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Welcome the Word
From an ancient desert prayer to Lectio Divina:
Around the Fourth Century (C.E.) Christians who desired a deeper relationship with Christ moved into the Egyptian and Sinai deserts. They did so in order to leave behind the comforts of family, friends, home, and career. This was a sacrifice they were making of the things that sustained their external selves in order that the true inner self may blossom.
They began one by one. Often living the life of a hermit. Over time experienced men and women, abbas and ammas, were sought out for their wisdom. It is around such people that these desert dwellers began to settle and eventually form the first communities of disciples living in individual cells but often meeting together for Sunday prayer and instruction.
It was to such a person as Abba Isaac that John Cassian was directed to in the desert. Cassian wanted to learn how to pray. He was given a scripture to silently ponder to himself, "O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help." We might say that this phrase was used somewhat like a mantra for it was silently repeated within. It is also similar to Lectio Divina, a prayer method which takes a brief scripture passage and ponders it. This prayer method was later identified as having four stages by Guigo II, a Carthusian monk of the 12th Century:
(1) Lectio - to read, listen
(2) Meditatio - to reflect, ponder
(3) Oratio - to pray, respond
(4) Contemplatio - to rest
It is at the fourth stage, contemplatio, that we find a coming together of Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer (and Centering Prayer, a method that facilitates contemplative prayer - a gift from God). For as the word slips away in one's silent repetition, one sits in silence before an ineffable God.
This site is presenting a method of teaching Lectio Divina to young people, ages 11-15.
Lectio Divina for Young People by Robert Gordon
The purpose for teaching Lectio Divina to young people is to awaken them to the personal relationship one has with God and to hopefully increase the frequency at which they pray until, as St. Paul states, they can pray “without ceasing”. Emphasizing the personal relationship is important within formal religious studies as it lessens the academic or ‘school setting’ of the environment. We know the Bible is studied but it is more than a text to be examined. It is a collection of interpreted encounters with God. It has formed the faith of millions of believers over the centuries. It has not lost its power to do so. The word of God is empowered by the Holy Spirit. Lectio Divina is a method that facilitates the encounter between human and divine. It facilitates an experience of the divine through God’s word.
Normally Lectio Divina is a private prayer that can be appropriated for group use. The teaching method used here for young people, ages 12-15, is a group method based on the Scholastic paradigm.
It is initially taught during religious or Christian education classes or within a retreat setting. It is then encouraged that the practice becomes a regular part of faith formation for both the individual and the group. The method takes about 15 minutes as an individual or group experience.
The method taught has been named “Praying with the Bread of Life”. The reason supporting this title is twofold. (1) It is based of the self-description of Jesus as the Bread of Life in the Gospel of John. Jesus is the spiritual nourishment. To hear the word of God and act upon it is transformative. The word becomes part of us and we become the word. (2) The initial teaching of the method can use bread as the medium to be prayed with. In other words, the use of bread has been a successful tool for teaching the process. Each moment is experienced using a flavorful, textured bread to eat and reflect upon. The reflection process itself often brings to mind a memory of a special occasion or a loaf of bread freshly baked by a grandparent or parent. The experience helps one to ponder something ordinary that gives rise to a fond memory, an ordinary bliss.
The art of pondering is integral to Lectio Divina. Pondering is an element of understanding and forming relationships. The experience is common for our young people. For example, when one meets someone new there is usually an initial comparison that takes place. One compares the new person to what one looks for in others as complimentary or emotionally positive. This occurs on a number of different levels. Unfortunately, it often ends at the physical comparison alone. If the person isn’t attractive enough or their physical appearance represents a group persona one doesn’t associate with, e.g. geek, gothic, cheer leader, jock, etc. then the relationship begins and ends at the acquaintance level. No need to ponder here; but, if there is some attraction then one will ponder, consider, this person as being a part of their circle of friends. They may come away from the encounter saying to themselves, “Hey this guy’s cool. Brilliant with computer games! Maybe I’ll invite him over to sit with my boys at lunch.” It’s a thought that is keeping one in mind with maybe nothing definite being imagined beyond the presence of the other. Such a pondering begins the relationship and leaves open the possibility that it will go beyond acquaintance. The four levels of relationship as taught by Contemplative Outreach, Ltd are below.
LEVELS OF RELATIONSHIP
Acquaintance:
Familiarity with name, face, and obvious facts about the person and one’s personal interpretation of the encounter.
Friendliness:
As one spends more time with another one shares more about themselves. We let our guard down to certain degree as trust begins to grow but there is still no commitment to the relationship.
Friendship:
With friendship there is trust and commitment. One invites their friends into their home. One becomes vulnerable and generous with self. One desires to respond to the other.
Intimacy or Union:
In this level the two in relationship have become like one another. They know each other so well they know longer need words to communicate. One might say they are in each other’s presence always even if not physically present.
RELATIONSHIP IN CONTEXT OF CHURCH PRAYER
• Acquaintance Formal Prayer: Hail Mary–
Name & face, etc. Sign of the Cross, Creed, etc.
• Friendliness Reflective/meditative
– Sharing without commitment Rosary, devotions, adoration
• Friendship Spontaneous prayer
– Trust/commitment/home charismatic/emotional/
responding to movement of the
Spirit.
• Intimacyy Rest in the Spirit
– Union contemplation
RELATIONSHIP AND THE FOUR MOMENTS OF LECTIO DIVINA
• Acquaintance Lectio/Listen/Read
• Friendliness Meditatio/Reflect
• Friendship Oratio/Respond
• Intimacy/Unity Contemplatio/Rest
We will now look at Lectio Divina for young people using the following variation, Praying with the Bread of Life.
“Praying with the Bread of Life”
To begin, choose a scripture passage for this prayer experience. Commonly the Sunday Gospel reading is chosen if the prayer experience is a weekly event. For daily prayer or if you faith tradition does not have set readings for its Sunday worship, one can begin with the beginning of any of the gospels and gradually pray your way through it. Be patient. The purpose of the method is prayer not reading the gospels all the way through. The passage one chooses should not be brief, five or six verses. Sometimes this is not possible. One wants to keep a reading intact. Some of Jesus’ parables are 40 or more verses long.
For the group prayer, the passage is read four times in a prayerful and reverential manner so it can be clearly heard. The children are asked to remain silent throughout except when asked to respond. For example, a leader may ask children to share, if they want to, the word or phrase that struck them after the first reading. Those who want to share should raise their hand. The leader will call upon those who are willing to share.
It can be beneficial to have a copy of the reading for each child. This can be a handout or make use of their personal Bibles. I have used both ways. We use the Good News Bible (GNT) a translation published by the American Bible Society which has a dynamically rendered translation that serves a pastoral use of the scriptures well.
After you have chosen the scripture passage, begin with a brief prayer to the Holy Spirit.
First Reading
Eat the Bread Read the Word of God slowly. Choose a word or a verse that stands out for you. This is God’s wisdom for you today. (Note: You might ask the children to circle the word or verse in their Bible or scripture sheets to aid their participation. It becomes a part of their pondering. Other variations are [1] have the children doodle with the word that stands out for them or [2] draw their representation of what they hear while listening.)
Second Reading
Chew the Bread Chew the Word of God. After you read the Word a second time, reflect on it. What do you think the message is for you today? Chew it. Get all the flavor you can out of it. Meditate on it. Take it to your heart by learning the Word by heart. Repeat the word or verse you chose when you first ate. Hold it in your heart by repeating it over and over again softly, slowly, silently to yourself. Children may be called upon to share what the scripture is saying to them. Remind the children that they only share what they believe the particular passage is saying to them. They are not to comment on what others have shared.
Third Reading
Swallow the Bread Swallow the Word as you read it a third time. Respond to God by letting the word lead you to pray. Are you inspired to say something to God? Here is the moment to say it. Talk with God freely. This is your private time with the Lord.
Fourth Reading
Rest and let it Rise Let the Word rest in your heart with fourth reading. Like bread in an oven, it will rise without you watching it. In silence, let it rest. Let it rise. Breathe quietly. Sit with your word, your reflection and your prayer.
End the prayer period by slowly saying an “Our Father”(“Lord’s Prayer”) together with the young people.
Bread Sticks: You can stay in prayer by snacking on the Word throughout the day. Simply take the word or verse that stood out in flavor for you at the beginning and repeat it silently to yourself whenever you remember to; or, if something comes up to mess with your day; instead of getting angry or getting even, snack on the Word.
Following the prayer period the young people are reminded that they can carry the word or phrase that struck them throughout the day by silently repeating it to themselves. This is what is known as the ‘bread stick’ above.
There are prayer cards available which contain the above method. They may be used as Bible bookmarks.
For more information I may be contacted at robert@centeringprayerchicago.org
BIBLIOGRAPHY
MacBeth, Sybil. Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God. Brewster, Mass.: Paraclete Press, 2007.
On the Lectio Divina for Young People Presentation by Robert Gordon
Note: Robert Gordon gives a two hour presentation to Middle School students as an introduction to Lectio Divina. It includes a power point presentation and utilizes music, scripture and snack food as media for prayer. This article refers to this presentation.
“You spoke to me, and I listened to every word. I belong to you, Lord God Almighty, and so your words filled my heart with joy and happiness.” Jeremiah 15:16 (Good News Translation)
Lectio Divina is a method of prayer that deepens one’s relationship with the divine. One can look at it organically in its development. What I mean by this is that the four moments that make up the method are no different than the natural way human beings perceive, understand and accept/reject the exterior world. The fourth moment is the ever becoming integrated life. The exterior experience has moved in varying degrees to the interior life where it becomes more intimately involved. This intimacy is what Centering Prayer addresses. For young people I focus on the awakening and developing of their relationship with God. I begin where words have a great impact with youth, song lyrics. Music is a great part of our lives particularly when we are younger. The music we listen to can become historical/emotional markers of important events in our young lives, e.g. first recital, first love (“our song”), theme song of our ‘championship’ school team, Prom theme, etc. The song I have been using this year is Alicia Keys’ “No One”. She is a great talent. It appears she has found her voice with the As I Am album. The songs are delivered more strong and freely expressed than in her previous releases. “No One” authentically expresses love and loss. With young people, ages 12 – 14, I play the song twice. They are asked to hear the song as if God were singing to them using Alicia’s voice. (1) First Moment – we listen. I then hand out the lyrics and ask them to circle a word or verse that stands out for them. (2) The song is played again with the lyrics available. They are asked, “What is God saying to you?” The responses based on the song could have easily come from the Psalms or the prophet Isaiah. Some of the things they shared were: “I am always there”, “I will be with you forever”, “Even when your heart is troubled I am there”, “No one can come between the feelings I have for you”. Wouldn’t each of us want to hear such sentiments from God? (3) In the third moment they are asked to respond. What they shared was positive. The song made them feel loved, never alone, safe… (4) The song was played a third time. Eyes were closed and lyrics put aside. It was a time to rest – relax – enjoy (Note: During a presentation one of the participants referred to the fourth moment as ‘enjoy’. This was enlightening. It corresponds to their experience of praying with music and later an Oreo cookie. I think the word ‘savor’ would also be appropriate.). This experience is followed by a brief presentation on the history of Lectio Divina and on the Levels of Relationship. Lectio Divina is again practiced but with a scripture passage this time, Isaiah 43:1-5. The reflections that followed were closely related to those regarding “No One”, e.g. “I am with you always”, “Do not be afraid”, “In times of trouble I will be with you”. I follow this with one more practice of Lectio. I call it the “Oreo Oratio”. It is done with an Oreo cookie. The intention is to help them perceive God in ordinary life. Hopefully, with practice, it will help them to approach daily life with the right intention.
The practice of Lectio Divina is meant to be used with sacred scripture. As you can see it can be applied to more profane things and in a way that is beneficial. Apply it to daily life. (1) Listen. (2) Reflect. (3) Respond. (4) Rest. If you are not familiar with Lectio Divina or would like to know more, resources are available at www.contemplativeoutreach.org. We also give Introductory Workshops in the practice. You might want to introduce the practice to your prayer group, church or Christian Education classes, if so, I may be contacted at robert@centeringprayerchicago.org
[1]Sybil MacBeth, Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God (Brewster, Mass.: Paraclete Press, 2007), 70-81.
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