{"id":132866,"date":"2015-07-28T07:45:20","date_gmt":"2015-07-28T12:45:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.austincnm.com\/?p=132866"},"modified":"2015-07-30T22:28:16","modified_gmt":"2015-07-31T03:28:16","slug":"lectio-lovers-praying-lectio-divina-couple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2015\/07\/lectio-lovers-praying-lectio-divina-couple\/","title":{"rendered":"Lectio for Lovers: Praying Lectio Divina as a Couple"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IMG_1153-e1438031561906.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-133924 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IMG_1153-e1438031561906-467x700.jpg?resize=467%2C700\" alt=\"photo Shawn Chapman\" width=\"467\" height=\"700\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In silent open-ness to God, we set aside our own agendas and open ourselves to God\u2019s agenda, which is always love, love, and more love. What could be better than that?<\/p>\n<p>Lectio Divina (Holy Reading) \u00a0is an ancient Christian way to pray the Scriptures. It involves reading a passage of the Bible, listening to God in silence, responding back to God in prayer, and then resting in silent prayer for a time.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>To pray this couple&#8217;s method of Lectio Divina, you will need:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left\">\u00a0Some quiet, private time.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left\"><span style=\"line-height: 1.5\">A comfortable place to sit.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left\">A Bible<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left\">A note book and something to write with<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left\">A quiet timer<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left\">Your romantic partner<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left\">An open, receptive heart<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Make yourselves \u00a0comfortable in whatever way you can best<\/p>\n<p>pay attention,<\/p>\n<p>relax deeply,<\/p>\n<p>be near one another.<\/p>\n<p>You might begin, after the sign of the cross, with a vocal prayer to the Holy Spirit. I like this one:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Come, Holy Spirit, <\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>come by means <\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>of the powerful intercession <\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, <\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Thy well beloved spouse.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3><strong>Step 1: Lectio<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Have a passage chosen ahead of time that you both agree on. We usually choose something from the mass readings of the day.<\/p>\n<p>Passing the Bible back and forth to take turns reading, <em>read the passage aloud, slowly and reflectively.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Of course you could each have your own Bible. But I like the reciprocation in the giving of the Bible to one another, and in taking turns; one listening, one reading.<\/p>\n<p><em>As you hear the Scripture passage, listen for a word, phrase or sentence that stands out to you. (Don\u2019t worry, one will.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>After the third time reading the passage through, write your word (s) into the note book you have between you<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IMG_1147.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-133528 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IMG_1147-550x367.jpg?resize=550%2C367\" alt=\"photo Shawn Chapman\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Benedictine monks, who most developed this prayer form, called this note book a &#8220;florilegium,&#8221; meaning, \u201cbook of flowers.\u201d Writing your verse or phrase down will help you focus as you pray, and be fruitful for later perusal, discussion, or future prayer.<\/p>\n<p>This word or passage that stands out as you hear the Word of God, is considered to be the Holy Spirit speaking to you.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>He laughs.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;What?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s just that each of these verses fit each of us so well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>She laughs, too.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, God thinks he&#8217;s pretty clever.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><strong>Step 2: Meditatio<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>You may want to set a timer for this section of the prayer. Try to make it a light, non- jarring sound. I have an app on my kindle with a nice Tibetan bell sound for this purpose.<\/p>\n<p>As to the time duration, agree on it beforehand. Ten to twenty minutes should do it. But even five is OK if that is all the time you have.<\/p>\n<p>This time will be silent. You may want to hold hands, or put your feet together, and close your eyes.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IMG_1145.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-133529 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IMG_1145-550x367.jpg?resize=550%2C367\" alt=\"photo Shawn Chapman\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2022<em>\u00a0Inwardly repeat your word or phrase with expectation. \u00a0As you ponder it, apply it to your life and relationship with God. Let yourself be guided by the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to make clear His message to you.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>When your mind wanders, gently bring it back to your word or phrase, placing yourself once more in God\u2019s presence.<\/em><br \/>\n<em> \u2022 Ask the Lord, \u201cWhat are you saying to me in this word or phrase?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Sometimes you will want to stop here and discuss, briefly, the fruit of your meditatio together.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Step 3 Oratio\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>After the timer goes off, <em>take a moment or maybe a few moments to respond with a prayer back to God about what He has lead you to understand or given to you during meditatio.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>You might wish to write your prayer response into the notebook and to pray it aloud with your partner.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_133530\" style=\"width: 248px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IMG_1151-e1437936880780.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-133530\" class=\"wp-image-133530 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IMG_1151-e1437936880780-238x190.jpg?resize=238%2C190\" alt=\"IMG_1151\" width=\"238\" height=\"190\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-133530\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Holding hands in prayer<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Step 4 Contemplatio<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>This usually means to rest in God\u2019s Heart in silence. I think when praying as a couple, it is good to rest also in one another\u2019s hearts at the same time.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">God is love,<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">and whoever lives in love,<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">lives in God,<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">and God in him.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">(1John 4:16)<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_133927\" style=\"width: 560px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/11725500_10206331318574390_646352402_o-e1438032352743.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-133927\" class=\"wp-image-133927 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/11725500_10206331318574390_646352402_o-e1438032352743-550x413.jpg?resize=550%2C413\" alt=\"at the Rothco Chapel\" width=\"550\" height=\"413\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-133927\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">photo James Farmer<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Again, set the timer, perhaps for 10-20 minutes as during the meditatio, and maybe hold hands, close your eyes, place yourselves in the presence of God, and rest lovingly there together. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0If it is hard for you to do this, you might choose a prayer word like the Name of Jesus, Mary, or the word, &#8220;God,&#8221; &#8220;love&#8221; or &#8220;peace,&#8221; for your mind to hold onto like a walking stick as it travels in quiet over the next few minutes.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>When the time is up, you may wish to pray aloud together the Our Father.\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>End with the sign of the cross and the kiss of peace.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Blessed are those who hear the word of God<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">&#8211; and cherish it in their hearts<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">(a responsory from the <em>Liturgy of the Hours<\/em>)<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_133928\" style=\"width: 464px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IMG_1154-e1438032709193.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-133928\" class=\"wp-image-133928 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IMG_1154-e1438032709193-454x700.jpg?resize=454%2C700\" alt=\"IMG_1154\" width=\"454\" height=\"700\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-133928\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jesus the Teacher Icon<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>*We have found that sometimes adjustments to this method must be made because of time, distance, kids, etc. It can be spread out over days, or sometimes reflections can be e-mailed or discussed in the car. Remember that God cannot be limited by the things we are limited by. He only wants us to be willing, and to try, and He will respond by working His wonders in us. However, I hope you can try praying in the above way sometimes. It is very rewarding and intimate; not to be missed.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly&#8230; (Colossians 3:16a)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In silent open-ness to God, we set aside our own agendas and open ourselves to God\u2019s agenda, which is always love, love, and more love. What could be better than that? Lectio Divina (Holy Reading) \u00a0is an ancient Christian way to pray the Scriptures. It involves reading a passage of the Bible, listening to God&#8230;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2015\/07\/lectio-lovers-praying-lectio-divina-couple\/\">[Read&nbsp;More]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":155,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[90,88],"tags":[2853,50,2130,2852,859],"class_list":{"0":"post-132866","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-faith-blog","7":"category-marriage-blog","8":"tag-couples-prayer","9":"tag-faith","10":"tag-lectio-divina","11":"tag-love-and-marriage","12":"tag-spirituality","13":"entry","14":"has-post-thumbnail"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":42327,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2013\/11\/methods-meditation\/","url_meta":{"origin":132866,"position":0},"title":"Methods of Meditation","author":"Henry Cuellar","date":"November 11, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"When we think of prayer, most of us think of praying as saying prayers, talking to God. When we think of prayer we think of the prayers we were made to memorize as a youth. We think of prayer as the prayers we say before bed, before meals or in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Column&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Column","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/column\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/open-bible-and-crucifix-11290876552hWG1-99x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1886779,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2019\/06\/sister-lynns-lectio-on-life\/","url_meta":{"origin":132866,"position":1},"title":"Sister Lynn&#8217;s &#8220;Lectio on Life","author":"Shawn Rain Chapman","date":"June 26, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 I had been talking to Sister Lynn D'Souza, OSB about the way people interpret dreams and often feel God is speaking to them in the stories and symbolic situations of their dreams. I had thought that one could also interpret life and its events as messages from God. In\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/adult-beach-casual-2174625.jpg?fit=550%2C367&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":43075,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2013\/12\/review-praying-scripture-for-a-change\/","url_meta":{"origin":132866,"position":2},"title":"Don&#8217;t Just Read the Bible; Pray It (Review: &#8220;Praying Scripture for a Change&#8221;)","author":"Lindsay Wilcox","date":"December 24, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Praying is hard. I'll admit it: I find it difficult to pray. Do you? Whether you struggle to pay attention while praying (\"Lord, I know I need to\u2014hey, what's that noise?\u2014focus more\"), you don't know what to pray about (\"Let's see.... Hmm. Am I supposed to pray about what to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"gray-prayingscripturecover","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/gray-prayingscripture-194x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":116516,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2015\/06\/holy-naps\/","url_meta":{"origin":132866,"position":3},"title":"Holy Naps","author":"Shawn Rain Chapman","date":"June 2, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"When I go to sleep, I take time, after I get comfortable, to let myself be loved and to feel that God surrounds and fills me with His loving, protective presence. Early in my young widowhood, I used to make it a habit to say, as I sank into my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Faith&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/faith-blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"1053223_10201595464272892_2070595703_o","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/1053223_10201595464272892_2070595703_o-550x367.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/1053223_10201595464272892_2070595703_o-550x367.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/1053223_10201595464272892_2070595703_o-550x367.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":39698,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2013\/05\/marys-lectio-on-life\/","url_meta":{"origin":132866,"position":4},"title":"Mary&#8217;s &#8220;Lectio on Life&#8221;","author":"Shawn Rain Chapman","date":"May 22, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0In her Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), Mary says, \u201cHe has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.\u201d That line used to bother me. It sounds mean. I have often asked Our Lady what she meant by it exactly. I love the way she answered. Some years\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Faith&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/faith-blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"IMG_0100","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/IMG_0100-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":117911,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2015\/06\/signs-of-the-times\/","url_meta":{"origin":132866,"position":5},"title":"Signs of the Times","author":"Rachel","date":"June 1, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"As I was walking through Hobby Lobby last week to buy material to make a gift, I was struck by the number of cute little plaques\u00a0with words on them - tons of displays for any occasion - teacher gifts, inspirational Bible verses, kitchen signs, man-cave signs - words for everyone.They\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Faith&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/faith-blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"from hobbylobby.com","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/961441_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132866","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/155"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=132866"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132866\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=132866"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=132866"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=132866"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}