Recently I noticed a kindergarten child at a Mass. He was praying in response to the priest’s lead to pray quietly. He didn’t kneel with everyone as they did; he remained seated turning his forehead to rest on the back of the seating and bringing his knees up close to his head. You couldn’t possibly correct his posture though as he had his eyes closed and an intense squint on his face - he was in prayer – he was ‘in contact’.
The method of group lectio divina is a strategy that can help guide authentic prayer experiences in a classroom. It seems to work best in a group of four to eight. It is well placed as one activity in rooms where there are rotations of groups and it fits the movements of Groome's praxis approach, e.g. Activity #1 lectio divina (with the teacher as leader); #2 opportunity for students to write a simple response; #3 embed the insights with small group dramatisation or another form creative expression; #4 a talking and listening activity about how this ‘slice of wisdom’ can be applied in daily life; #5 shared celebration. Teachers can simplify these movements: #1 stop; #2 reflect; #3 comprehend; #4 connect.
To prepare for lectio divina is much like anything corporate, it requires leadership to model explicitly, followed by supportive and co-operative experiences until participants are in the ‘zone’ and gain a personal understanding of the moment.
To prepare for lectio divina is much like anything corporate, it requires leadership to model explicitly, followed by supportive and co-operative experiences until participants are in the ‘zone’ and gain a personal understanding of the moment.
The strategy for lectio divina:
è The first reading is actually read twice for the purpose of hearing a word or passage that touches the heart. When the word or phrase is found, it is taken in, and gently recited and pondered for a moment in silence. After the silence each student shares that word or phrase which touched the heart.
è The second reading is for the purpose of “hearing” or “seeing” Christ in the text. Each ponders a word that has touched the heart, and asks where the word or phrase touches his or her life that day. In other words, how is Christ the Word touching our own experience of life? How are others in the group seeing or hearing Christ reach out to them through the text? After the silence, each member of the group shares what he or she has “heard” or “seen.”
è The third reading is for the purpose of Christ “calling us forth” into doing or being. Members ask themselves what Christ in the text is calling them to do or become today / this week. After the silence, each shares for the last time; and the exercise concludes with each person praying for the person on the right. N.B. Anyone may “pass” at any time.
It is a method easily adjusted to help students experience participation in liturgy that is both active and conscious as suggested by Vatican II in ‘Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy’.
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