Lectio Divina Resources
Clarifying
Lectio Divina
An Ancient Practice for a
Disillusioned Technological Culture
In a culture obsessed with speed and self-optimization, lectio divina is a slow, sacred refusal. Not a technique. A way of being with God. This short essay clarifies the basics of lectio divina and reclaims the practice as a form of spiritual dissent into the still center of God's presence.
Collected
Prayers
Hold Not
Our Sin
Søren Kierkegaard
(1813-1855)
Father in Heaven!
Hold not our sins up against us
but hold us up against our sins,
so that the thought of You
when it wakens in our soul,
and each time it wakens,
should not remind us
of what we have committed
but of what You did forgive,
not of how we went astray
but how You did save us!
Peace Prayer
Francis of Assisi
(1181 - 1226)
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
In You, Lord
Martin Luther
(1483 – 1546)
Behold, Lord, an empty vessel
that needs to be filled.
My Lord, fill it.
I am weak in the faith; strengthen me.
I am cold in love;
warm me and make me fervent,
that my love may go out to my neighbor.
I do not have a strong and firm faith;
at times I doubt
and am unable to trust you altogether.
O Lord, help me.
Strengthen my faith and trust in you.
In you I have sealed the treasure of all I have.
I am poor;
you are rich
and came to be merciful to the poor.
I am a sinner;
you are upright.
With me, there is an abundance of sin;
in you is the fullness of righteousness.
Therefore I will remain with you,
of whom I can receive,
but to whom I may not give.
Covenant Prayer
John Wesley
(1703 – 1791)
I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will,
place me with whom you will.
Put me to doing,
put me to suffering.
Let me be put to work for you or set aside for you,
Praised for you or criticized for you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and fully surrender all things
To your glory and service.
And now, O wonderful and holy God,
Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer,
You are mine, and I am yours.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it also be made in heaven.
Amen.
Remember,
Christ My Soul
St. Augustine
(354-430 AD)
God to glorify,
Jesus to imitate.
A Soul to save.
A body to mortify.
Sins to repent of.
Virtues to acquire.
Hell to avoid.
Heaven to gain.
Eternity to prepare for.
Time to profit by.
Neighbors to edify.
The world to despise.
Devils to combat.
Passions to subdue.
Death, perhaps, to suffer.
Judgment to undergo.
Just for Today
Augustine
(354-430)
Lord, for tomorrow and its needs,
I do not pray;
Keep me, my God, from stain of sin
Just for today.
Let me both diligently work,
And duly pray.
Let me be kind in word and deed,
Just for today.
Let me be slow to do my will,
Prompt to obey;
Help me to sacrifice myself
Just for today.
And if today my time of life
Should ebb away,
Give me your Sacraments divine,
Sweet Lord, today.
So for tomorrow and its needs
I do not pray,
But keep me, guide me, love me, Lord,
Just for today.
Not to Admire
But to Follow
Søren Kierkegaard
(1813-1855)
O Lord Jesus Christ,
You did not come to the world to be served,
but also surely not to be admired
or in that sense be worshipped.
You are the way and the truth—
and it was followers only You did command.
Arouse us, therefore,
if we have dozed away into this delusion,
save us from the error
of wishing to admire You instead of
being willing to follow You
and to resemble You.
By Your Wisdom
Teresa of Avila
(1515 – 1582)
Govern everything by your wisdom,
O Lord, so that my soul
may always be serving you
in the way you will
and not as I choose.
Let me die to myself
so that I may serve you;
let me live to you who are life itself.
Amen.
Teach me, Lord
Anselm
(1033--1109)
O Lord my God,
Teach my heart this day where and how to see you,
Where and how to find you.
You have made me and remade me,
And you have bestowed on me
All the good things I possess,
And still I do not know you.
I have not yet done that
For which I was made.
Teach me to seek you,
For I cannot seek you
Unless you teach me,
Or find you
Unless you show yourself to me.
Let me seek you in my desire,
Let me desire you in my seeking.
Let me find you by loving you,
Let me love you when I find you.​
You are Holy, Lord
Francis of Assisi
(1181 - 1226)
You are holy, Lord, the only God,
and Your deeds are wonderful.
You are strong.
You are great.
You are the Most High.
You are Almighty.
You, Holy Father are King of heaven and earth.
You are Three and One, Lord God, all Good.
You are Good, all Good, supreme Good,
Lord God, living and true.
You are love. You are wisdom.
You are humility. You are endurance.
You are rest. You are peace.
You are joy and gladness.
You are justice and moderation.
You are all our riches, and You suffice for us.
You are beauty.
You are gentleness.
You are our protector.
You are our guardian and defender.
You are our courage. You are our haven and our hope.
You are our faith, our great consolation.
You are our eternal life, Great and Wonderful Lord,
God Almighty, Merciful Saviour.​