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Teresa of Avila Lectio  
Divina (Divine Reading) and the practice of Teresian Prayer

Read (lectio)
Meditate (meditatio) 
Pray (oratio) 
Contemplate (contemplatio)

"Seek in reading and you will find in meditation; knock in prayer and it will be opened to you in contemplation. " John of the Cross 

Reading seeks, meditation finds (meaning), prayer demands, contemplation tastes (God). 

Reading provides solid food, meditation masticates (chews); prayer achieves a savor, contemplation is the sweetness that refreshes. 

Reading is on the surface; meditation gets to the inner substance; prayer demands by desire; contemplation experiences by delight. 

Teresian Prayer:

Reading in the Carmelite monastic tradition means to place the divine word on the lips, to focus and center our thoughts on God. See, read with attentiveness. Read and repeat what attracts you. Read every word with reverence for God. 

Meditate to reflect and ponder those words that stood out to you as you read. Sit with the words, let them marinate in your mind. Personalize the words and let them pour over your being. Dwell with the words, rather than dig for meaning. Look at the words and with a gentle and loving gaze, rest in God as you repeat them. Appreciate the words. Hear the word of God to you.

Pray to God with love and affection from your heart. Speak to God with sentiments and words of love. Prayer is petition (asking), resolution (confessing), silent company-keeping (adoration), or a loving gaze (worship). Desire God and let your love and affection for Christ grow and develop. 

Contemplation is a gift from the Lord - pure grace. As we contemplate, we experience God and He prays in our spirit. During contemplation we experience an inner harmony, the light of God's presence shines through our soul, we are still and quiet before God and our God is passing by. Sit with God and bask in His love. 

Try this four step method with the following Bible verses - 

Matthew 7: 7-8 Ask and it shall be given to you-, seek, and you shall find-, knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and whoever seeks finds, and whoever knocks it shall be opened. 

John 4: 14 Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give shall become a well of water springing up to eternal life. 

John 15,16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you. 

Jeremiah 29:11-14 For I know the plans that I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you. 

Isaiah 40:28-31 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is unending. He gives strength to the weary, and He increases power to those who lack might. Though the young grow weary and tired and stumble badly, those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength, They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

Depart to serve the Lord!

You are Christ's Hands:

Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours, Yours are the eyes through which to look out Christ's compassion to the world; Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good; Yours are the hands with which He is to bless others now. 

Bette J. Shellhorn, Ph.D., Spiritual Director

- Teresa of Avila -