150: A Keynote on Lectio Divina

1- What does 'LD” mean?
'Lectio' in Latin means: 'Reading'.
'Divina': means 'spiritual' or 'divine'.
Note 1: LD (Lectio Divina) is traditionally applied exclusively to the spiritual reading of the Scriptures.
Note 2: It is called 'divina' because without the direct, 'divine', intervention of the Holy Spirit, this cannot come about.

2- What is LD?

It is the time we dedicate to sitting down, listening to what Jesus wants to say to us, and putting it into practice.

Practising LD is meeting the Risen Lord who comes everyday to my room to speak to me personally and change me.

3- What is the basis of LD?:

LD is based on the “daily Bread” that the Lord gives us essentially during the first part of the Mass: the Liturgy of the Word of God.

Note: We have either two readings (week days), i.e. First Reading and Gospel, or three readings (Sunday, Solemnities) i.e. + one extra reading.

4- What is LD's place in our Spiritual Life?

LD is the most powerful boost to our Spiritual Life.

Well practised it ensures a steady growth.

Without it, our Spiritual Life is greatly undermined.

5- What is the goal of LD?

Its daily goal is to generate a real transformation in us.

It helps Jesus' words to become incarnate in us, so that Jesus grows in us.

We start to act with Him and through Him in new and previously unexperienced ways.

6- Is Jesus calling everybody to practise LD?

Yes. He emphasised, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ (Matthew 4:4).

Note 1: He said: "man", not, "some men".

Note 2: It is equally true that there is a moment in our lives where, by the grace of God, we become more aware of the vital importance of listening to Jesus' Word and putting it into practice.

7- When do we practice LD?

The best way is to do it is on a daily basis, preferably in the Morning. Jesus advises us to petition God to "Give us this day our Daily Bread".

Usually we start with as little as 10 minutes a day, and the practice grows to reach about an hour.

8- What are the stages of LD?

There are two stages in LD:

1- To listen to Jesus' Personal Word for us .

2- To put it into practice.

9- Which texts do we use?

The best method is to use the readings of the Mass of the day. They can be found online and in the following: a liturgical calendar, the Bible, the Missal, or a monthly magazine dedicated to the Mass eg Magnificat...

For a person who is not acquainted with the Scriptures, it is better to start by reading the main books of the New Testament, and some important texts from the Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah,...), and do the lectio on those texts, a paragraph or section per day.

10- What is the best way to start it?

1- to sit in a quiet place
2- to place myself in the presence of Christ and enter into my conscience so I can hear the voice of God
3- to consider Jesus' desire to speak to me
4- to repeat my choice of Him today as my First priority
5- to give myself to Him, unconditionally.
This stage should only take a few minutes.

11- What conditions does LD lay down?

The true desire to respond to Jesus' Call for me, and the willingness to change, to convert.

Jesus explained: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."" (Luke 5:31-32)

12- Is it enough to read the texts once to allow Jesus to talk to us?

The first reading is necessary in order to understand the passage in general, or we could risk applying our own analysis of the text, which, in turn, will colour prayer itself. The text merely has to have a minimum of clarity for you, as with stained-glass, to allow Jesus' Light to come through.

13- How can we really listen to Jesus?

It is important while reading to ask for the Holy Spirit. Before this, we need to fully accept that on our part we need to do our utmost to listen to Jesus, as if it all depended on us through our reading, focusing, rereading, understanding the text, digging deep. Then immediately after, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to help us listen to Jesus with his unique direct intervention, as if all depended on Him.

14- How does the process of Listening unfolds?

When the supernatural Action of the Holy Spirit is initiated, we notice that it is as if Jesus is highlighting a part of each text, making it more alive, more meaningful to us that day, using these words to talk to us.

15- How can we be sure that it is Jesus who is talking to us, not ourselves?

When the highlighted parts of the two (or three) texts we are reading start to say one thing to us. This gives us 95% certainty that He is speaking not us. Jesus, using the two texts to talk us, invites us to change and do something we were not doing before.

16- What characterizes the supernatural Intervention of the Holy Spirit?

There is a difference between understanding the text with our mind and having a new understanding, alive, because of the intervention of the Holy Spirit who sheds a new light through what we are reading. Now the same word of the text starts to give out a divine sap, an inner light, a meaning that we were not seeing before, and this meaning touches our heart, our will, our life, some area of our being, asking it to change, offering its healing.

17- What are the criteria of discernment?

The main criterion to discern that it is the Holy Spirit who is acting is when we notice that miraculously the two texts are saying the same thing (often using different words).

This action of the Holy Spirit tastes new, coming from Above; it is practical, i.e. it touches some area in us; it is little, just that day's step to be done, just the change the Lord wants to make in us today; and which still often sounds impossible to implement without His help.

18- What can He ask us to do?

There is an infinity of things He can ask us to do. In fact He is our Healer. It is the Holy Spirit who builds us anew. He can ask us to forgive a specific person; He can ask us to entrust a burden to Him; He can show us his mercy...

19- Can the outcome be a general indication or does it have to be clear?

The initial meeting of the two texts in one meaning is but a general light: mercy, forgiveness, love, patience, attention,... But this general indication leaves us with no practical act to perform, and may lead to our thinking process taking over and dominating LD.

The fruit of LD is a specific daily act inspired by the Holy Spirit, an incarnation of a clear word in us. Jesus does not remain in the vague and the uncertain. He came to guide us, He is our true Shepherd. (for a more developed explanation see here)

20- How does the general indication become a clear one?

Jesus' Word can be compared to a ball of light and love, about to become incarnate in us. When we perceive the general light of the Holy Spirit, we must allow it to go, first, through the mind in different stages as we start to understand God’s will, (say ‘mercy’), then, through insistent begging, we see very clearly where it touches us in the will (‘forgive this particular person’), until finally we understand which act He wants us to perform. (for a more developed explanation see here)

21- How do we implement what He asks us?

Yet again the direct help of the Holy Spirit is vital in order to put into practice the Word received by Jesus on the specific day. When Our Lady asked the Angel how the Incarnation would come about, he replied: "the Holy Spirit will come upon you" (Luke 1:35). The Holy Spirit is the Master of the Incarnation of the Word in us. The case for LD, in a nutshell, is that it is a Word, a Light, an Indication, a Message, that we receive on a daily basis, so that Jesus the Word of God will grow in us.

22- What change occurs in us on a daily basis?

The Word of God feeds and transforms our Mind and our Will. Our Mind is enlightened by the Word of God, our Will is healed in one specific area.

23- What is the relationship between the Word of God and the Holy Spirit?

'The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God' (see Ephesians 6:17) How does this 'sword' work?

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

24- How does the Word of God allow the Holy Spirit to fertilise our mind?

It is in the Word of God passing through us that the Holy Spirit offers crucial attributes to the mind: "wisdom" to see things as God sees them; "understanding" of the Word of God, and its connection with previously received words; "knowledge" of what it means in my world on a practical level; "counsel" on how exactly to apply it that day.

25- How does the Word of God allow the Holy Spirit to fertilise our will?

The Holy Spirit also offers to the will: "piety", showing how today's act will be led most fervently by that new received word; "fortitude", drive and power to put it into practice; "delicate attention to God's will" ("filial fear of God") to be grounded in his Word and not to disregard it.

26- How does LD influence our day?

LD unifies our day under its supernatural light. We often notice that the whole day is like varying illustrations of the same light we had received in the morning. The Lords teaches us throughout the day how that same light fecundates different aspects of our daily life, reflections of it echoing throughout the day.

27- What are the steps of the first part of LD?

The listening process in LD can be summarised in the following 5 steps:

Active phase: seeking understanding

1- Read (1) in order to understand the text

Listening phase: asking for the help of the Holy Spirit

2- Read (2) in order to discover Christ’s will
3- Read (3) until I see only one light
4- Read (4) until the light becomes clear
5- Write down the words or sentences from the readings that touched me

28- What are the steps of the second part of LD?

The implementation process (putting into practice the word received) can be summarised in the following 5 steps:
1- Asking the Holy Spirit’s help in order to put into practice the Word
2- Giving thanks, being immersed in Him
3- Putting into practice the Word received
4- Echoes during the day
5- At the end of the day: giving thanks.

29- How can we summarise LD?

It is literally a real act of love and a way of discerning if we really love Jesus or not: "whoever loves me will keep my words" (John 14:23)

30- Read about LD: CTS book on LD, Jean Khoury (click here):

     Or in eBook form, please click here.

74: Reading The Interior Castle

Somebody asked me for some advice in his reading of the book of saint Theresa of Avila: “The Interior Castle” (see: this version  or this other one two different translations).

It is difficult to do so in a short text, but still, I will say few things that hopefully will help:

Some people start reading saint Theresa of Avila with this book (“The Interior Castle”). It is true, this is her “Masterpiece”, but this doesn't mean that we can understand her right away. My suggestion would be (if the person is only starting to read saint Theresa) to read the book of her “Life” written by herself. Then the "Way of Perfection", then "The Interior Castle". It takes more time to do it this way, true, but maybe it is easier, more fruitful and more faithful to her thought and to the chronological process of her thought. “The Interior Castle” ("Castillo interior" or "Las Moradas") is a work of maturity (1577).

Some other persons would start by reading an introduction to her thoughts, to her terminology (the words she uses).

Marcelle Auclair

Some would prefer to read a Biography of Theresa of Avila. We have various good ones (Marcelle Auclair, Ephren de la Madre de Dios-Otger Steggink)

Her thought is not systematic, even if the book of the Interior Castle looks systematic.

One advice thought while reading any of her books. While reading, try to see:

1- What God wants to do in the Soul (in general and in yours in particular): His goal, his aim. The holy project of God for you.

2- What are the advices saint Theresa gives in order to know what to do in order to grow. The obstacles to avoid (temptations, sins, bad habits, …), the acts to do, the virtues to grow (with the grace of God),...

3- What will happen if I do what I have to do (at the stage where I am): description of the action of the Grace of God in us, the transformation that it provokes. What you feel, what you experiment.

So one can read the book once, just to have a general idea. Then, re-read it again, with a pen and a notebook handy, writing down, for each stage, the 3 points mentioned above.

While reading the Interior Castle, the "temptation" is to try to know where we are in the journey, if we are at the first, second, third, forth, fifth mansion,... If we are motivated by the true desire to know what we are supposed to do in order to grow, this means that our conscience is pure, and that we will make a good use of this knowledge (knowing were we are are). We will focus on the useful advice given to us by saint Theresa, at our stage.

Another advice to the reader who reads for the first time: take what God gives you, what speaks to you (regardless of where you are in the journey). One can do a kind of revision to what could be lacking.

Remember that a normal “fervent Christian” or “charismatic person” (a person that belongs to the charismatic movement in the Church) already crossed the border between the third and the fourth mansion (entering what Theresa calls the “supernatural” that doesn’t depend on us, or the "specific help of the Grace of God"). So, please let us not spend all our life reading the first 3 mansions. Let us go rather swiftly through these first 3 mansions and focus a lot on the Fourth and the Fifth.

The majority of fervent people (charismatic certainly) are in these two mansions. The art would be to practise with constancy the advices given in these two mansions, especially the fourth, so the will becomes rooted in God, and one reaches the fifth mansions. (fourth are like climbing and the fifth are like being stable in a “state” (the “Union of will”).)

Mind you, after that, God starts to "talk" to us differently. Here we need the help of saint John of the Cross and the description of the deep purification of the spirit (the upper part of the soul). Saint Theresa of Avila doesn't really mention it in an obvious way, while it is important. (See how Father Marie Eugene in his book "I want to see God", intended to be a comment to her book "The Interior Castle", did add the description of the deep purification of the spirit explained by saint John of the Cross. They in fact complement each other.)

This change of behaviour of God toward us is in fact fundamental. We need to know it. This is why saint John of the Cross writes his books at the first place. He sees beautiful and fervent souls who reach that point (end of the fifth mansions) and stop their growth, and the reason is that while God is changing His behaviour with us, the change is perceived as a “regression” (going backward in the spiritual journey). Because one perceives that God is far, against us, and all the "milk" we used to get disappeared.

I hope this helps.

Do you have a guardian Angel? 2/2

(The following is taken from the eBook: "Seven letters from your Angel" please see the link here)

First letter

A Palpable Presence 

My Beloved,
As you see, I start my first letter to you calling you "my Beloved", this is just to open your eyes to the fact that I am somebody who loves you dearly and to whom you mean everything. Yes, my life is linked to yours as I am destined to be always close to you, to walk the journey of this life with you; to help you, guide you and comfort you; to give you all sorts of help according to your needs of the moment. We are called to walk together, to "grow" together; our destiny is to be together.

Even though I am immersed in the Light and Love of Above and am constantly submerged with heavenly joy; I am continuously with you, I never abandon you, and am here to help you and serve you.

The "smiling angel" (Reims Cathedral)

As you see, my first letter to you has the reassuring title that summarizes my first gift to you: "a 'palpable' presence".

Yes I am "palpable"; my being can communicate with you in several tangible ways. So this is to reassure you that you will not be in the illusion of an abstract speech, you will not be transported to an abstract world through strange experiences (even though the spiritual experience with me will lead to such new horizons). I am here, present for you, very present for you, looking at you with such care and love. I am your closest friend, and it is so natural to be here and communicate. It is as if you have your eyes closed in a room full of sunlight with your best friend close to you; you feel his presence, you know that he is here; he sees you.

I listen to you always; whether you tell me with your voice or only with your thoughts. So this is the first step. I am with you all the time, I hear you, and I see you. I am not indiscreet. I am here when you need me, I respect you.

As I mentioned: my presence is palpable, you too, can hear me. Here are some examples from your daily experience, so you'll realize that we have communicated before, but you didn't know it was me. Very often, in the early morning, when you are still in bed, and you are in a state between sleeping and being awakened, I send you a small luminous message. You may start to notice the first thought, not the subsequent thoughts. The first is pure and comes from me; the impressions that follow are already "immersions" in your day, in your world, in your problems. The very first one is my gift of the day. So don't forget to treasure my first message of the morning and help it give fruits in your day, as the day is the unit of your life. Every day is an entire life.

But I am not here only to give you the first message. I will give you other examples: very often I protected your body from accidents, or from being harmed. You perhaps didn't pay enough attention to my protection, but I am here. And in many ways I even penetrated into your material world, for example the engines you use, electricity, I help when it is necessary. Sometimes I soften sharp effects, so any harm becomes like a message, a warning from me telling you that you are forgetting something, and your balance is broken.

Very often, I also communicated to you my thoughts. Yes, in your head, in your cranial bone you have a "window" on each side: your temples. This is to open the communication with me, so I can communicate to you my thoughts, the light, new ideas, and indications for decisions and new insights. As you see, through your soft skin and brain, I communicate to your mind ideas, thoughts and light. Yes, it is subtle and difficult to make the difference between my thoughts and yours, because we are so close, and you don't have ample awareness of what happens in your mind and how. But you will always notice that my thoughts are new. They don't come from you but rather from an external source. You may notice that very often they come when, after a hard struggle in the darkness, your tensions are released, so that at this point you are ready to receive my light. The effort you made, the struggle you went through, dug a place for the light, so you can hear me and receive my light easily.

Sometimes my warning may appear like "knocking" in your brain, such as when you have a headache; it is just a way to attract your attention, so you would stop any activity and listen to me.

Sometimes I give you a sign of my presence, like for example placing on your path a small feather.

So as you see, we have already spoken and communicated just like two close friends.

My beloved, now that you have a new awareness, we can do more. If you are more attentive to my presence, to the free gift of my constant presence beside you, if you envisage how much I want to help you in your daily life to reach new heights, you will increase your perception, your capacity for communication, and you will feel me more tangibly.

Some people can see their angels or other angels. If this gift is given to you then it is fine - enjoy this help. However it is not necessary to see me. We communicate already, and the normal daily means are given to you. You will always have my thoughts and ideas to help you every day, according to your needs. Now concentrate more on what is already given to you and improve it with higher awareness.

Meditate, take a few minutes to ask for my help to see clearly today’s step. Everyday you can grow. So take a few minutes, concentrate, ask for my help and watch for my guidance, clearly identifying today's true need – the path to follow.

Treat me as your friend; speak to me and then focus on feeling my presence, my love and my help more clearly.

I offer you today and only once, the gift of receiving small (or large) signs of my presence. Ask for three signs and surely I'll bring them to you, so you will doubt my presence no more.

But later, don't keep asking for these signs. Respect, sincerity, and commitment are important. It is not a game; it is a relationship, a friendship. Afterwards you will enjoy many signs of my presence, as they come, like in a dance in nature.

Now one last word of advice: don't hesitate to read again and meditate on this letter. Accordingly you'll be able to extract its substance and have a new start in your life.

Tomorrow, I'll send you my Second Letter. Don't think about it now, receive today's grace, and leave tomorrow for tomorrow.

I am here; I won’t leave you, EVER.

Rejoice in our friendship.

Your Angel

(From the eBook: "Seven letters from your Angel" please see the link here)

12: Praying with a book?

My friend sent me a second question:

“In spiritual direction, I was advised that it is always good to take a spiritual book of some sort when one is going to pray. I think it is said that St Teresa of Avila never went to pray without a book to help her. What are your thoughts on this? Is a book something that is used for those further up the journey in their spiritual lives (of which I am only beginning really)? At present I do not particularly feel the need for a book.”

These are practical, down-to-earth, questions.

First of all, let me say that, implicitly, my friend is speaking here only about “the prayer of the heart” also called "mental prayer" (it has as well many other names). Because if we are doing for instance Lectio Divina, we would be taking the Bible, the two readings of the Mass. The “Prayer of the heart” is a quieter moment, where we are rather in silence, at least with no audible sounds. Yes the mind/brain can very easily be rambling and muttering, but normally we are invited to, rather, be quiet and essentially receive the gift of God: God Himself pouring Himself in us.

(For greater details on how to do “Prayer of the heart”, have a look at this lesson in 4 parts: part I,   part II,   part III,   part IV)

Let me stress a lot on that point: The Prayer of the heart is not the only way of praying, and we have first “Lectio divina”, as in the Mass we have the Two Tables: the Table of Word of God, and the Table of His Body and Blood. So, we have already food for our mind during the lectio divina (which is the extension of the Liturgy of the Word). It is not that our mind is left alone, rambling, with no food. Ok?

The extension the Communion (in the Mass) is the Prayer of the heart. It is like coming back to that very moment of “com-union” with Jesus, just freshly received.

Question: while in this very deep and strong moment of Union with Him, would you take a book and read? The answer is: no.

If you are faithful to the Lectio divina, fervently faithful and doing it well, your Prayer of the heart will be extraordinary boosted as stated in John 14,23: the one who loves me, puts my words into practice (Lectio), then, the Father will love him (this is how the Prayer of the heart finds its origins: the love of the Father) then we will come in him and dwell in him (the Prayer of the heart).

The answer to the initial question of my friend is: Yes, the clear advice is to have a book with us. The important thing is to understand the goal of having a book with us: it is not in order to read, but in order to help us recollect our heart’s energy around Jesus himself who wants to give Himself to us. So while praying we are not in a quiet library where we are supposed to read. It is not “reading time”. It is only in the very case of emergency, were the distractions can be overwhelming. So the “use” of the book is very specific. I often saw my masters (the French Carmelites) taking the Bible with them. I personally always take the Bible with me.  But watch me, do I open it? Seldom. It is just the presence of the Bible at my side to scare the distractions. :-) You are right that, at least for a long period in her life, saint Theresa did always take a book with her for the Prayer of the heart; but for her, the book helped her recollect her mind, in order to focus on Jesus.

Let me add: we addressed the issue of distractions during the Prayer of the heart lessons. You remember certainly that the main “tool” we use in order to protect the Encounter happening in our heart from the distractions happening in the mind, is the repetition of a short prayer that bears the Name of Jesus and/or the name of Mary. (I do simply say Hail Marys, quietly, with no mental effort, since THE Mystery is HERE, in the heart) The rhythmic repetition goes with the natural quiet rhythm of our breath, preferably holding our own rosary in our hand.

I do believe that if we understand all the elements, things will fall into their right place and we will have peace and our spiritual life will be boosted.

I hope this helps. How are your “taste buds”?

Jean