The basic structure of Lectio Divina consists of four steps:
1. Lectio (Reading)
When we read the text before us, whether it is from the Bible or some other devotional or theological work, it is suggested that we read the text aloud. Perhaps, we have been taught in the past to read with our eyes and not with our lips, but in Lectio Divina we take exception. We read aloud in order to engage our whole body in the reading: as we read, we also listen.
2. Meditatio (Meditation)
As we read slowly and attentively, we may want to use our creative imagination to situate ourselves in the story. We may also want to attend to the key words or phrases. We can ask questions like: What particular word or words strike you? Why do some words or ideas stand out while others do not?
3. Oratio (Prayer)
As you are drawn by a particular word or phrase and as you ponder in your mind what it means, it is possible that you will also begin to apply the meaning of that word or phrase to the present situation in your own life. When that happens, you are beginning to allow the word to penetrate the heart evoking a prayerful response. Prayer is essentially a conversation with God. Prayer can take the form of praise, petition, thanksgiving, or compunction. Prayer can also take the form of silence before the presence of God.
4. Contemplatio (Contemplatio)
As you engage in conversation with God, it is possible that you may experience a deep silence and a lingering divine presence. This is when we are being invited to turn the whole process back over to God, allowing ourselves to be deepened, guided, and transformed by the Spirit. This step is more the action of God in the heart of the person who prays, rather than we producing this effect. It is like basking in the sun, where we remain passively before the sun.
Examen Prayer
A good practice to do before one retires for the night is to make the Examen Prayer. The outline presented here is based on St. Ignatius' presentation of the Examen in the Spiritual Exercises.
Whenever we begin to pray, we ought to place ourselves in the presence of God by becoming aware of the love with which God looks upon us.
1. Gratitude
It is always a good practice to acknowledge the gifts that God has given us to enjoy throughout the day.
2. Petition
As we move from acknowledging God's gifts to us, we implore Him to grant us the insight and the strength to make the Examen.
3. Review
Before God, we review the events of the day. We take notice of those moments that we felt God stir our hearts and/or our minds. We also take into account those instances that were not of God. We review how we have responded or acted under these circumstances.
4. Forgiveness
Where we may have not responded as generously as we should, we ask God for forgiveness.
5. Renewal
As we are about to retire and look forward to a new day, we make resolutions on how we are to do better in accord with God's desires for us.
We conclude our Examen prayer by entrusting to God all of our life.
Devotion to the Mother of Sorrows is as old as the Cross. St. Magdalen of Canossa instructed her daughters to abandon everything in the loving heart of the most holy Mother Mary, who stood at the foot of the Cross. Like her mother foundress, Josephine Bakhita learned to dwell on Mary's sword-pierced heart by the regular meditation of the seven sorrows.
MEDITATION OF THE ROSARY OF THE SEVEN SORROWS OF OUR LADY
My God, We dedicate to you the Meditation of the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of our Lady in honour of your glory. Grant us the grace to abandon everything in the loving heart of Mary, who stood at the foot of the cross of your Beloved Son. May the passion of her Son and Your's be to us a source of strength, protection, and defence. May His wounds be to us food and drink, by which we may be nourished, inebriated, and overjoyed. May the sprinkling of his blood be to us an ablution for all our sins; His death prove to us life everlasting, and His cross an eternal glory, who lives and reigns, for ever and ever. Amen.
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins because of your just punishments, but most of all because they offended you, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of your grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.
The First Sorrow of the Blessed Mother is about the Prophecy of Simeon
Leader: How great was the shock to Mary's heart in hearing the sorrowful words, in which holy Simeon told the bitter Passion and death of her sweet Jesus, since in that same moment she realized in her mind all the insults blows, and torments which the impious men were to offer to the Redeemer of the world. But a still sharper sword pierced her soul. It was the thought of men's ingratitude to her beloved Son. Now consider that because of your sins, you are unhappily among the ungrateful, and casting yourself at the feet of the Mother of Sorrows, say with sorrow:
All: Virgin beloved, who felt so bitter pangs of soul at seeing the abuse which I, wretch that I am, would make of the Blood of your dear Son, obtain for me, I pray, by your riven heart, that in time to come I may better correspond to God's mercies, profit by His heavenly grace, receive not in vain His lights and inspirations, and so be among the pleased number of those who are saved by the bitter Passion of Jesus. Amen.
Our Father...
Hail Mary (7x)
Glory to the Father...
Leader: Virgin Most Sorrowful
All: Pray for us.
The Second Sorrow of our Blessed Mother is the Flight into Egypt
Leader: Consider the sharp sorrow which Mary felt, when, St. Joseph being warned by an angel, she had to flee by night in order to preserve her beloved Child from the slaughter decreed by Herod. What anguish was hers, in leaving Judea, lest she should be overtaken by the soldiers of the cruel king! How great her privations in that long journey! What sufferings she bore in that land of exile, what sorrow amid that people given to idolatry! But consider how often you have renewed that bitter grief of Mary, when your sins have caused her Son to flee from your heart. Wherefore repent, and turn to her, humbling saying:
All: Sweetest Mother, once and once only Herod obliged you to flee with your Jesus, to escape the slaughter which he had commanded; but I, how often have I forced my Redeemer, and you with Him, to flee from my heart, when I have admitted into it accursed sin, hateful to you and to my loving Lord. With tears and contrition I humbly ask for pardon. Mercy, dear Lady, mercy! And I promise you that, for the future, with the help of God, I will ever maintain my Saviour and you in complete possession of my soul. Amen.
Our Father...
Hail Mary (7x)
Glory to the Father...
Leader: Virgin Most Sorrowful
All: Pray for us.
The Third Sorrow of our Blessed Mother is the Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple
Leader: How dread was the grief of Mary, when she saw that she had lost her beloved Son! And as if to increase her sorrow, when she sought Him diligently among the kinsfolk and acquaintance, she could hear no tidings of Him. No hindrances stayed her, nor weariness, nor danger, but she forthwith returned to Jerusalem, and for three long days sought Him sorrowing. Great be your confusion, O my soul, who have so often lost your Jesus by your sins, and have given no heed to see Him at once, a sign that you make very little of or of no account the precious treasure of divine love. Weep, then, for your blindness, and turning yourself to that Lady of sighs, your Mother, say with compunction:
All: Virgin most afflicted, obtain that I may learn from you to seek Jesus, when I have lost Him by giving ear to my passions and to the evil suggestions of the devil; obtain thatI may find Him again, and when I possess Him once more, that I may even repeat the words of the Spouse, "I found Him whom my soul loves; I held him, and I will not let Him go." Amen.
Our Father...
Hail Mary (7x)
Glory to the Father...
Leader: Virgin Most Sorrowful
All: Pray for us.
The Fourth Sorrow of our Blessed Mother was when she met Jesus on the Way to Calvary
Leader: Come, O you sinners, and see if you can endure so sad a sight. This Mother, so tender and loving, meets her beloved Son, meets Him amid an impious rabble, who drag Him to a cruel death, wounded, torn by stripes, crowned by thorns, streaming with blood, bearing His heavy cross. Consider, my soul, the grief of the Blessed Virgin thus beholding her Son! Who would not weep at seeing this Mother's grief? But who has been the cause of such woe? I, it is I, who with my sins have so cruelly wounded the heart of my sorrowing Mother! And yet I am not moved; I am as a stone, when my heart should break because of my ingratitude.
All: Virgin most holy, I crave pardon fro the sorrows I have caused you. I know and confess that I deserve it not, for it is I through whom your Jesus was so treated; yet, call to mind that you are the Mother of mercy. Show mercy, then, to me, and I promise to be more faithful to my Redeemer in the time to come, and thus to console you for the many sorrows which I have offered to your afflicted heart. Amen.
Our Father...
Hail Mary (7x)
Glory to the Father...
Leader: Virgin Most Sorrowful
All: Pray for us.
The Fifth Sorrow of our Blessed Mother is the death of her Son, Jesus on the Cross.
Leader: Look, devout soul, look to Calvary, whereon are raised two altars of sacrifice, one on the body of Jesus, the other on the heart of Mary. Sad is the sighs of that dear Mother drowned in a sea of woe, seeing her beloved Son, part of her very self, cruelly naked to the shameful tree of the cross. And I... How every blow of the hammer, how every stripe which fell on the Saviour's form, fell also in the disconsolate spirit of the Virgin. As she stood at the foot of the cross, pierced by the sword of sorrow, she turned her eyes on Him, until she knew that He lived no longer and had resigned His spirit to His Eternal Father. Then her own soul was like to have joined itself to that of Jesus.
All: Mother of Sorrows, who would not leave Calvary until you had drunk the last drop of the chalice of your woe, how great is my confusion of face, that I so often refuse to take up my cross, and in all ways endeavour to avoid those slight sufferings which the Lord, for my good, is pleased to send up on me. Obtain for me, I pray, that I may see clearly the value of sufferings, and may be enabled, if not to cry with St. Francis Xavier, "More to suffer, my God! ah more!" at least to bear meekly all my crosses and trials. Amen.
Our Father...
Hail Mary (7x)
Glory to the Father...
Leader: Virgin Most Sorrowful
All: Pray for us.
The Sixth Sorrow of our Blessed Mother was when she received the body of Jesus in Her arms
Leader: Consider the most bitter sorrow which rent the soul of Mary, when she saw the dead body of her dear Jesus on her knees, covered with blood, all torn with deep wounds. O mournful Mother, a bundle of myrrh, indeed, is your beloved to you. Who would not pity you? Whose heart would not be softened, seeing affliction which would move a stone? Behold John not to be comforted, Magdalen and the other Mary in deep affliction, and Nicodemus, who can scarcely bear his sorrow.
All: Shall I alone be tearless amid such grief? Ingrate and hard am I! Grant, dear Mother, that my heart may be pierced with the same sword that pierced your sorrowful soul, that it may be softened, and may indeed lament those my heavy sins which were the cause of your cruel suffering. Amen.
Our Father...
Hail Mary (7x)
Glory to the Father...
Leader: Virgin Most Sorrowful
All: Pray for us.
The Seventh Sorrow of our Blessed Mother was when the body of Jesus was placed in the tomb.
Leader: Consider the sighs which burst from Mary's sad heart when she saw her beloved Jesus laid within the tomb. What grief was hers when she saw the stone lifted to cover that sacred tomb. She gazed a last time on the lifeless body of her Son, and could scarce detach her eyes from those gaping wounds. And when the great stone was rolled to the door of the tomb, oh, then indeed her heart seemed torn from her body!
All: Mother most desolate, who did indeed in body depart from the tomb, but left your heart where your only treasure was, obtain that all our desires, all our love may rest there with you. Surely our hearts must melt with love to our O Saviour, who has suffered so much for us. Oh, by all your sorrows, grant that the memory of them may be ever imprinted on our mind, that our hearts may burn with love of God, and to you, sweet Mother, who poured out all your soul in sorrow for the Passion of Jesus: to Him be honour, glory, and thanksgiving for ever and ever. Amen.
Our Father...
Hail Mary (7x)
Glory to the Father...
Leader: Virgin Most Sorrowful
All: Pray for us.
O Good Cross
O good cross, made beautiful by the body of the Lord; long have I desired you, ardently have I loved you, unceasingly have I sought you out; and now you are ready for my eager soul Receive me from among men and restore me to my Master, so that by means of you he may receive me who by means of your dying redeemed me. Amen.