What are the four classical steps of Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading)?
Lectio Divina is an ancient monastic method of praying with Sacred Scripture, structured in four progressive movements: 1) Lectio (Reading): reading a short biblical passage slowly and attentively, listening to what God says; 2) Meditatio (Meditation): reflecting deeply on the text, asking what God is saying to my life personally; 3) Oratio (Prayer): responding to God in conversational prayer with thanksgiving, petition, or repentance; and 4) Contemplatio (Contemplation): resting silently in God's loving presence beyond words, letting His grace transform the heart.
Sources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1177
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2708
- Luke 2:19
Awaiting review by the chaplaincy. Written in our own words; the Church's own texts are the authority.