LECTIO
We will engage in a practice of meditative reading modeled on the monastic practice of lectio divina. “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 page)
An Adaptation of Lectio Divina (based on Sarah Williams’s work)
The following adaptation of lectio divina will guide our 12-3 pm sessions on most Tuesdays.
Form a circle; make sure everyone can see everyone else. Each practitioner has in hand a copy of the text and has carefully read the text prior to the session. A facilitator guides the process and keeps track of time.
1) Selecting the text: Discernment.
After an initial period of two minutes of silence or reflection or contemplation or prayer, each practitioner reads aloud her/his selection from the shared text. Say the page number and location on the page, pause so others can find the text, then read clearly. The selection should be a at least one sentence but no more than one paragraph. The selection should be one that the whole group might work with. Choose the selection in the moment (not, for example, before coming to class). In this round, everyone reads a selection. Make notes in the margins of your copy of the texts about who chose which selections.
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. One does not “make a case” for the selection; one simply reads the text. Make a note in the margin of the person who chose the selection.
Sometimes the choice of a text appropriate for the group is obvious to all. Other times several rounds of re-reading selections followed by periods of silent discernment are necessary.
No arguments are ever made about selections; rather, advocates of particular selections simply read the selection. Agreement on a selection for the group is reached when no alternate selections are read.
In the first round, speaking order proceeds clockwise from the person who speaks first. In subsequent rounds, anyone may read at any time. Silence and reflection enhance the possibility of discerning a passage appropriate for this group at this time.
2) Being engaged by a word or phrase.
Once a passage has been selected by and for the group, the selected passage is read aloud twice. Two minutes of silence follow during which practitioners reflect on just one word or phrase from the passage that speaks to them. This one word or phrase is then shared around the circle with no elaboration.
Anyone may begin the speaking; speaking proceeds clockwise. Passing or silence is allowed.
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 task in this round is to allow the text to speak through the reader. Formulate a contribution that calls attention to the text, not the speaker. Effective language to avoid ego-hijacking the contribution might be something like, "The text is saying...." Avoid "I" statements.
4) Listening for what action or inaction the text is inviting.
The passage, again, 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 share openly what the text is inviting them to do. For example, "The text invites one to....” Again, avoid “I” statements.
Speaking proceeds clockwise from the person who begins. Passing is allowed.
One intention of this program is to “disrupt student habits.” One habit we all engage in after public speaking is enjoying the relief of being done and withdrawing from the public forum. To interrupt this habit, practitioners should, after speaking in this round, listen carefully to what the person to his or her left says.
The lectio ends with two minutes of silence during which each practitioner "holds" (contemplates or reflects on or prays for) the words shared by the person to her/his left.
