Special mission to focus on Lectio Divina

ROME CITY — A mission centered on the spirituality of Lectio Divina will take place over three days at St. Gaspar Catholic Church, Rome City.

Lectio Divina is an ancient monastic prayer that is increasingly popular among lay people. It has been understood through the centuries to mean divine reading, treasure of tradition and wisdom of the saints.

According to Jean Leclercq, OSB, the founders of the medieval tradition of Lectio Divina were Saint Benedict and Pope Gregory I. However, the methods that they employed had precedents in the biblical period both in Hebrew and Greek. A text that combines these traditions is Romans 10:8 where Apostle Paul refers to the presence of God's word in the believer's "mouth or heart". It was the recitation of the biblical text that provided the rationale for Lectio Divina.[1]

Daily life in a Benedictine monastery consisted on three elements: liturgical prayer, manual labor and Lectio Divina, a quiet prayerful reading of the Bible.[2] This slow and thoughtful reading of Scripture, and the ensuing pondering of its meaning, was their meditation. This spiritual practice is called "divine reading" or "sacred reading", or lectio divina

Saint Benedict in his Rule (chapter #48) stipulated specific times and manners for Lectio Divina. The progression from Bible reading, to meditation, to prayer, to loving regard for God, was first formally described by Guigo II, a Carthusian monk and prior of Grande Chartreuse in the 12th century. Guigo named the four steps of this "ladder" of prayer with the Latin terms lectio, meditatio, oratio, and contemplatio. In Guigo's four stages one first reads, which leads to think about (i.e. meditate on) the significance of the text; that process in turn leads the person to respond in prayer as the third stage. The fourth stage is when the prayer, in turn, points to the gift of quiet stillness in the presence of God, called contemplation.[3]

In September 2005, Pope Benedict XVI stated:

"I would like in particular to recall and recommend the ancient tradition of Lectio divina: the diligent reading of Sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer brings about that intimate dialogue in which the person reading hears God who is speaking, and in praying, responds to him with trusting openness of heart (cf. Dei Verbum, n. 25). If it is effectively promoted, this practice will bring to the Church - I am convinced of it - a new spiritual springtime."
The mission will follow a 7 p.m. Mass on Friday, a 5 p.m. Mass on Saturday and Masses at 7:30 and 10 a.m. Aug. 15. The sessions will be moderated and anchored by Ginny Kohrman, a lecturer and holder of spiritual theology degrees from the University of Dayton. She was selected by the Catholic Office of Spiritual Development to lead the event.

The 10 a.m. Mass Aug. 15 will be celebrated by Bishop-emeritus John M. D’Arcy, who will also provide insights into personal immersion in the Bible through Lectio Divina.


Free babysitting services will be available during the Masses and social, snack and refreshment periods following all sessions.

There will also be free tours at Sylvan Springs (right next door)throughout the weekend. Call 260-854-3525 for more details.