GROWTH IN RELATIONSHIP Handout # 1 A RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPS BY A PROCESS OF GROWING INTIMACY With Another Person With Christ (Through Scripture) Acquaintance o Informational o Formal Friendliness o Conversational o Informal o Self-Disclosure Friendship o Faithfulness o Commitment Intimacy o Shared Joy & Suffering o Confidence & Gratitude o Self-surrender o Experience of Oneness Reading the Word of God in Scripture with increased attentiveness as an encounter with Christ Reflecting (Pondering) on the Word of God in Scripture as a basis for a conversation with Christ Responding Spontaneous acts of love, adoration, petition, sorrow, thanks Resting in God Openness to receive God s presence and action in our prayer
Scripture Passage Lectio Divina Prayer Experience Response Paper Handout # 2 Scripture Passage: Choose an appropriate passage for the prayer experience. It is recommended that initially the passage describes an active dialogue between Jesus and his followers. Luke:36b-48 36b Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, Peace be with you. 37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, Have you anything here to eat? 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence. 44 Then he said to them, These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled. 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. Lectio: What word or phrase catches my attention? Meditatio: What is God saying to me? Oratio: What response is emerging within me? What is my response to God s invitation?
Contemplatio: Let God s Word rest within me. Be in God s transforming presence.
INFORMATIONAL READING FORMATIONAL READING Interplay and balance Handout # 3 1. Seeks to cover as much as possible Concerned with quality of as quickly as possible to get data. reading, not quantity. 2. Linear, trying to move quickly Reading in depth. Allow the over the surface of the text. passage to open to multiple layers of meaning. 3. Seek to grasp control, to master Allow the text to master you, the text. 4. Regard the text as an object The text becomes the we try to manipulate. subject of the reading relationship; we are the object that is shaped by the text. 5. An analytical, critical, judgmental Requires a humble,. approach. detached, receptive, loving approach. 6. Bring a problem-solving mentality. Come open to the mystery of God. Formational approach to scripture is a discipline that needs to be developed. It requires time to Center down, to become still, to relinquish, to let go of your life in the presence of God. (p. 60) We must have a certain level of information about the biblical passage, some sense of the meaning of the text in its original context, some sense of what God was saying to the intended readers before it can become formational. (p. 61) Mulholland, Jr. M. Robert, Shaped by the Word, Revised Edition, Nashville, TN: The Upper Room Books. 2000.
Distinction and Interplay between Lectio Divina and Centering Prayer Handout # 4 Lectio Divina Participatory Active More Concentrative Word of Scripture has content Use thoughts, images, and insights Supports the motivation for the practice of Centering Prayer Rest comes and goes; is not permanent Focuses on the terms of the relationship Group or private Centering Prayer Receptive Passive More Receptive Sacred Word has no conceptual content except intentionality Let go of thoughts, images, insights Supports the motivation for practice of Lectio Divina. Rest sustained by use of sacred word Helps us overcome the obstacles to living the terms of the relationship Group or private Summary: Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina are two distinct prayer forms. If used together there is always a break between these two ways of praying. It is helpful to have a period of Centering Prayer before a period of Lectio Divina if the group is familiar with both kinds of prayer. Gift of Centering Prayer to Lectio Divina: There are three obstacles to the journey; over conceptualization, hyperactivity and over dependence on self. Centering Prayer helps us get beyond these obstacles and settle into the quiet as we listen to the scriptures, Lectio Divina, in a contemplative manner. Centering Prayer opens us to new thoughts, new action and a deeper dependence on God. Gift of Lectio Divina to Centering Prayer: Lectio Divina, the praying of Sacred Scripture, deepens our personal relationship with God. It calls us to rest in God s transforming presence. Lectio Divina teaches us who God is and who we are.
Four Approaches to the Practice of Lectio Divina Father Thomas Keating Handout # 5 Practice I To Introduce Lectio Divina A Scholastic Method of Lectio Divina for Community Prayer (with a brief sharing after each step). 1. Lectio: (Listening to the Word of God or Reading God s Word) As we listen to the Word of God for the first time I invite you to be aware of any word or phrase that catches your attention a word or phrase. Allow 1 minute of silence for reflection. Ask the listeners to share out loud to the whole group, if so moved to do so what was the word or phrase that caught your attention in the reading? After the sharing, allow a few moments of silence so that what was heard may sink deeper within. 2. Meditatio: (Reflecting on the Word of God) As we listen to the Word of God for the second time I invite you to be aware of any reflection or thought that you become aware of as you listened a reflection or thought. Allow 1 minute of silence for reflection. Ask the listeners to share out loud to the whole group, if so moved to do so what reflection or thought that you became aware of as you listened? After the sharing allow a few moments of silence so that what was heard may sink deeper within. 3. Oratio: (Responding to the Word of God) Affective Prayer As we listen to the Word of God for a third time I invite you to be aware of any prayer that rises up within you that expresses what you are experiencing in this Word of God. Allow 1 minute of silence for reflection. Ask the listeners to share out loud to the whole group, if moved to do so a prayer that expresses what you are experiencing in the Word of God. After the sharing allow a few moments of silence so that what was heard may sink deeper within. 4. Contemplatio: (Resting in the Word of God) Contemplation As we listen to the Word of God for a fourth time I invite you to just sit with the Word of God and allow God to speak to you in the silence of your hearts. God s first language is silence. Allow 3 to 4 minutes of silence. Closing Prayer: Almighty God thank you for the gift of your Word. May we take the word or phrase that spoke to us, the thought that we became aware of and the prayer that came from our hearts, into the activity of our day (the time of retreat) as a reminder of our genuine desire to consent to your presence and action in our lives. We offer this prayer through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen Gently ring the bell to end the session and leave, if appropriate, in silence.
Practice II To Strengthen the Practice A Scholastic Method of Lectio Divina for Community Prayer (with a brief Faith Sharing at the end). 1. Lectio: (Listening to the Word of God or Reading God s Word) As we listen to the Word of God for the first time I invite you to be aware of any word or phrase that catches your attention a word or phrase. Allow some minutes of silence for reflection. 2. Meditatio: (Reflecting on the Word of God) As we listen to the Word of God for the second time I invite you to be aware of any reflection or thought that you become aware of as you listened a reflection or thought. Allow some minutes of silence for reflection; one might ask what is this text saying to me today? 3. Oratio: (Responding to the Word of God) Affective Prayer As we listen to the Word of God for a third time I invite you to be aware of any prayer that rises up within you that expresses what you are experiencing in this Word of God. Allow some minutes of silence for reflection. 4. Contemplatio: (Resting in the Word of God) Contemplation As we listen to the Word of God for a fourth time I invite you to just sit with the Word of God and allow God to speak to you in the silence of your hearts. God s first language is silence. Allow 3 to 4 minutes of silence. Ask the listeners to join in a brief faith sharing that expresses what they are experiencing with the word of God. After the sharing allow a few moments of silence so that what was heard may sink deeper within. Closing Prayer: Almighty God thank you for the gift of your Word. May we take the word or phrase that spoke to us, the thought that we became aware of and the prayer that came from our hearts, into the activity of our day as a reminder of our genuine desire to consent to your presence and action in our lives. We offer this prayer through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen Gently ring the bell and end the session in silence.
Practice III To Enter into the Contemplative Dimension of Lectio Divina A Monastic Method of Lectio Divina for Community Prayer Preliminary Comments: The monastic way is unstructured, in a sense method less. One reads or listens to the word of God in a particular passage chosen for the occasion and then the only process is to follow the attraction of the Spirit. For example: Read the passage slowly (with appropriate pauses). After a minute or two of silence, read it again. As you listen you may be aware of a phrase, sentence, insight or even a word in the sense of message that catches your attention (reading). Sit with that phrase, sentence, insight or word, repeating it gently over and over in your heart, not thinking about it but just being with it (pondering it in your heart). Be aware of any prayer that rises up within you that expresses what you are experiencing (responding). Or just rest in the phrase, sentence, insight or even one word, resting in God beyond your thoughts, reflections, and particular prayer. Resting in God in the simple attraction of interior silence (resting). Closing Prayer: Almighty God, thank you for the gift of resting in your Word. May we take the phrase, sentence, insight or even one word that spoke to us and the prayer that came from our hearts into the activity of our day as a reminder of our genuine desire to consent to your presence and action in our lives. We pray that we may become this Word through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen Optional: After the closing prayer, ask the participants to join in a brief faith sharing that expresses in some way what they experienced with the word of God. After the sharing, allow a few moments of silence so that what was heard may sink deeper within. Gently ring the bell to end the session.
Practice IV Ongoing Daily Practice of Lectio Divina The Private Practice of Lectio Divina 1. Read the Scripture passage for the first time (it helps to read it aloud softly). What phrase, sentence or even one word stands out to you? Begin to repeat that phrase, sentence or one word over and over, allowing it to settle deeply in your heart. If any insights arise do not expand these insights right now. This can be done at a later time. Simply return to the slow repetition of the phrase, sentence or one word, savoring it in your heart. 2. Relish these words; let them resound in your heart. Read the passage as often as you wish, learning these words by heart as you continue to repeat them in your mind. 3. Let an attitude of quiet receptiveness permeate the prayer time, an openness to a deeper hearing of the Word of God. 4. As you continue to listen to this phrase, sentence or word, a prayer may arise spontaneously in response. Offer that prayer; then return to repeating the word in your heart. 5. When you find that you move beyond the meaning of the phrase, sentence or word to the gift of the divine presence of the Word, rest in God as long as the Presence or attraction remains. Note: These steps are not separate, but flow into each other. There is no hurry to finish any particular chapter or verse; it is more important to listen deeply to God s word to you at this moment. To extend the practice: When the time you have chosen for Lectio Divina is over, take the phrase, sentence or word into your daily activity and listen to it, reflect on it, pray over it and rest in it as time allows during the day. Allow it to become part of you.
Contemplatio Meditatio Holy Spirit Oratio Lectio BECOMING THE WORD OF GOD: GUIDING PRINCIPLES Handout #6 A. Begin with a prayer to the Holy Spirit 1. The Spirit is the divine source of Lectio Divina. 2. Be open to the divine presence within self. 3. The Spirit is the guide to all truth. B. Be spontaneous and creative 1. Start at any of four moments, wherever one feels called. 2. Read Christ into the OT as the fathers/mothers did. 3. Read the NT as if one is reading about one s own experience of grace. 4. Memorize and put on the Scriptures in mind and heart. C. Be open on all levels of one s being. 1. Listen as God speaks to the different levels of one s being, i.e., imagination, memory, will, reasoning, reflective and intuitive faculties. 2. Be faithful when the Spirit moves towards intuitive faculties and prayer becomes dry. 3. Trust that God is calling one to a deeper union, relationship and communion. D. Read the gospel stories as parables of grace. 1. Read your experience of grace into the gospels and see them as parables of grace. 2. Let the external word awaken the interior Word. E. Be aware of one s limitations. 1. Know that one s interpretation of Scripture is limited. 2. Acknowledge that one s interpretation is determined by where one is coming from. 3. Receive one s insights as for today; receive others tomorrow. F. Move from more to less. 1. From reading a lot to reading less 2. From reflecting a lot to reflecting less 3. From praying a lot to praying less; from saying prayers to being in prayer 4. Resting a lot, even in the midst of activity.
God and creation: Lectio Divina on Life Handout # 7 God is present in all of creation. If one is daily growing in the art of finding Christ in the pages of the Bible, one naturally begins to discover Him more clearly in aspects of the other things He has made. This includes, of course, our own personal history. Our lives are fit matter for Lectio Divina. Lectio on Life: Very often our concerns, our relationships, our hopes and aspirations naturally intertwine with our pondering on the Scriptures, as has been described above. Sometimes it is fitting to simply sit down and "read" the experiences of the last few days or weeks in our hearts, much as we might slowly read and savor the words of Scripture in lectio divina. We can attend "with the ear of our hearts" to our own memories, listening for God's gentle presence in the events of our lives. We thus allow ourselves the joy of experiencing Christ reaching out to us through our own memories. Our own personal story becomes "salvation history." Applying Lectio Divina to my personal Salvation History Purpose: to apply a method of prayerful reflection to a life/work incident (instead of to a scripture passage) Listening for the Gentle Touch of Christ the Word (The Literal Sense) 1. Quiet your body and mind: relax, sit comfortably but alert, close eyes, be attuned to your breathing... 2. Gently reviews events, situations, sights, encounters that have happened during the last week or month in your life. 3. Focus on one event or relationship that draws your attention, being attentive to what you notice. Gently Ruminating, Reflecting (Meditatio - Meditation) 4. Continue to focus on the life experience.. a) Recollect the setting, sensory details, sequence of events, b) Notice where the greatest energy seemed to be evoked. Was there a turning point or shift? c) In what ways did God seem to be present? To what extent was I aware then? Now? Prayerful Consecration, Blessing (Oratio - Prayer) 5. Use a word or phrase from the Scriptures to inwardly consecrate - to offer up to God in prayer - the incident and interior reflections. Allow God to accept and bless them as your gift. Accepting Christ's Embrace; Silent Presence to the Lord (Contemplatio - Contemplation) 6. Remain in silence for some period. 7. After a period of silence, you may wish to journal about your lectio on life.
Evaluation of Lectio Divina Introductory Workshop Handout # 8 Place Date Circle the appropriate number for the following: 5 (most helpful), 4 (very helpful), 3 (helpful), 2 (less helpful), 1 (not helpful) Introductory Talk 5 4 3 2 1 Lectio and Meditatio Talk 5 4 3 2 1 Oratio and Contemplatio Talk 5 4 3 2 1 Becoming the Word of God Talk 5 4 3 2 1 Lectio Experience 5 4 3 2 1 Schedule for day 5 4 3 2 1 Facility 5 4 3 2 1 Presenter/team 5 4 3 2 1 Overall evaluation of day 5 4 3 2 1 What in the workshop will have the greatest impact on your prayer life and relationship with the scriptures? Additional comments and suggestions: