Family Lectio Divina
Honiton Holy Family Parish
Family “Lectio Divina”
(Divine reading)
We speak to God when we pray. God speaks to us when we read the Bible.
(Saint Augustine)
PREPARATION
- Choose and prepare the reading of the Bible before the meeting.
- Make silence trying to pacify your mind and be aware of being in the presence of the Lord (Matthew 18, 20)
- Light a candle before you start reading and make a prayer to Jesus, the Light of the World.
Lord Jesus, you made us know God's love for us.
May the light of this candle remind us that you are now with us and you want to talk to us like you talk to dear friends.
Help us to listen to you and talk with you.
- Invoke the Holy Spirit so that may He purify you and help you to listen to Jesus, so that you would be led into the whole Truth (John 16.13)
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
- and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,
- and you shall renew the face of the earth.
O God, on the first day of Pentecost you instructed the hearts of those who believed in you by the light of the Holy Spirit: under the inspiration of the same Spirit, give us a taste for what is right and true, and a continuing sense of his joy-bringing presence and power. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
THE FOUR RUNGS OF THE LADDER
- Reading
- To proclaim the reading of the Bible.
- Personal reading in silence of the text.
- Meditation
- Situation:
- Where and when occurs the story?
- Action:
- Who are the characters?
- What do they do?
- What do they say?
- Why do they do or say that?
- Message:
- What is the most important dialogue, teaching or event?
- What is the most valuable phrase? (Stop on every word of this sentence and see if it is clear to you.)
- What is the most important message for you of that phase and of the hole reading?
- Application:
- What prevents you from putting that message into practice?
- Is there anything in your life to change, to start to do, to do better?
- Who are you within the story? What is the Lord saying to you today in your current situation?
- Situation:
- Prayer
- Father, I beg your pardon for...
- Father, I ask you.....
- Father, I thank you for...
- Contemplation
- Father, I praise you for...
- Father, I adore you for.....
- Father, I love you for.....
RITE OF FAMILY COMMUNION
At the Saviour’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
Our Father...
Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil
graciously grant peace in our days,
that, by the help of your mercy,
we may be always free from sin
and safe from all distress,
as we await the blessed hope
and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
For the kingdom, the power and the Glory are yours, now and forever.
Lord Jesus Christ,
who said to your Apostles:
“Peace I leave you, my peace I give you”;
look not on our sins,
but on the faith of this family of yours,
and graciously grant us peace and unity
in accordance with your will.
Who live and reign
for ever and ever. Amen.
The peace of the Lord be always with us. Amen.
(family members offer each other the sign of peace)
Lord, we are not worthy
that you should enter under our roof,
but only say a word
and our souls shall be healed.
JESUS, COME NOW SPIRITUALLY
TO OUR HEARTS. AMEN.
May Almighty God, bless us, the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Hail Mary...