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Nurture your inner monk and surrender to the natural grace and rhythm of your heart's deepest longings.
"The whole world is, in fact, a text of sacred revelation. All experience has the potential to be revelatory, and God is singing one unending song seducing each of our hearts. So the call is to listen, to attune to the words God utters in the world."
—from the Afterword
Break open this ancient contemplative practice of listening deeply for God's voice in sacred texts. Drawing on her own experience as a monk in the world, Christine Valters Paintner introduces the foundations for a practice of lectio divina. She closely examines each of the four movements of lectio divina as well as the rhythm they create when practiced as a process. She then invites you to expand your practice beyond traditional sacred texts to a sacred reading of the world through image, sound, nature and life experience.
Whether you want to start a contemplative prayer practice or deepen your experience of lectio divina in new ways, you are invited to savor the gifts lectio divina has to offer your heart and spirit.
"With perceptiveness and grace … revitalizes an ancient way of reading the universe. A beautiful reminder that, if only we can slow down enough to see again, the heavens are still reflecting the glory of God."
—Paula Huston, author, By Way of Grace: Moving from Faithfulness to Holiness
"A highly practical resource! As a regular lectio practitioner and group facilitator, I enthusiastically recommend this book for both private and communal use. The applications are rich, creative and expansive!"
—Wil Hernandez, PhD, spiritual director; author, Henri Nouwen and Spiritual Polarities: A Life of Tension
"Draws on a wealth of experience and knowledge…. Opens rich new possibilities for lectio divina practice. An excellent resource, it will find a permanent place on my shelves and be taken down frequently."
—Nancy L. Bieber, author, Decision Making and Spiritual Discernment: The Sacred Art of Finding Your Way
“Reveals how one of the central practices of ancient Christian spirituality remains meaningful and relevant for the third millennium. More than a mere introduction to sacred reading—it's a creative and holistic invitation to a deeper spiritual life.”
—Carl McColman, author, The Big Book of Christian Mysticism
“Compellingly invites us to 'wake up' to God's presence in every moment. Shows how to listen and see all life in a contemplative way, leading to an awareness of the divine shimmering in the nooks and crannies of everyday.”
—Dr. Nancy Copeland Payton, author, Losses of Our Lives: The Sacred Gifts of Renewal in Everyday Loss
“Delve[s] into [lectio’s] historic and linguistic roots, and remind[s] us that a 'shimmering’ phrase may disturb as well as delight us…. Taps the 'inner monk’ in each of us.”
—Kent Ira Groff, founding mentor, Oasis Ministries; author, What Would I Believe If I Didn’t Believe Anything? and Facing East, Praying West
“A heart-centered engagement with sacred texts and the holiness in all of life—an invitation to the most interesting conversation you will ever have.”
—Margaret D. McGee, author, Haiku—The Sacred Art: A Spiritual Practice in Three Lines
Introduction
Part One
Beginning Our Exploration of Lectio Divina
Chapter 1 Sacred Reading
Chapter 2 At the Heart of Lectio Divina: Benedictine
Chapter 3 The Role of Spiritual Practice
Chapter 4 "Give Me a Word"
Part Two
The Four Movements of Lectio Divina
Chapter 5 Listening for God's Voice
Chapter 6 Savoring Sacred Text
Chapter 7 Summoning Your True Self
Chapter 8 The Gift of Being: Resting in
Part Three
Reading the World
Chapter 9 Visio Divina: Praying with Images 145
Chapter 10 Audio Divina: Praying with Sound 157
Chapter 11 Nature as Sacred Text 167
Chapter 12 The Sacred Stories of Our Lives
Afterword: The Divine Presence Is Everywhere
Acknowledgments
Appendix 1: Retreat Experience
Appendix 2: Lectio Divina as a Small Group Experience
Appendix 3: Mandala
Notes
Suggested Resources