1.800.221.5175
Catechetical Programs
Christ In Us Grades K–8
Parish, K–8
School, K–8
Bilingual, K–6
We Believe: Living Your Catholic Identity Grades K–6
Parish
School
Full Access
Bilingual
We Live Our Faith, Catholic Identity Grades 7–8
English
Full Access
Bilingual
One Faith, One Lord Grades 7–Adult
English
Bilingual
Our Catholic Faith Grades 4–6
English
Bilingual
God’s Own Making
Grades 4-8
Discovering God
Ages 3–5
Between You and Your Child
English
Spanish
Catechetical Bilingual
Cristo en nosotros
Cursos 1–6
Creemos Identidad católica
Cursos K–6
Vivimos nuestra fe
Cursos 7–8
Nuestra fe católica
Cursos 4–6
Una sola fe, un solo Señor
Cursos 7–Adulto
Entre usted y sus hijos
Cursos K–8
Sacraments Programs
Believe • Celebrate • Live | Bilingual Edition Ages 7–15
Reconciliation Primary
Eucharist Primary
Reconciliation & Eucharist Intermediate
Confirmation Restored Order
Confirmation
We Believe and Celebrate
Baptism
Spanish Edition
Prayer Books
My Reconciliation and Prayer Book, Ages 7–9
Mi Reconciliación y libro de oración, Edades 7–9
My Mass Book, Ages 7–9
Mi libro de la Misa, Edades 7–9
We Believe and Pray, Grades 4–6
Sacraments Bilingual
Creer • Celebrar • Vivir Edades 7–15
Reconciliación Primaria
Eucaristía Primaria
Reconciliación y Eucaristía Intermedio
Confirmación Restauración del orden sacramental
Confirmación
Creemos y celebramos
Bautismo
Libros de oración
Mi Reconciliación y libro de oración, Edades 7–9
Mi libro de la Misa, Edades 7–9
Lifelong Learning
Bible Resources
The Compass Bible for Catholic Teens
My Big Book of Catholic Bible Stories
YOUCAT: Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church
YOUCAT: Catecismo Joven de la Iglesia Católica
YOUCAT: The Youth Prayer Book
La Biblia católica para jóvenes
Adult Resources
Becoming a Parish of Mercy
The Wounded Body of Christ
Missionary Discipleship
Catechism
Directory for Catechesis (New Edition)
Directory for Catechesis (Spanish New Edition)
The NEW Directory for Catechesis—Highlights and Summaries
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2nd Edition
United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
General Directory for Catechesis
National Directory for Catechesis
Professional Development
Professional Development
Catechetical Learning
Theology of the Body Course
Catholic Identity Course
Resources
English | View All
Catechetical Resources
Virtual Events
Religion Blog
Catechetical Downloads
Videos
Liturgical Seasons
CHATechesis Podcast
Bilingual | ver todos
Recursos catequéticos
Eventos Virtuales
Blog de Sadlier Religion
Descargas Catequéticas
Videos
sadlierReligion Hero-1.png

May 11, 2016 WBAS Topics Prayer, WBAS Topics For Families, REL Topic- Prayer, REL Asset - Prayer Card

Lectio Divina Catholic Practice; The Spiritual Art of Sacred Listening

“For haphazard reading, constantly varied and as if lighted on by chance does not edify but makes the mind unstable; taken into the memory lightly, it goes out from it even more lightly.” ~ William of St. Thierry

The “Rule of Seven” in marketing is based on the understanding that the average person needs to hear or see something seven times before making a decision to purchase a product. It affirms the value of repetition when it comes to having something sink into our minds.

lectio-divina-catholic-saint-benedict-rules.png

Lectio Divina Catholic Practice

Lectio divina is a spiritual practice based on a similar understanding. In prayer, we certainly aren’t deciding to buy something, of course. Instead we are seeking to open our hearts. The process of lectio divina draws us into Sacred Scripture through careful listening, meditation, prayer, and contemplation. It moves us from the head – where we can get stuck in cerebral pursuits – to the heart, where the Word of God rests most comfortably.

Lectio divina first appears in writing in the Rule of Saint Benedict. His invitation to listen with “the ear of the heart” draws us into a spaciousness with God’s Word, one that deepens as we move into the process. Four movements in lectio divina keep us from the kind of “haphazard reading” William of Thierry described centuries ago. The first of these is lectio – listening. It is often suggested that the reading be done aloud so that the words move beyond the mind and reverberate in the heart. Author James Finley notes that “to practice lectio consciousness is to die to the temptation to think or to say something too soon.” He calls it “sustained receptivity to a beauty not yet thought about.” I love this description as it invites a slow and mindful way to engage with the Word of God.

The second movement is meditatio – meditation. To meditate upon the text draws us further into it through establishing a connection with it. This doesn’t mean we pull out the concordance and delve into exegesis, however. By remaining centered in the heart, we open ourselves to flashes or tastes of insight. This meditative movement cultivates inner understanding by inviting us to consider how the sacred text resonates with our lives and with the world around us.

The third movement is oratio – prayer. This way of praying often occurs in wordless form. We simply let arise in us that which inspires us, draws us closer to God, weans us away from self-reliance and into total surrender to God’s will and desire.

The final movement is contemplatio – contemplation. We step back and give the Word space, allowing it to rest in us as we rest in God. This allows the text to unfold as we are drawn into a deeper awareness of God’s presence. The “ear of the heart” then becomes attuned to that movement all around us. What a lovely way to experience Scripture and to make it a vital part of our lives.

 Download my Prayer for Reverence as a way to open your heart, no matter which spiritual practice you choose.

Prayer for Reverence Download Now

Bright Ideas

  • In another We Believe and Share blog, I noted how Psalm 23 is well suited for lectio divina. Share the blog in your home or parish and then use one or two verses from the psalm to enter into this beautiful spiritual practice.

  • Download my Prayer for Reverence as a way to open your heart, no matter which spiritual practice you choose.

 

 

Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1424456