk to God about what you notice, think feel want or remember.
Be honest, be transparent, don’t filter.
What do you want to say to God?
Oratio
If / when the felt experience passes, return to reading the passage
When you sense God’ presence, power, or love, when you feel peace, joy, gratitude,
delight, light, relief, rest etc, simply pause and soak it in
Be still, be quiet, savor
This is a gift, receive it
Contemplatio
P: Pray, Praise, Pause
W: Write
R: Reflect
A: Apply
W.R.A.P
P: Pray, Praise, Pause = Oratio and Contemplatio
W: Write = Lectio
R: Reflect = Meditatio
A: Apply = More Meditatio
WRAP is Lectio “by the numbers”
Bothers you
Write down a word, verse or verses that:
Grabs your attention
Inspires you
W = Write (Lectio)
Speaks to your heart
What feeling, thoughts, questions, desires, or memories are stirred in you?
In the word or verse you have written down reflect:
What truth, principle is being communicated?
What is God saying to you
R = Reflect (Meditatio I)
Write down your reflections/ how you are moved.
How does this word speak to your life?
How does/ can this truth make a difference in the real situations of your
life?How can you apply what God is saying to
you in your life beginning today?
A = Apply (Meditatio II)
Write down the applications that come to mind. Be concrete, specific.
Write a prayer to God
Tell Him what you are experiencing as you take this time with His Word.
Tell Him your thoughts, feelings, desires, and memories, ask Him your questions.
P= Pray, Praise Pause(Oratio & Contemplatio)
Pray the verses back to God in your own words.
Pray from your heart words of thanks and praise to God
When done writing your prayer, pause:
P= Pray, Praise Pause(Oratio & Contemplatio)
Rest in His presence
Let Him love you
Receive grace and strength
1st Time: Gently return to the passage
2nd Time: Tell God about the distraction, and the thoughts feelings and desires
that come with it, then gently return to the passage
3 Step Plan for Distractions
3rd Time: Forget the passage, pray with the “distraction” It is not really a
distraction.A real distraction will never survive step
2.
When distracted by the same thing or things closely related to each other:
4. Illustrate the steps of WRAP from your own written experience from the morning session (5
minutes)
1. Give a 3-minute testimony of how praying with Scripture has made a difference in your life. (3-
minutes)2. Ask if any group member can share a grace that came to them from praying with Scripture
(2-minutes)3. Describe the steps of WRAP (10-minutes)
Power Session Plan
5. Lead them to pray with a passage using WRAP, prompting them at each step, giving them
time to do it. (15 Minutes)
7. At the end, lead a conversation inviting people to share their experience of the prayer and then of
the power session. (8 minutes)
6. Share the “30-days of WRAP” scripture suggestions (2 minutes)
Power Session Plan (Continued)
ResourcesWRAP Yourself in Scripture
Larry and Karen Dwyer
Praying Scripture for a Change- An Introduction to Lectio Divina
Tim GrayGod Help Me to Pray
Jim Beckman
www.discerninghearts.com