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Lectio Divina:

Last weekend, I shared with you how to make a Holy Hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament. In that article, I mentioned praying with Sacred Scripture using Lectio Divina and then said I would explain that in this weekend’s bulletin, so, let’s talk about Lectio Divina. It is Latin for “Divine Reading.” From Conception Abbey, a Benedictine Monastery in Northwest Missouri:

“Choose a text of the Scriptures that you wish to pray. Place yourself in a quiet environment. Calm your anxieties and thoughts, and acknowledge God’s presence.
Offer a prayer to the Holy Spirit for inspiration and guidance: “Come, Holy Spirit, enlighten my heart and mind to listen to your Word.”

1. Lectio: Read the text slowly and prayerfully, constantly listening for that word that God has prepared for you. You may want to re-read the same text multiple times to help quiet yourself interiorly and focus on God’s voice. Listen and receive the Word that God speaks to you.
2. Meditatio: When a word or phrase strikes you, stop and rest with it. Repeat the word or phrase to yourself. Allow it to speak to you in a personal way by pondering the word in your heart, reflecting on what it means to you. Memorize it and repeat it to yourself, allowing it to interact with your thoughts, hopes, memories, and desires.
3. Oratio: Prayer is your response to God’s word. It begins your dialogue with God that comes from your heart. Formulate a prayer, as a response to God. What do you want to say to the Lord in response to the Word spoken to you? Enter into this loving conversation with God.
4. Contemplatio: Rest in God’s presence and receive His transforming embrace. Sit still with God, realizing that in this deep and profound relationship, words are not necessary. Be content and at peace with a wordless, quiet rest in God, which brings joy to the heart. Remember that contemplation is not your action or doing, rather it is allowing God to act in you.”

Please understand, Lectio Divina is praying with Sacred Scripture to grow in relationship with the Word of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. This is not studying a text of Sacred Scripture, but praying with it. One of the best scripture passages to use for Lectio Divina is either the first reading or the Gospel from the daily Mass readings or the upcoming Sunday Mass. These can be found in the bulletin or by typing “Catholic Sunday Mass Readings” into your search engine.

Online Parish Contributions Update

As you are aware, we asked about your tithe during our annual Stewardship Renewal. Thank you, as always, to those of you who completed this and turned it in. Now, for most, that would seem like all is finished. However, if you are giving online, we do not have the authorization to make changes to the amount you are choosing to give to the parish. But, we can help! Olga from our finance office will be calling you to offer assistance with setting up or updating your online giving. By letting you know now, you won’t mistake it as a scam call. Also, it would be helpful to save the parish office phone number, 660-827-2311, in your mobile phone contacts so you will recognize the call and hopefully answer her call.

If you already have online giving set up in our system, she can adjust the amount or the frequency of your donations or stop them entirely if needed. You should feel reassured that if your life circumstances change, you are not locked into an automatic payment and can modify up or down or cancel at any time.

Thank you for your continued financial support of St Vincent de Paul!