The practice begins with reading a short passage of scripture slowly and attentively, listening for a word or phrase that resonates. In meditation, one reflects deeply on this word, allowing it to interact with thoughts, memories, and feelings. Prayer involves responding to God in dialogue about what has emerged. Finally, contemplation rests in silent presence beyond words.
Unlike analytical study, Lectio Divina approaches scripture not as object of knowledge but as means of encounter with the divine. The text becomes a doorway rather than a destination, leading to direct experience of God's presence.
Saint Benedict incorporated Lectio Divina into his Rule, making it central to monastic life. The practice spread throughout medieval Christianity and has experienced renewed interest across denominations as a contemplative alternative to purely intellectual Bible study.
Its method—slow, repetitive, receptive—cultivates a contemplative mindset applicable beyond formal practice.
Source
Benedictine and Christian Contemplative Tradition