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Post by Lectio Divina on Nov 29, 2007 21:15:02 GMT
Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ!
I'm just getting started with Lectio and I'd like to hear from others who practice this form of mental prayer.
Have you been granted insights into scripture that made you say wow, now I understand etc. Any tips on mediation? Is it best just to work with the Sunday gospel througout the week or use the daily gospel? &c, &c...
God bless, Noel.
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Post by Verbum Dei on Nov 29, 2007 21:17:46 GMT
I should have logged in first ;D
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Post by Michael O'Donovan on Nov 29, 2007 22:45:51 GMT
Welcome Noel!
My own method is to read through the Gospels and meditate on what I read, though I find it easier to meditate if it is a narrative (like the marriage at Cana, or the woman washing Christ's feet, or especially St John's account of the Last Supper which is so vivid it is like reading a modern novel).
And then I try some contemplation. I use a meditative method that I was taught by a Carmelite priest. I had tried Transcendental Meditation but was very uncomfortable with what seemed like pagan religious elements, but the priest explained to me how to use it properly. In fact he demystified it completely be explaining that the technique itself was effective, and all I had to do was replace the Hindu mantra with a Christian one. I have happily and successfully used Shalom as a mantra ever since.
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Post by Verbum Dei on Nov 30, 2007 17:02:39 GMT
Hello Michael. Thanks for the info.
I read Thomas Dubay's book, Fire Within which was quite good. Might be worth reading again.
I'm finding it hard to get down to actually doing it consistently. From what I've read, the general appoach seems to be something like this:
1. Find a quiet place. 2. Place yourself in the presence of God. 3. Say a vocal prayer asking the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 4. Read a suitable passage of scripture slowly and carefully. 5. Meditate on the passage. Ask yourself:
- What is it saying to me? - How is it challenging me? - How can I apply the message to my life? - What do I need to change in order to do God's will?
6. Make a concrete resolution to eradicate a particular bad inclination. 7. Ask God's blessing and grace that you may grow in the opposite virtue. 8. Give thanks and praise to God.
How does that sound? I just need to put it into practice now! God bless, Noel.
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Post by Michael O'Donovan on Dec 6, 2007 1:06:40 GMT
From what I've read, the general appoach seems to be something like this: 1. Find a quiet place. 2. Place yourself in the presence of God. 3. Say a vocal prayer asking the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 4. Read a suitable passage of scripture slowly and carefully. 5. Meditate on the passage. Ask yourself: - What is it saying to me? - How is it challenging me? - How can I apply the message to my life? - What do I need to change in order to do God's will? Noel, sorry for repeating elements of my earlier post but I hope it might be helpful if I went into a bit more detail. I would go with you as far as step 4 but after that my own method (and I didn't invent it, I was taught it by an Opus Dei priest but I have seen it elsewhere and I think it is part of the traditional method of contemplation) is not to interrogate myself, but to make myself part of the event as an anonymous, passive onlooker and to visualise what is happening. Once you get as far as meditation, which is what that is, and certainly when you go past that to contemplative prayer, there is no place for questions like those you are putting to yourself. You need what is nowadays called a mantra but is really just a contemplative instrument. I would suggest something like the Russian Jesus Prayer – "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, be merciful to me a sinner" – or just what I use since that good Carmelite priest whom I mentioned before Christianised my Transcendental Meditation mantra: Shalom.
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Post by Verbum Dei on Dec 6, 2007 21:27:58 GMT
Hello Michael, I'll come clean and admin that I'm wary of any kind of meditation that involves a mantra or TM. I want to leave my yoga days far behind me!
But I do appreciate your sincere advice.
God bless, Noel.
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Post by monkeyman on Jul 11, 2008 23:42:05 GMT
Welcome Noel! My own method is to read through the Gospels and meditate on what I read, though I find it easier to meditate if it is a narrative (like the marriage at Cana, or the woman washing Christ's feet, or especially St John's account of the Last Supper which is so vivid it is like reading a modern novel). And then I try some contemplation. I use a meditative method that I was taught by a Carmelite priest. I had tried Transcendental Meditation but was very uncomfortable with what seemed like pagan religious elements, but the priest explained to me how to use it properly. In fact he demystified it completely be explaining that the technique itself was effective, and all I had to do was replace the Hindu mantra with a Christian one. I have happily and successfully used Shalom as a mantra ever since. I was wondering Michael, was that Carmelite fathers name Fr PJ Cunningham ? Hardly but just wondering.
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Post by Michael O'Donovan on Jul 12, 2008 12:10:33 GMT
I was wondering Michael, was that Carmelite fathers name Fr PJ Cunningham ? Hardly but just wondering. I'm afraid I can't remember - it was a good many years ago - but he was in Terenure College and I was referred to him by the Dublin Archdiocese information office.
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Post by falconer on Jul 12, 2008 17:24:21 GMT
I picked up a leaflet on this today: Lectio Divina
Group meets Thursday mornings 11.30 am - 12.30 pm St. Therese Room above Cafe Bell in the church in Johnstons Court which is the laneway at the side of Bewelys in Grafton St. or Saturday evenings 7.15-8.15pm St Jon of the cross oratory next to Cafe Bell phone st Teresa's 01 671-8466
Tickets from ticketmaster.........ok I'm only joking about the tickets. At least there'll be no booking fee!
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Post by Michael O'Donovan on Jul 12, 2008 18:40:00 GMT
I picked up a leaflet on this today: Lectio Divina Group meets Thursday mornings 11.30 am - 12.30 pm St. Therese Room above Cafe Bell in the church in Johnstons Court which is the laneway at the side of Bewelys in Grafton St. or Saturday evenings 7.15-8.15pm St Jon of the cross oratory next to Cafe Bell phone st Teresa's 01 671-8466 Tickets from ticketmaster.........ok I'm only joking about the tickets. At least there'll be no booking fee! Whose side are you on anyway?
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Post by falconer on Jul 13, 2008 11:55:27 GMT
I picked up a leaflet on this today: Lectio Divina Group meets Thursday mornings 11.30 am - 12.30 pm St. Therese Room above Cafe Bell in the church in Johnstons Court which is the laneway at the side of Bewelys in Grafton St. or Saturday evenings 7.15-8.15pm St Jon of the cross oratory next to Cafe Bell phone st Teresa's 01 671-8466 Tickets from ticketmaster.........ok I'm only joking about the tickets. At least there'll be no booking fee! Whose side are you on anyway? I'm a spy for the legion of mary...... ;D I used to be a hit may for the League of Decency but we've decommisioned our weapons!
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Post by falconer on Jul 13, 2008 12:06:46 GMT
I don't actually believe in meditation but thats not what the OP asked.
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Post by Verbum Dei on Jul 16, 2008 10:33:04 GMT
I don't actually believe in meditation but thats not what the OP asked. You don't believe in meditating on the Word of God?
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Post by irishknight on Jul 16, 2008 10:51:29 GMT
I've done meditating once or twice, but I used this thing called I-Doser too. Changes the frequency of the brain to match that to a drug and the like. Twas quite good and relaxing.
Don't think I'd be too relaxed if I meditated on "Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death." or "Cursed be he who does the Lords work remissly, cursed he who holds back his sword from blood."
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Post by falconer on Jul 16, 2008 19:20:55 GMT
I don't actually believe in meditation but thats not what the OP asked. You don't believe in meditating on the Word of God? That's off topic. If you want to ask the question start a thread about meditation or meditating on the "word" of whichever god you choose.
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