Zagadnienie etapów lectio divina

Abstract

The centuries-long practice of prayerful reading of the Holy Scriptures, known as Lectio divina, is typically divided into stages. As we now know, there is a distinction between the classical division and the new approaches. Shaped by the Carthusian monk Guigo II, the classical form is made up of four consecutive steps: lectio, meditatio, oratio, contemplatio, which demonstrates that lectio divina is a method of prayer aimed at promoting communion with God through contemplation. On the other hand, the so-called “new” stages, which go beyond the four-part arrangement, much better indicate the specific lifestyle chosen by the person practising lectio divina. In this lifestyle, there is a specific action inspired by the holy text. The new division contains steps such as collatio (sharing), consolatio (consolation), discretio (cognition, edification), deliberatio (choice), conversio (conversion), testificatio (testimony to a previous conversion experience) and actio (choices based on vocation). Thus it is clear that prayer reading stages are diversified and those who discuss them pay attention to different aspects. This does not change the fact, however, that the desire to encounter God is one of the most fundamental human needs, and lectio divina provides a good opportunity to achieve this goal, as demonstrated by the dynamic development of groups that have selected lectio divina as their path of spiritual growth.