Tag: Lectio Divina
The noonday devil (Acedia) and the experience of nothingness
When ask to respond to the invitation to describe the ‘Cistercian charism’ specific to our Order as you desire to live it out in your community? My spontaneous response was this: “I believe that Lectio Divina is at the heart of our charism. Without it, our lives can become too scattered and we can lose… Read More ›
The threads of our lives (Journaling)
Sometimes when I think of God, the image of a weaver comes into my mind. Then I imagine and infinite number of threads being brought together to make some sort of tapestry. All kinds of threads; some thick, others so thin that you can barely see them, some of the strings so strong that they… Read More ›
Inner silence (I still struggle with it)
The silent soul is capable of attaining the closest union with God. It lives almost always under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. God works in a silent soul without hindrance—Faustina’s diary 477 (e) ++++++++++ There is a great deal written about inner silence. Silence is important, to be able to quiet the mind which… Read More ›
The Purpose of Reading
Reading should serve prayer, should dispose the affections, should neither devour the hours nor gobble up the moments of prayer. When you read you are taught about Christ, but when you pray you join him in familiar colloquy. How much more enchanting is the grace of speaking with him than about him! Gilbert of Hoyland
Three Keys to Hearing God’s Voice
Pope Benedict XVI tells us that as much as we may like quick answers, we can gain clarity on the enigmas of life only as we take the time to immerse ourselves in the word of God. So in this article, we want to look at how we can meet Jesus, the living Word of… Read More ›
Pope Benedict “teaches” Lectio Divina
… the greatest attention was paid to lectio divina, which is truly “capable of opening up to the faithful the treasures of God’s word, but also of bringing about an encounter with Christ, the living word of God”. I would like here to review the basic steps of this procedure. It opens with the reading… Read More ›
The prayerful reading of sacred Scripture and “lectio divina”
… The word of God is at the basis of all authentic Christian spirituality. The Synod Fathers thus took up the words of the Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum: “Let the faithful go gladly to the sacred text itself, whether in the sacred liturgy, which is full of the divine words, or in devout reading, or… Read More ›
Pope calls for Church to rediscover the Word of God
Vatican City, Nov 11, 2010 / 08:07 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI has issued a lofty and impassioned plea for everyone in the Church to rediscover the Bible and to grow in “an ever greater love of the Word of God.” “We must never forget that all authentic and living Christian spirituality is based… Read More ›
Without monasticism, Protestants miss out on community
CLYDE, Mo. NCR — Sr. Dawn, who met us when we arrived at the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration monastery here, used to be what I still am — a Presbyterian. Same story with Sr. Sean, the prioress. Same with two old friends whom my wife and I accompanied on a recent Sunday visit to… Read More ›
Four Movements of Lectio Divina
Prepared by the novices of Gethsemani Abbey, via Fr. Michael Lectio (Reading) Acquaintanceship Read the Scripture Gather the facts “Listen” to God’s word What word/phrase speaks to you? (allow 1-2 min quiet time) Meditatio (Meditation) Friendliness Read the Scripture again Let Jesus speak to you Reflect on the message What is God saying to you?… Read More ›