[quote:2p5jk77d]How does one actually do Lectio Divina? What’s all involved? What’s the process?[/quote:2p5jk77d]

The process is simple, the benefits are great, but like the rosary or other devotions which start out simple, and can at first feel boring or repetitive, or you can have a tendancy to be a clock watcher to see how much time that you have set for the Lectio has passed. It is only with time and persistance will make the read benefits manifest, as with any new good habit. I use the rosary as an example, because most people at the beginning are more focused on the mechanics of saying the rosary, keeping count on the beads, etc. Over time, sometimes years the mechanics becomes second nature, and you can do what the rosary is really intended to do, to meditate on the mysteries for each decade, rather than counting or the indidvidual actions of the prayers etc.

In the case of the Lectio, one sets aside a time during the day to read and ponder over a spiritual book,(you may wish to start with 15 minutes a day, and build up to an hour. But try to pick a time of the day that remains consistant, if one time does not work out, don’t stop the practice, just find a better time that you can stick with in your schedule. It could be during a half hour you have between classes on Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays to start out with.) It is helpful if one has a Spiritual Director, who may or may not be the same priest who is your usual confessor to help choose a book or book of the Bible and at periodic times discuss what you have read and where your meditations or thoughts on the text have taken you.

Two good books to start with are Imitation of Christ, which has daily meditations, and readings. Another older book, out of print, but well worth reading is The Layman at his prie dieu by Fr. Robert Nash it has weekly themes, he also did the same type of book for Nuns, Seminarians and Priests with the same title except the other vocation subsituting for the word layman. Abp. Sheen would always encourage priests to spend a Holy Hour, in front of the Blessed Sacrament, this time can be spend reading and reflecting.

It is good also to have such a time set aside for quiet spiritual reading and reglection with your children, as this can instill in them the habit of making time for God. If you do this with them, you are setting an example of your priorities.