Another way of participating and seminaring in this program is through the practice of lectio divina. This term refers to reading of divine texts; “…for the monk, reading is not one activity but a way of life,” writes Ivan Illich. And writing of his friend and colleague from the 12th century, Illich says, “When Hugh [of St. Victor] refers to reading that is done for any ulterior purpose, distinct from personal progress toward wisdom, he refers to it with harsh warnings” (Illich, Vineyard of the Text, pp. 58-59, 64). We will approach our texts with an eye for joyful and serious discernment of their wisdom.
Resources for Lectio (see links below)
We urge you to read and reflect on the following adaptation of lectio divina, which will guide our 12-3 pm sessions on most Tuesdays.
AN ADAPTATION OF LECTIO DIVINA
Form a circle with each practitioner having a copy of the text that has been read. Any step in the following process may begin with any practitioner. But the speaking order follows clockwise around from the initial speaker. Silence and passing is always an option. A facilitator guides the process and keeps track of time.
1) Selecting the text.
After an initial period of two minutes of silence/reflection/contemplation/prayer, each practitioner shares her/his selection from the shared text. Length should be a minimum of one sentence and a maximum of one paragraph.
Two minutes of silence follow during which practitioners contemplate the shared selections. After this silence practitioners are invited to suggest a specific selection for use by reading it aloud. Sometimes the choice is obvious to all. Other times several rounds of re-reading selections followed by periods of silence for discernment are necessary. No arguments are made about selections; rather advocates of particular selections simply read the selection, beginning with page number. Agreement is reached when no alternate selections are read.
2) Being engaged by a word or phrase.
The selected passage is read aloud twice, once each by any two practitioners. Two minutes of silence follow during which practitioners reflect on just one word or phrase that speaks to them from the passage. This one word or phrase is then shared around the circle with no elaboration.
3) Listening for the text to speak.
The passage is read aloud twice, once each by any two practitioners. Two minutes of silence follow during which practitioners listen for what the text is saying to them. Practitioners then are invited to share openly what they have heard. The most effective language to avoid hijacking by the ego and for engaging with heartfelt thinking might be, "The text is telling me...." No "I" statements.
4) Listening for what action or inaction the text is inviting.
The passage is read aloud twice, once each by any two practitioners. Two minutes of silence follow during which practitioners listen for what the text is inviting them to do. Practitioners then are invited to share openly what the text has invited them to do. For example, "The text invited me to....” Again, no “I” statements.
During this round practitioners are invited to listen carefully to what the person to their left shares. The lectio ends with two minutes of silence during which each practitioner "holds" (reflects on, prays for) the words shared by the person to her/his left.
Ivan Illich's "Text and university" offers a critical, historical exploration of lectio divina, monastic and ascetical education, and the rise of the secular university:
http://www.davidtinapple.com/illich/1991_text_and_university.PDF
On lectio and the desert fathers:
http://www.thecentering.org/veilleux.htm
The Order of Saint Benedict page on lectio divina as a means of spiritual prayer:
http://www.osb.org/lectio/
Instruction in lectio from New Melleray Abbey, a trappist monastery in Peosta, Iowa:
on the theory of lectio divina: http://newmelleray.org/index.asp?menu=primer06
on the practice of lectio divina: http://newmelleray.org/index.asp?menu=primer07
on contemplation: http://newmelleray.org/index.asp?menu=primer11
Instruction from St. Andrew's Abbey, Valyermo, California:
http://www.valyermo.com/ld-art.html