Praying Scripture for a Change: An Introduction to Lectio Divina

by Tim Gray

As St. Augustine notes, When we pray, we speak to God; when we read Scripture, God speaks to us. The key to enriching our prayer is learning the language of Christianity, and the most effective way to learn the language of Christianity is an ancient technique known as lectio divina ( divine reading ).
In this introduction to lectio divina by Tim Gray, Catholics learn...
In this succinct prayer book, Catholic theologian and biblical scholar Dr. Tim Gray walks you through the Bible and the wisdom of the saints to reveal the practical steps of this great treasure of our Tradition. Learning the simple steps of lectio divina will provide a practical and effective way for you to enhance your prayer life through the power of God's Word.

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Faith, Spirituality, Prayer, Christian, Theology

136 pages, Paperback

First published January 2, 2009

About the author

Dr. Timothy Gray is President and Associate Professor of Sacred Scripture at The Augustine Institute.

He received an MA from Franciscan University of Steubenville, ThM from Duke University, and PhD in Biblical Studies from Catholic University of America.

Under Dr. Gray’s guidance, the Augustine Institute has created Symbolon, a comprehensive program of faith formation for adults, YDisciple, to inform and inspire youth to deepen their relationship with Christ, Beloved, a twelve part series that explores the mystery and meaning of marriage for marriage enrichment and marriage prep programs, and Lectio an innovative series of Bible studies exploring topics through the lens of Scripture, Tradition and Art.

Tim and his wife Kris, and son Joseph, live in Littleton, Colorado.

Reviews

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read another one of Tim Gray's books this year, Walking With God: A Journey Through the Bible, so I knew I was going to get another gem, and I was not disappointed. Hopefully, you're not like me and you have a great prayer life. If you are like me though, then you need all the help you can get! Like others before me, and probably after me, I felt that I always talk to God, but never hear Him answer. Sure I can see answers to prayers (be they yes or no), but I never felt like I was getting a one-on-one response. Arrogant to expect that, I know. Well, this book changed my whole way of thinking about prayer!

Lectio Divina is a ladder traditionally involving four steps, but a fifth step was added in this book. The steps are Lectio (Reading), Meditatio (Meditation), Oratio (Prayer), Contemplatio (Contemplation), and in this book Operatio (Operation or Application in real life). Dr. Gray uses the example of a vineyard and making wine (like ancient monks used to do) as a comparison for Lectio Divina. Like winemaking, prayer requires many steps to produce a beautiful end result. He also repeatedly says in the book, "When you pray, you speak with God; when you read, God speaks to you." This was a game-changer for me. It seems so obvious, but we expect to hear the voice of God, like the voice of a person. In reality, we always hear the voice of God when we read the Bible.

Reading this book has left me thirsting for more (fitting analogy since he compares Lectio Divina to making wine). I know I will have to take baby steps in this beautiful practice, but I am eager to try it in this Year of Faith. I'm debating ordering the workbook that goes along with this book or finding other books that offer specifics passages and exercises in Lectio Divina. Despite not having a chapter at the end to get you started with, I still give this book 5 out of 5 stars as it explained a powerful prayer practice in language anyone can understand. So if you want a deeper prayer life and not just a one-sided monologue with God, go out and buy this book and you too can be on the path to a deeper prayer life. Check out my other reviews at stuartsstudy.blogspot.com

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read several books on Lectio Divina and this is the one that I would recommend. The book gives a clear description of each of the four rungs of Guigio's ladder. I've come across great descriptions of meditatio and oratio, but this book has hand down the best description of lectio, how to really read the Bible. Tim Gray works at describing contemplatio as well. Many authors are content to say that contemplation is something that God does and we have to let it happen. While that is certainly true, Gray fleshes out the experience, and how we can be receptive to it, more than I have seen with other books. He even adds a fifth rung: actio. In this final chapter the author quotes Francis DeSales. I haven't come across his name in a book on lectio divina, but as a member of the laity, DeSales' primary audience, I find his thoughts on prayer comforting and realistic.

I read this with a group of friends and we all found the first couple chapters a bit daunting. They were easy to understand but we wondered if we would ever be able to read and pray as Gray described. He mentions towards the middle of the book that he has been doing Lectio Divina for years and years and that it is something he has grown into. I can see this book redirecting me onto the path of prayer growth. It is so easy to veer by little bits over time. This is a good read for those already deep into contemplative prayer as well as those just starting out.

[Lillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The priest teaching a Lectio Divina class at my church recommended this book, and I'm glad he did. It was an excellent accompaniment to the class. I pray a lot, but I'm afraid I do more talking than listening to God. Lectio divina, "divine reading," is a disciplined way of reading, meditating, and contemplating Scripture to be open to God. The first step, or rung on the ladder as the author describes it, is to silence yourself--often easier said than done. The book is written from a Catholic viewpoint, but it could be helpful to Christians of any denomination.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an important book

I found this book to be the best I've read on Lectio divina. I just I have already been putting the first two into practice without realizing it, and sometimes the 3rd step, but I haven't gotten to the fourth step. This book was helpful to me in understanding contemplation better.

[Jack Macner · Rating 5 out of 5]

inspirational

I have been searching for more guidance in my spiritual journey and heard of Lectio Divina while watching Mass on EWTN. The author has a wonderful way of explaining what Lectio Divina is and how it is a way to help on our spiritual journey. I would highly recommend it for those who are searching to grow spiritually.

[Pete Kieffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUPERB!

This is an excellent introduction to the practice of Lectio Divina. The writing is clear and inspiring. I can't wait to read it over to see what I have missed. If you're at all interested in Lectio Divina this is a great place to start.

[Mike McGuire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of the half-dozen books I have on lectio divina, this one is the best because of Dr. Gray’s personal testimony and inviting writing style.

[Doni · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the addition of operatio to the other four rungs of lectio divina which is why I got the book in the first place. I also loved the example of how revealing repetition within the bible can be. I did not like how thoroughly couched in Catholicism Gray is, to the point of denigrating other traditions. I also didn't feel like after reading a whole book, that it clarified differences between meditating and praying very well. Though it did distinguish contemplation, it didn't give very clear instructions on how to reach this rung.

[Jeffrey Garner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good.

I thought Tim’s information on Contemplatio was really good and worth the price of the book. My purpose for getting the book was to help me with a course I am teaching on Lectio Divina. I wish he would have provided more of the story of Lectio and its history, and even its roots in Judaism and Jewish mysticism.

Additionally I would have appreciated the role that Lectio plays in growing our mystical yearnings, especially the interplay of the discipline with Love and within the Community of God.

[Maxine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very accessible book on the steps of lectio divina. Gives clear and concise instructions on how and why to practice this form of prayer. It's also full of encouragement, pointing out that this is something that takes work and practice, but that the fruits are so great and anyone can do this. I highly recommend starting with this book if you want to take up the practice of praying lectio divina. It is a gem.

[Corey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an excellent introduction to Lectio Divina. It is very straightforward and helpful. It was not really mystical at all and very much read like a how-to-read-your-Bible book. I finished the book feeling encouraged and wanting to get into the Word. The emphasis for consistency in Bible reading and for patience when not feeling joyful afterwards was very helpful.

[Caleb Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my opinion, this is a shortened version of Eugene Peterson’s, “Eat This Book” on spiritual reading. There are even exact examples from the work in its pages.

Still, this is a perspective from Catholic realms and has some insightful traces back to other saints in the Catholic tradition.

Overall, it’s a good outline of Lectio Divina, great for those interested in the spiritual practice!

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent introduction to lectio divina, but I wasn't really convinced that Gray understood, or had real experience with the contemplative part of the process. I never felt that I was learning something from a master or that Gray was really up to the challenge of describing lectio divina.

[Silvia Lohr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great starter book for prayer life, though some chapters such as contemplatio can become tedious at times and not so easy to grasp. As I said great to start but don't stick just with this book as a help tool look for more sources.

[Maria Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelent book for anyone who is looking for lectio divina. Simple to understand and practical. It helped me greatly

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best introduction to the practice of Lectio Divina

[Kim Zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. I’ve valued the practice for several years and highly recommended

[Sergio Soto · Rating 5 out of 5]

9.3/10

[AJ Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to Lectio Divina - a much more practical, hands on approach than the other excellent books by M. Basil Pennington and Michael Casey. Lectio is a interesting prayer practice involving the intense reading of small pieces of scripture. I highly recommend it as a book and a spiritual practice.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great spiritual reads always bringing me to another level of faith and relationship with God!!

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The books I read and review for The Catholic Company tend to be deeper and more spiritual than those I review for others. Praying Scripture for a Change was no exception.

I was drawn in by the introduction entitled "The Problem of Prayer" and then relieved to find that I am not the only person to find prayer difficult.

Although not an easy read, I persevered to learn more about lectio divina (divine reading). The vineyard analogy used by Dr. Gray helped me to better understand the steps of lectio divina: lectio (reading), meditatio (meditating), oratio (prayer), contemplatio (contemplation) and operatio (practice/work).

One of my favorite quotes from the book is "The Fathers of the Church are blunt: 'When you pray, you speak with God; when you read, God speaks to you.'" No wonder I don't hear God often; I don't spend enough time with 'divine reading' of Scripture. I missed out on developing this habit during Lent but I have an entire Easter season to get started.

A suggestion to those wanting to incorporate lectio divina into their life using this superb resource - after reading the first chapter or two, skip ahead and read the second to last sections 'Where to Start in Scripture" and 'Practical Suggestions'. Those were questions I kept asking as I was reading the book and would have liked this information sooner.

[Suzette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't be scared of the title. Lectio simply means reading scripture in a careful and focused way. This book was chock full of pearls of wisdom....here are some I want to remember:
1. The disciples recognized Jesus through the WORD of God in union with the EUCHARIST.

2. Public revelation ended with the death of the last apostle but this doesn't mean that God doesn't want to communicate with each and every one of us at the deep and intimate level of the heart.

3. Reading is like putting whole food into the mouth, meditation is the chewing, prayer is extracting the flavor, and contemplation gives us the delight in the sweetness.

4. In the Eucharist God does not say "Take and understand" but "take and eat."

I loved this book. Really inspiring to read the holy scriptures.

[Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are someone who is interested in lectio divina and wants to be introduced to this beautiful method of prayer, then this is a great read. Again, let me emphasize this is more of an introduction or a how to. If you're looking for an in depth read on lectio divina, you will have to find another book. For me, it fulfilled its purpose in explaining the Catholic tradition of using scripture for meditation and prayer. It also does a good job in telling how you can apply this method in your own life. However, I also would have liked more about where the tradition came from and maybe some history on it. All in all, a good introductory read to the topic. It's also a quick read.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book in a coffee shop not knowing it would be a treasure. I also got it while I was in seminary taking a spiritual direction class. Reading Praying Scripture for a Change added so much to my prayer life and although I've done Lectio before it gave me more direction or influenced me to pause, mediate, and digest scripture in a more fulfilling manner.

I can't wait to read another book from Tim Gray.

[JJ Cylk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very easy to read, understand, and follow book. I enjoyed reading it.I hope to be able to implement some of his ideas

I choose this book because I was studying the v Book of Psalms. Gray's writings were suggested by; Jeff Cavins. Gray does a wonderful job of explaining the process of Lectio Divina. This book was very easy to read., understand, and follow. I hope to implement some of his suggestions into my prayer life.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to lectio divina, but mostly that -- an introduction.

The analogy comparing the steps of lectio to the rungs of a ladder was helpful, especially considering the tendency to try to pray (the third step) without something to feed one's prayer (the first two steps), which is just as difficult as trying to climb a ladder and skipping some of the rungs.

[Michael Donlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have heard Dr. Gray speak in person & watched some of his shows on EWTN & talks on YouTube. I was impressed then as I am now. He is easy to read & while some of the people with whom I read this book thought that he was a bit long-winded in his examples, I thought they really made scripture come alive.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Gray promised an introduction and he delivered a good one. He gives the reader enough to get started and enjoy the journey.

I view Lectio Divina as similar to swimming. Learn a few basics and then get into the pool as quickly as possible.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for understanding Lectio Devina. We just started a study group using this technique of praying the scriptures. This book goes through each step to make the process clearly understood. I highly recommend this book.

[Roberto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and insightful book on lectio divina. Dr. Gray describes both the practical methods and spiritual benefits of prayerfully reading scripture with amazing clarity. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to enhance their prayer life and grow their knowledge of the Bible.