Lectio Divina
“Lectio Divina” (pronounced lex-ee-o di-veen-a) is derived from two Latin words that means “divine reading.” It is meditative technique by which the mind is stilled and, advocates claim, proves a means to meet with God. Catholic monks in monasteries have engaged in this practice for centuries.
“A very ancient art … is the technique known as lectio divina – a slow, contemplative praying of the Scriptures which enables the Bible, the Word of God, to become a means of union with God. This ancient practice has been kept alive in the Christian monastic tradition, and is one of the precious treasures of Benedictine monastics and oblates.”
Friar L. Dysinger, Benedictine community of Saint Andrew’s Abbey
http://orientations.jesuits.ca/intro2lectio.html
Monks are now not alone. With the rise of contemplative prayer/spiritual formation amongst Protestant churches world-wide, Lectio Divina has become part of the package of this apostate movement.
Friar Dysinger explains the practice:
“Lectio – reading/listening
THE ART of lectio divina begins with cultivating the ability to listen deeply, to hear “with the ear of our hearts” …God’s word for us, God’s voice touching our hearts. This gentle listening is an “atunement” to the presence of God in that special part of God’s creation which is the Scriptures…
THE READING or listening which is the first step in lectio divina is very different from the speed reading which modern Christians apply to newspapers, books and even to the Bible. Lectio is reverential listening; listening both in a spirit of silence and of awe. We are listening for the still, small voice of God that will speak to us personally – not loudly, but intimately. In lectio we read slowly, attentively, gently listening to hear a word or phrase that is God’s word for us this day.
Meditatio – meditation
ONCE WE have found a word or a passage in the Scriptures which speaks to us in a personal way, we must take it in and “ruminate” on it. The image of the ruminant animal quietly chewing its cud was used in antiquity as a symbol of the Christian pondering the Word of God … we must take in the word – that is, memorize it – and while gently repeating it to ourselves, allow it to interact with our thoughts, our hopes, our memories, our desires… Through meditatio we allow God’s word to become His word for us, a word that touches us and affects us at our deepest levels.
Oratio – prayer
THE THIRD step in lectio divina is oratio – prayer: prayer understood both as dialogue with God, that is, as loving conversation with the One who has invited us into His embrace; and as consecration, prayer as the priestly offering to God of parts of ourselves that we have not previously believed God wants. In this consecration-prayer we allow the word that we have taken in and on which we are pondering to touch and change our deepest selves. Just as a priest consecrates the elements of bread and wine at the Eucharist, God invites us in lectio divina to hold up our most difficult and pain-filled experiences to Him, and to gently recite over them the healing word or phrase He has given us in our lectio and meditatio. In this oratio, this consecration-prayer, we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the word of God.
Contemplatio – contemplation
FINALLY, WE simply rest in the presence of the One who has used His word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace. No one who has ever been in love needs to be reminded that there are moments in loving relationships when words are unnecessary. It is the same in our relationship with God. Wordless, quiet rest in the presence of the One Who loves us has a name in the Christian tradition – contemplatio, contemplation. Once again we practice silence, letting go of our own words; this time simply enjoying the experience of being in the presence of God.”
This is not meditating upon God’s Word, the Bible, where the mind is fully engaged. It is analogous to mantra-style meditation practised by Hindus and Buddhists. Lectio Divina is simply the invention of a personalised mantra rather than a secret mantra given by a Hindu guru.
The result of Lectio Divina is an altered state of consciousness, which opens the practitioner up to the demonic spirit realm; not to God. The ‘voice’ they hear leads them away from Biblical truth.
See also Contemplative Prayer Spiritual Formation Christian Meditation