Lectio divina, or divine reading, is the prayerful pondering of the Word of God. It is an absolutely essential practice of our monastic day; for together with liturgy and labor, it keeps our life truly balanced and centered on God. “Feeding” on the Word in lectio, we are brought into the depths of our being where God dwells, there to speak with Him heart to heart. Fidelity to daily lectio bears rich spiritual fruits: a deeper faith, a growing purity of heart and a greater attentiveness to God’s presence in our life. It blesses us with light, joy, peace and hope. Above all, it brings us to an intense, loving union with God.

But the ancient monastic practice of lectio is not just for monastics—it is for everyone. Why? Because we are all created in the image and likeness of God; created by God and for God. As human persons, we are desire for God—that is the profound truth about us all. Lectio is a kind of “spiritual shovel” one can use to dig and unearth that desire which lies deep in the ground of our being.