Pope Benedict XVI – On Lectio Divina

“I would like in particular to recall and recommend the ancient tradition of Lectio Divina: the diligent reading of

Sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer brings about that intimate dialogue in

which the person reading hears God who is speaking, and in praying, responds to him with trusting openness of heart (cf.

Dei Verbum, n.25) If it is effectively promoted, this practice will bring to the

Church – I am convinced of it – a new spiritual

springtime.”

How I am different today

How I was

Key blessing/ grace/ moment of conversion

Elements of a 3-Minute Testimony

Contemplatio (Receive)

Lectio (Read)

Meditatio (Notice, Reflect)

Oratio (Speak to God)

Lectio Divina

Pay attention & Meditate on what grabs your attention

Read Slowly, repeatedly

Notice when something grabs your attention

Lectio

What do you sense God is saying to you?

Ponder the word or verse that grabbed your attention.

What truth strikes you in this word?

How does that truth impact your life?

Meditatio

What thoughts, feelings, desires, memories are evoked for you?

Are any questions stirred in your mind?

Tell God all about it.

Talk to God about what you notice, think feel want or remember.

Be honest, be transparent, don’t filter.

What do you want to say to God?

Oratio

If / when the felt experience passes, return to reading the passage

When you sense God’ presence, power, or love, when you feel peace, joy, gratitude,

delight, light, relief, rest etc, simply pause and soak it in

Be still, be quiet, savor

This is a gift, receive it

Contemplatio

P: Pray, Praise, Pause

W: Write

R: Reflect

A: Apply

W.R.A.P

P: Pray, Praise, Pause = Oratio and Contemplatio

W: Write = Lectio

R: Reflect = Meditatio

A: Apply = More Meditatio

WRAP is Lectio “by the numbers”

Bothers you

Write down a word, verse or verses that:

Grabs your attention

Inspires you

W = Write (Lectio)

Speaks to your heart

What feeling, thoughts, questions, desires, or memories are stirred in you?

In the word or verse you have written down reflect:

What truth, principle is being communicated?

What is God saying to you

R = Reflect (Meditatio I)

Write down your reflections/ how you are moved.

How does this word speak to your life?

How does/ can this truth make a difference in the real situations of your

life?How can you apply what God is saying to

you in your life beginning today?

A = Apply (Meditatio II)

Write down the applications that come to mind. Be concrete, specific.

Write a prayer to God

Tell Him what you are experiencing as you take this time with His Word.

Tell Him your thoughts, feelings, desires, and memories, ask Him your questions.

P= Pray, Praise Pause(Oratio & Contemplatio)

Pray the verses back to God in your own words.

Pray from your heart words of thanks and praise to God

When done writing your prayer, pause:

P= Pray, Praise Pause(Oratio & Contemplatio)

Rest in His presence

Let Him love you

Receive grace and strength

1st Time: Gently return to the passage

2nd Time: Tell God about the distraction, and the thoughts feelings and desires

that come with it, then gently return to the passage

3 Step Plan for Distractions

3rd Time: Forget the passage, pray with the “distraction” It is not really a

distraction.A real distraction will never survive step

2.

When distracted by the same thing or things closely related to each other:

4. Illustrate the steps of WRAP from your own written experience from the morning session (5

minutes)

1. Give a 3-minute testimony of how praying with Scripture has made a difference in your life. (3-

minutes)2. Ask if any group member can share a grace that came to them from praying with Scripture

(2-minutes)3. Describe the steps of WRAP (10-minutes)

Power Session Plan

5. Lead them to pray with a passage using WRAP, prompting them at each step, giving them

time to do it. (15 Minutes)

7. At the end, lead a conversation inviting people to share their experience of the prayer and then of

the power session. (8 minutes)

6. Share the “30-days of WRAP” scripture suggestions (2 minutes)

Power Session Plan (Continued)

ResourcesWRAP Yourself in Scripture

Larry and Karen Dwyer

Praying Scripture for a Change- An Introduction to Lectio Divina

Tim GrayGod Help Me to Pray

Jim Beckman

www.discerninghearts.com