A knight’s perspective
By Mike Langlois
Contributing writer
For thousands of years, people have used storytelling to make sense of their world. When combined with prayer, this tradition forms a significant spiritual discipline called Lectio Divina.
Lectio Divina — Latin for “Divine Reading” — is a reflective way of praying with Holy Scripture that originated with early Church Fathers like Origen (185–254 AD). An influential theologian for his time, Origen taught that focusing on Christ was crucial for understanding Scripture. St. Benedict of Nursia (480–547 AD), who is known as the father of Western monasticism, later formalized Lectio Divina and stressed the value of listening with the “ear of the heart.” By practicing Lectio Divina, Scripture becomes more than just words — it leads to a deeper, personal connection with God.
The Holy Bible, with its 46 Old Testament and 27 New Testament books, can be daunting for a Christian theologian, let alone a lay Christian. In Lectio Divina, a reader chooses a single passage, which is manageable, creating less anxiety, and leads to a more focused approach to a particular reading. The gospels, psalms, or Sunday Mass readings are the ideal choice for the meditative prayer practice. Before starting, it is important to place yourself in a quiet environment and calm any anxiety while acknowledging God’s presence. We can offer a prayer to the Holy Spirit for inspirations such as, “Come, Holy Spirit, enlighten my heart and mind to listen to your word.” The traditional steps of Lectio Divina are:
1) Reading the text slowly and attentively, listening for a word or phrase;
2) Reflecting on what stands out, repeating it and considering its meaning;
3) Praying to engage in a dialogue with God based on your reflection;
4) Rest quietly with God, experiencing peace and letting God work within you.
For instance, we may read “The Birth of Jesus” from the Gospel of Luke and focus in on, “And while they were there, the time came for her (Mary) to be delivered. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” (Luke 2: 4-7)
After reading the passage, we might reflect that we are the Bethlehem innkeeper who turned away Mary and Joseph that night. Though the inn is full, we feel an unexpected compassion for the travel-weary couple at our door. We offer them the stable — a clean, warm, if humble, place to stay — and they accept gratefully. By helping them, we’ve perhaps unknowingly helped ourselves — our salvation. The next morning, shepherds arrive to honor the family, and even the animals seem drawn to the newborn child. We wonder what this remarkable sight could signify.
As we ponder the scene of the Blessed Family in this small, relatively insignificant village, we continue with Lectio Divina and pray upon our reflection on the passage. We may ask, “God, in what way can I comprehend the birth of your son whom you sent to save the world?” or “How does this passage affect me in the present?” or “What message of hope can I draw from these divine words given to us through our almighty and heavenly Father?” There are countless ways to reflect, and each person’s experience is unique. When a certain sentence or phrase catches a reader’s eye, it might be seen as a moment where God is sharing new understanding. Finally, the time spent reading, reflecting, and praying leads to quiet rest; to sit quietly with God in peace.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church advocates for meditation, including Lectio Divina, as an essential component of prayer. “This mobilization of faculties is necessary in order to deepen our convictions of faith, prompt the conversion of our heart, and strengthen our will to follow Christ” (CCC 2708). Similarly, the Holy Rosary, with its focus on the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious mysteries, is seen as a form of Lectio Divina. Tradition says the Blessed Virgin Mary first gave the Rosary to St. Dominic of Guzman in 1208 after he prayed earnestly for help against the Albigensian heresy in southern France. Later, at Fatima in 1917, she renewed the call for daily Rosary prayers for peace, highlighting the importance of meditating on events from Christ’s life (the Mysteries of the Rosary) as it is written in Holy Scripture. While the Catholic Church does not require belief in private revelations like those at Fatima, those who do believe will find Mary’s divine guidance critical for growing closer to Jesus.
Whether practiced through the steps of Lectio Divina or the meditative rhythm of the Holy Rosary, sacred reading is an invitation to truly know God. By taking time to listen with the “ear of the heart,” we let the living Word move beyond words on a page and become a personal conversation with our Creator. God deeply desires a genuine relationship with us; all we need is to set aside the time.
