Reading To Live: The Evolving Practice of Lectio Divina (Cistercian Studies Series) (Volume 231)

__Lectio divina,__ the ancient practice of prayerful reading, is a font whose waters are waiting to quench the thirst of spiritual seekers, both beginners on the spiritual journey and experienced travelers. The art of holy reading transforms lives. Through the practice of __lectio__ individuals and communities discover God's living word addressed to them in their particular now," to enlighten, challenge, encourage, and suggest. __Reading to Live__ traces the practice of __lectio divina__ from its roots in the ascetic movement in the early church and monasticism to its rediscovery in recent times. The benefits __lectio__ brings become clear as Origen, Augustine, Bernard, and many others throughout history testify to its power in their lives. Modern commentators from a variety of disciplines spell out __lectio's__ potential for the world of the twenty-first century. This book invites people of al faiths to embrace the Venerable practice of lectio divina. It provides abundant creative testimonies to its practice and to its life-changing effects. __Raymond Studzinski, OSB, a monk of St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana, is an associate professor in the School of Theology and Religious Studies at The Catholic University of America, Washington DC, where he teaches courses on religious development and spirituality.__ Lectio Divina, The Ancient Practice Of Prayerful Reading, Is A Font Whose Waters Are Waiting To Quench The Thirst Of Spiritual Seekers, Both Beginners On The Spiritual Journey And Experienced Travelers. The Art Of Holy Reading Transforms Lives. Through The Practice Of Lectio Individuals And Communities Discover God's Living Word Addressed To Them In Their Particular Now, To Enlighten, Challenge, Encourage, And Suggest. Reading To Live Traces The Practice Of Lectio Divina From Its Roots In The Ascetic Movement In The Early Church And Monasticism To Its Rediscovery In Recent Times. The Benefits Lectio Brings Become Clear As Origen, Augustine, Bernard, And Many Others Throughout History Testify To Its Power In Their Lives. Modern Commentators From A Variety Of Disciplines Spell Out Lectio's Potential For The World Of The Twenty-first Century. This Book Invites People Of Al Faiths To Embrace The Venerable Practice Of Lectio Divina. It Provides Abundant Creative Testimonies To Its Practice And To Its Life-changing Effects. The Problem Of Spiritual Illiteracy. Various Approaches To Reading -- Digital Text -- The Printed Book -- Scholastic Text -- The Monastic Book -- A Method Of Retrieval -- The Art Of Lectio Divina : Beginning Of A Christian Spiritual Practice. Judaism And Religious Reading -- Beginning Of A Christian Approach To Reading -- Origen, The Master Reader -- The Spread Of A Christian Practice. Women Scholar-readers -- Augustine, Reading, And The Self -- The Evolution And Regularization Of A Practice. The Desert Tradition -- Early Eastern Cenobitic Forms Of Monasticism -- Cassian And Western Monasticism -- Rule Of Benedict, Rule Of The Master, And Reading -- The Ups And Downs Of A Practice. Eleventh- And Twelfth-century Reform -- Bernard Of Clairvaux -- Hugh Of St. Victor And The Didascalicon -- Guigo Ii And The Ladder Of Monks -- The Eclipse Of Lectio -- The Revival Of A Practice. Toward A Revival Of Bible Reading -- The Revival Of Lectio Divina -- The Phenomenology Of Reading And Lectio Divina -- Social Science, Psychology, And Lectio Divina -- Theological Perspectives, Narrative, And Lectio Divina -- Learning Lectio Divina Today -- Lectio As Actualizing The Word -- Lectio As Group Activity -- Conclusion: Lectio : The Once And Future Practice. Raymond Studzinski. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 223-255) And Index. Lectio divina, the ancient practice of prayerful reading, is a font whose waters are waiting to quench the thirst of spiritual seekers, both beginners on the spiritual journey and experienced travelers. The art of holy reading transforms lives. Through the practice of lectio individuals and communities discover God's living word addressed to them in their particular now," to enlighten, challenge, encourage, and suggest. Reading to Live traces the practice of lectio divina from its roots in the ascetic movement in the early church and monasticism to its rediscovery in recent times. The benefits lectio brings become clear as Origen, Augustine, Bernard, and many others throughout history testify to its power in their lives. Modern commentators from a variety of disciplines spell out lectio's potential for the world of the twenty-first century. This book invites people of all faiths to embrace the Venerable practice of lectio divina. It provides abundant creative testimonies to its practice and to its life-changing effects. Raymond Studzinski, OSB, a monk of St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana, is an associate professor in the School of Theology and Religious Studies at The Catholic University of America, Washington DC, where he teaches courses on religious development and spirituality. The problem of spiritual illiteracy -- Various approaches to reading -- Digital text -- The printed book -- Scholastic text -- The monastic book -- A method of retrieval -- The art of Lectio divina : beginning of a Christian spiritual practice -- Judaism and religious reading -- Beginning of a Christian approach to reading -- Origen, the master reader -- The spread of a Christian practice -- Women scholar-readers -- Augustine, reading, and the self -- The evolution and regularization of a practice -- The desert tradition -- Early eastern cenobitic forms of monasticism -- Cassian and western monasticism -- Rule of Benedict, rule of the master, and reading -- The ups and downs of a practice -- Eleventh and twelfth century reform -- Bernard of Clairvaux -- Hugh of St. Victor and the Didascalicon -- Guigo II and the ladder of monks -- The eclipse of Lectio -- The revival of a practice -- Toward a revival of Bible reading -- The revival of Lectio divina -- The phenomenology of reading and Lectio divina -- Social science, psychology, and Lectio divina -- Theological perspectives, narrative, and Lectio divina -- Learning Lectio divina today -- Lectio as actualizing the Word -- Lectio as group activity -- Conclusion: Lectio : the once and future practice