Quote of the Day

From 'In the Beginning..." A Catholic Understanding of The Story of Creation and the Fall by Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI

Physics and biology, and the natural sciences in general, have given us a new and unheard of creation account with vast images, which let us recognize the face of the Creator and which make us realize once again that at the beginning and foundation of all being there is a creating Intelligence. The universe is not the product of darkness and unreason. It comes from intelligence, freedom and from the beauty which is identical with love. Seeing this gives us the courage to keep on living, and it empowers us, comforted thereby, to take upon ourselves the adventure of life.

Lectio Divina a la B16

Basic Steps of Lectio Divina
Pope Benedict XVI
Verbum Domini,
AKL (Amazon Kindle Location) 1591 ff

1. Lectio - It starts with a basic reading of the text, which leads to a desire to understand its true content
   What does the biblical text say in itself?
   
2. Meditatio - Next comes meditation, which asks:
   What does the biblical text say to us?
   
3. Oratio - Following this comes prayer, which asks the question:
   What do we say to the Lord in response to his word?
   
4. Contemplatio - Finally, Lectiio Divina concludes with contemplation in which we take up, as a gift from God, his own way of seeing and judging reality, and ask ourselves:
   What conversion of mind, heart, and life is the Lord asking of us?
   
5. Actio - We do well to remember that the process of Lectio Divina is not concluded until it arrives at action, which moves the believer to make his or her life a gift for others.