Soul Food September 2008

How to Pray Using the Bible

Praying with the Bible is different than reading or studying the Bible. The official Catholic model for praying with the Bible is known as lectio divina, a Latin term meaning “divine reading.” It is composed of five stages:

Reading (Lectio): Read slowly and reflectively, aloud if it will not disturb others. Read until you come upon a word, phrase, image, or verse that speaks to you.

Meditation (Meditatio): Think about your chosen passage of Scripture and allow the Holy Spirit to show you how to apply it to your life.

Prayer (Oratio): Share with God the emotions, thoughts, and experiences evoked by the passage.

Contemplation (Contemplatio): Sit quietly with God, just as you would with a loved one. Listen to the movement of the Spirit.

Action (Operatio): It is not enough to hear God’s word; we must act upon it in our own lives.

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From Lessons for Living: The Bible and You, pamphlet, P219, by Karl Schultz and Lorene Hanley Duquin. More info or order here»