LECTIO DIVINA

• LECTIO (Reading): The first step of any Lectio Divina is to read.  This is not reading for knowledge, or for pleasure, this is not intended to be speed reading.  This is meant to be the beginning of a conversation with God.  This reading should be intentional, slow, meaningful, with ears open.  Take a short scripture, and do not try to tackle too much at one time.  One of the readings for the day, or a parable, or short segment from the scriptures.  Take each word one at a time, listening to what is being said.
• MEDITATIO (Meditation): The second step is to meditate.  For some this is best done reading the passage again, taking time to pause after a sentence or two, listening for a word or phrase to strike you.  Take time then to ponder what this means.  This is not time to be looking interiorly toward yourself, but to meditate on what God is saying to you at this moment with this phrase, this word, this passage.  Some will immerse themselves into the story, meditate on what it would be like to be a part of this passage.  They might think about who they are in the story, what the words mean to them, how they are responding to the story.
• ORATIO (Prayer): The third step is prayer.  This is a response to that which we meditated on.  An opportunity to speak to God about what this passage means to you.  This is time of silence, no reading or anything else during this time.  This is a time to commune with God.  Tell Him what you are thinking, what is going on in your life that this speaks to.  Give to God your reaction to that which was read.
• CONTEMPLATIO (Contemplation):  This final step is the time to listen to God.  You might read through the Scripture one last time to hear if God is saying something to you directly through this.  You take time to silence your heart and listen for the words of God to enter in.  You ask God what change must take place within you because of this reading.  You make a commitment to change, to grow, to do what the Lord is asking of you.

Lectio Divina for Children

• LECTIO (Reading): Read the scripture to the children slowly.  Make sure that you are just choosing a couple sentences for them to focus on, or a good story they can immerse themselves in.  Before reading to the children make sure to tell them to listen to each word for God to speak to them.
• MEDITATIO (Meditation): Ask questions about the reading.  Ask questions such as: what word is God using to speak to you?  What do you think the meaning of this scripture is? What would it be like to be______?
• ORATIO (Prayer): Children can have silent time. It is ok to let there be some silence.  Before the silence let the children know that they are to talk to God at this time.  They should tell God what they think the scripture means, they can tell Him what is going on in their lives.  Then let there be a few minutes of silence.
• CONTEMPLATIO (Contemplation):  It is good to read the scripture again slowly. Tell them to think about the scripture and what God is asking of them, how they are supposed to be different after the prayer.  After reading the scripture give a few more minutes of silence.