Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary
Intimate conversation with God: Is this not the desire of our hearts? This conversation is held in and through the sacred pages of Scripture, where the words we both hear and speak are sweeter than honey in our mouths. We are invited first of all to listen. It is in our faithful daily encounter with Scripture that we learn how to listen.
Lectio Divina — our encounter or dialogue with the Lord in the pages of Scripture — requires discipline and faithfulness. We must approach the Lord with profound humility, and we must wait upon Him until His word resonates within us. As our desire to know and draw near to the Lord continues to grow, the Scriptures become the place where we can meet our Beloved and savor His words.
Daily faithfulness to lectio not only teaches us how to listen, but it engraves in the treasury of our memories the sacred words of Scripture. From this book of the memory, the Holy Spirit draws forth various “words” for us to reflect on and rest in. Eventually, we find ourselves immersed in the Scriptures not only when the book is in our hands, but throughout the course of the day and night as well. “Come to me, all you that yearn for me, and be filled with my fruits; you will remember me as sweeter than honey, better to have than the honeycomb.” (Sirach 24:18-19) “Eat, friends; drink! Drink deeply, dearly beloved!” (Song of Songs 5:1)