Lectio Divina

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Michael Casey, in Sacred Reading - The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina, writes:

"Repetition is the soul of genuine lectio. It is a right brain activity; we do not grasp the entire content immediately but in a circular manner. We read and advance, then we go back and read again. With each repetition, something new may strike us... It takes time for us to become attuned to the subtle rhythms of a particular writing; the more we can slow down our reading, the more likely it is that we will catch sight of something unexpected."

"Lectio divina is not only a means of discovering something about God; it also helps us to understand our hidden selves. It is not the alienating absorption of a message that is foreign or even hostile to our deepest aspirations; it is the surprising conclusion that our most authentic level of being is mirrored in the Scriptures. What is most intimate to our existence as persons is nourished and nurtured by God's word."

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