As I embark on this new adventure (Breaking the Word), it makes perfect sense to start somehow from the basics, and present — at least briefly —  this form of prayer called the Lectio Divina. 

Lectio Divina (literally, Divine Reading) is a way of praying the Word of God typical of the monastic tradition, which has — thankfully — become more widespread in the Church. Praying the Word of God is always a moment of encounter, with the profound understanding that the same Spirit that was at work in the sacred authors (hence “inspired”) is the very same spirit at work in us when — individually or in the community of believers — we pray the Sacred Scriptures.

Lectio Divina is traditionally divided into four main steps or moments: lectio, meditatio, oratio and contemplatio:

1. LECTIO (Reading). The first step is reading the biblical passage that we’d like to pray.  We are often so used to certain texts (because we have heard them before so many times) that our listening tends to shut down, and we tend to lose out on relishing in the text. It helps therefore to read the text calmly, carefully, taking note of it in detail: where does the narrative take place? Who are the characters (main and secondary) in the story? What are doing? What are they saying? Such reading aims to understand in greater depth the text itself, as well as place it in context (often it is good to see what come immediately before and after the particular passage).
2. MEDITATIO (Reflection). The second step is to reflect on the Word itself. What is the meaning of this passage, what is it trying to say? And more specifically, what is this text saying to me, today?
3. ORATIO (Prayer). The third moment invites us to turn to God in prayer that emerges from our reflection: perhaps to thank God for something, ask for a particular grace, or ask for forgiveness. It really helps if we are not afraid to speak to the Lord, in not being worried about the form/structure of our prayer. St Ignatius of Loyola would suggest that in such a moment we should speak to the Lord “as a friend speaks to a friend”.
4. CONTEMPIATIO (Contemplation). From prayer, which is somehow an “active” moment, we move to the fourth moment: contemplation. We are invited to stay in the presence of God, to remain in God. In many ways this is a “passive” moment: one where we are not “doing” something with the Word, but rather place ourselves before the Lord, in a moment of interior intimacy with the Lord.

As in all ways of praying, that is a great variety, many different shades of how they can be presented and applied. These four steps/moments, therefore, should not be understood in a rigid way, but rather as a means, a help to prayer.

[Italian version here]