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.”
Elements of a 3-Minute Testimony
How I was
Key blessing/ grace/ moment of
conversion
How I am different today
Lectio Divina
Lectio (Read)
Meditatio (Notice, Reflect)
Oratio (Speak to God)
Contemplatio (Receive)
Lectio
Read Slowly, repeatedly
Notice when something grabs your
attention
Pay attention & Meditate on what grabs
your attention
Meditatio
Ponder the word or verse that grabbed your
attention.
What truth strikes you in this word?
How does that truth impact your life?
What do you sense God is saying to you?
What thoughts, feelings, desires, memories are
evoked for you?
Are any questions stirred in your mind?
Oratio
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?
Tell God all about it.
Contemplatio
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
If / when the felt experience passes, return
to reading the passage
W.R.A.P
W: Write
R: Reflect
A: Apply
P: Pray, Praise, Pause
WRAP is Lectio “by the numbers”
W: Write = Lectio
R: Reflect = Meditatio
A: Apply = More Meditatio
P: Pray, Praise, Pause = Oratio and
Contemplatio
W = Write (Lectio)
Write down a word, verse or verses that:
Grabs your attention
Inspires you
Bothers you
Speaks to your heart
R = Reflect (Meditatio I)
In the word or verse you have written down
reflect:
What truth, principle is being
communicated?
What is God saying to you
What feeling, thoughts, questions, desires, or
memories are stirred in you?
Write down your reflections/ how you are
moved.
A = Apply (Meditatio II)
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?
Write down the applications that come to
mind. Be concrete, specific.
P= Pray, Praise Pause
(Oratio & Contemplatio)
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.
Pray the verses back to God in your own
words.
P= Pray, Praise Pause
(Oratio & Contemplatio)
Pray from your heart words of thanks and
praise to God
When done writing your prayer, pause:
Rest in His presence
Let Him love you
Receive grace and strength
3 Step Plan for Distractions
When distracted by the same thing or things
closely related to each other:
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
3rd Time: Forget the passage, pray with the
“distraction” It is not really a distraction.
A real distraction will never survive step 2.
Power Session Plan
1. Give a 3-minute testimony of how praying with
Scripture has made a difference in your life. (3minutes)
2. Ask if any group member can share a grace that
came to them from praying with Scripture (2minutes)
3. Describe the steps of WRAP (10-minutes)
4. Illustrate the steps of WRAP from your own
written experience from the morning session (5
minutes)
5. Lead them to pray with a passage using WRAP,
prompting them at each step, giving them time to do
it. (15 Minutes)
Power Session Plan (Continued)
6. Share the “30-days of WRAP” scripture
suggestions (2 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)
Resources
WRAP Yourself in Scripture
Larry and Karen Dwyer
Praying Scripture for a ChangeAn Introduction to Lectio Divina
Tim Gray
God Help Me to Pray
Jim Beckman
www.discerninghearts.com