One Word Rosary Meditations and Lectio Divina

Last night while I said my rosary, I tried to keep my meditations simple. I chose one word that came to me to focus on. Perhaps this is influenced with a recent exposure to Lectio Divina. (more on that below)

The Joyful Mysteries

• The Annunciation ~ FIAT
• The Visitation ~ FORERUNNER
• The Nativity ~ INFANT OF PRAGUE
• The Presentation ~ THE OFFERINGS
• Jesus in the Temple ~ EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

More on Lectio Divina... I learned about it three years ago, during (of all things) a UU prayer study class. I still giggle when I think about it. In the class, led by a layperson, we were to study the different forms of prayer, going through a different type each week. On Sunday after the service, we would gather and discuss our impressions and thoughts.

Much to my surprise, when I asked what kind of things were happening for people when they prayed in these various styles, eyeballs bugged and the layleader stammered: We dont actually PRAY the prayers! We are just studying them!

Oh. I see.

Classic UU. And I say that with familiar affection knowing how many UU's I know and adore who over intellectualize things, but never actually make themselves vulnerable enough to indulge.

Shortly after this class, a Catholic friend introduced me to the idea. For me, restarting my prayer life after 30 years of refusing to pray, Lectio Divina seemed too structured. And now I am learning from Catechesis of the Good Shepherd training that a young child's first prayer is often of gratitude, not structured, very conversational and relaxed. Perhaps this is a good place to start when starting over. It was what I needed at the time.

Nevertheless, prayer comes much more easily to me now, and Lectio Divina is an inspiring challenge that mixes things up a bit. It is hard for me to pick one word. And that makes for a good discipline.

You can search all over for information about Lectio Divina, but it looks like Fr. Luke Dysinger, O.S.B. has quite a passion for it! http://www.valyermo.com/ld-art.html

Four basic steps include:

• Lectio - reading/listening
• Meditatio - meditation
• Oratio - prayer
• Contemplatio - contemplation

This is from Fr. Dysinger's site. But I encourage you to follow the link and see the abundance of information he provides beyond these paragraphs!

Private Lectio Divina

CHOOSE a text of the Scriptures that you wish to pray. Many Christians use in their daily lectio divina one of the readings from the Eucharistic liturgy for the day; others prefer to slowly work through a particular book of the Bible. It makes no difference which text is chosen, as long as one has no set goal of “covering” a certain amount of text: the amount of text “covered” is in God's hands, not yours.

PLACE YOURSELF in a comfortable position and allow yourself to become silent. Some Christians focus for a few moments on their breathing; other have a beloved “prayer word” or “prayer phrase” they gently recite in order to become interiorly silent. For some the practice known as “centering prayer” makes a good, brief introduction to lectio divina. Use whatever method is best for you and allow yourself to enjoy silence for a few moments.

THEN TURN to the text and read it slowly, gently. Savor each portion of the reading, constantly listening for the “still, small voice” of a word or phrase that somehow says, “I am for you today.” Do not expect lightening or ecstasies. In lectio divina God is teaching us to listen to Him, to seek Him in silence. He does not reach out and grab us; rather, He softly, gently invites us ever more deeply into His presence.

NEXT TAKE the word or phrase into yourself. Memorize it and slowly repeat it to yourself, allowing it to interact with your inner world of concerns, memories and ideas. Do not be afraid of “distractions.” Memories or thoughts are simply parts of yourself which, when they rise up during lectio divina, are asking to be given to God along with the rest of your inner self. Allow this inner pondering, this rumination, to invite you into dialogue with God.

THEN, SPEAK to God. Whether you use words or ideas or images or all three is not important. Interact with God as you would with one who you know loves and accepts you. And give to Him what you have discovered in yourself during your experience of meditatio. Experience yourself as the priest that you are. Experience God using the word or phrase that He has given you as a means of blessing, of transforming the ideas and memories, which your pondering on His word has awakened. Give to God what you have found within your heart.

FINALLY, SIMPLY rest in God's embrace. And when He invites you to return to your pondering of His word or to your inner dialogue with Him, do so. Learn to use words when words are helpful, and to let go of words when they no longer are necessary. Rejoice in the knowledge that God is with you in both words and silence, in spiritual activity and inner receptivity.

SOMETIMES IN lectio divina one will return several times to the printed text, either to savor the literary context of the word or phrase that God has given, or to seek a new word or phrase to ponder. At other times only a single word or phrase will fill the whole time set aside for lectio divina. It is not necessary to anxiously assess the quality of one's lectio divina as if one were “performing” or seeking some goal: lectio divina has no goal other than that of being in the presence of God by praying the Scriptures.