Talk:Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina is a method of prayer and meditation developed in the 6th Century by St. Benedict. The objective of this practice is obtain "knowledge of Christ," and to develop a closer and more intimate relationship with the Holy Trinity.
While originally conceived as a Christian spiritual practice, the basic concepts can be applied to other religious texts, especially those pertaining to prophetic and/or messianic figures. Some examples include particular Buddhist Sutras, Vedic scriptures, and the Torah.
The process of Lectio Divina consists of four key steps: Lectio (read), Meditatio (meditate), Oratio (pray), and Contemplatio (contemplate).
Lectio
Prior to reading the scripture, it is common to prepare oneself, either by clearing the mind to better absorb the text, or by inviting the Holy Spirit inside themselves to better guide them during throughout the duration of the experience.
Once feeling prepared, the participant slowly reads the text, most often several times. Each new pass at the reading ideally carries a new specific focus at a different facet of specific passage.
Meditatio
After reading the passage, one is supposed to meditate on the Word. However, instead of interpretation and analysis, one should focus on Christ himself, and visualize him speaking to them directly in the passage, as opposed to the figure he may have been speaking to. This is the first step towards communication with the Trinity.
Oratio
After the meditation, the practitioner prays to Christ, offering love and gratitude for this experience. During the process of Lectio Divina, prayer is only a way to give thanks and positive messages; nothing regarding one's trials or tribulations should be "discussed". As it now resembles a reciprocal conversation, the participant is ready for the next dialogue, hidden in the step of Contemplatio.
Contemplatio
In the final step of Lectio Divina, one undertakes a lengthy period of contemplation, or silent prayer. The objective of this step is to listen for God's reply, which is not necessarily an auditory or visual cue, but rather a semblance of cognitive euphoria. The general idea is that as long as one doesn't break the connection to the Trinity, this feeling probably will not subside.