Sacred Reading: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina

Having read a few books on Lectio Divina I looked at my book case where "Sacred Reading" by Michael Casey waited to be read and almost decided against taking it up at the time. I knew that the author was a noteworthy man, and I considered maybe there was something offered here that I needed to know. Afterall, despite my thought that I knew it all, I really had a greater suspicion that I did not.Fortunately, I did read with diligence the paperback whose full title is "Sacred Reading: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina," published by Liguori/Triumph. One thing the book explained was the value of using Lectio as a means of reading texts other than the Bible. It said the Fathers were a good source for this. I had not thought such all right to do, but had in my mind that only the Bible could be read. The title of the book, and its content, in meaning, broadens the approach to sacred reading, including other texts. I found this helpful, and personally broadening. In fact, I had some relief since I did want to do this kind of reading with other texts--but thought it inappropriate to the Godly.Another thing about this book, it is on my reading list for Oblates, which was changed just after I spent ten years reading the old list. Now I am almost at the end, and this book comes at the end of reading the books on the list. I am pleased to see that it did refresh me.I liked how it is helpful with The Rule of St. Benedict. In the Preface, it says, "You will find in this book many references to Saint Benedict's Rule for monasteries and to other classical works of the monastic tradition." This is a reliable book for those inclined to The Rule, and to "The Spirit of Monastic Lectio."Beyond such ambitions, the book is useful to anyone wanting to develop an advanced spiritual reading practice, which can be just 30 minutes a day. The benefits for a lifetime of such reading is worth the daily effort, that provides much prayer like reward and relationship with God. The author offers such as part of his teachings. For this is a book of teachings.The book reads well, and I liked the instruction to stay with a "...single book..." which the writer says "...is not only an exercise in personal discipline; it is a condition for approaching lectio divina with an appropriate attitude." This is a useful thing to learn, and I thought this is a good way to read Jeremiah. I have wanted to delve further into that book of The Old Testament.Because I am over 55 years old, this statement from the book was useful to me, even though the kind of maturity it refers to is not necessarily that of age. For me, it introduced the idea of growing in maturity at this time in my life: The author Michael Casey writes, "I consider that lectio divina is an important component of the mature and active years of the spiritual life; its absence diminishes the vitality of these years and may eventually lead to shipwreck."I believe these promises, for in a way of reading the book my consideration of the contexts and attitudes of the author were ones providing a promise. I believed that what he said was of value, and that if one followed or even began the process of lectio as I knew it from previous books, and as I say certainly from this one, that there is the reward. Here is another quote, a quote from the author's of another writer named Abbot Chapman of Downside, that continues this element of promise:"The only way to pray is to pray; and the way to pray well is to pray much. If one has no time for this, then one must at least pray regularly. But the less one prays the worse it goes." Again, the ring of truth.Author and monk Michael Casey says that there is a theology to lectio divina. Here is a valuable statement about the relationship such reading means for ones relationship with the Church. (Though I am not Catholic as in Roman Catholic, I found this a telling matter that touched on my desire to have a more full relationship in my own Church.) "This is why an important part of our review of the theology that grounds the practice of lectio must ... recall the intrinsic relationship that exists between the Bible and the Church." Put with pith: "Mutuality exists between the Church and sacred Scripture."Michael Casey covers the bases, as you see.If you as a reader of this review have an interest in the Holy, for your life and in a means of understanding, this book leads to living that understanding and way of living a Holy life. For me, this means being in relationship with God, having a prayer practice, being in touch with and better finding the richness of Church, and certainly knowing that we find a Christian life in community. The writer's response on motivation for lectio: "I hope to find God in my reading."In a literal way, and I want to again quote from the book to give the reader of this review a sense of the book's language...in a literal way, "Lectio divina leads to a conscious endeavor to live in accordances with the Gospels." Could it be any better for those with this desire.A reader interested in knowing what to bring to this kind of reading is led with the thoughts that we bring our personal salvation history, recent experience, overt faith and obedience. These are good practices, and from previous reading I know that they are good things to work with in ones life when bringing one into better understanding of and relationship with God. For me, this was a major thought in the book and I think an important goal for the purposes of the book.Suffice it to say, I have not covered all that is important in this useful, illuminating, and enjoyable "Sacred Reading: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina." I notice that the publisher is in Missouri, and from the back cover that the author is an Australian monk (Cistercian) and an Abbot. Though I haven't read the book that is recommended by the publisher of this title, I have read the work by Thelma Hall and it is recommended by the bookseller Amazon.com as a companion. I can say the Thelma Hall book is excellent and inspirational. It was the first book I read on Lectio Divina. You as a reader who seeks God and wishes to know prayer through relationship with sacred texts will find this book useful and enjoyable. You won't be sorry to read it, there is much that the book tells.By the way, the publisher of the book recommends as its companion, "Toward God: The Ancient Wisdom of Western Prayer." A book by Michael Casey.Peter Menkin--Pentecost

Whether a reader will embrace this work with enthusiasm or disdain will probably depend upon one's working definition of "spiritual reading." If one has been content with the "Poor Richard's Almanac" approach--an occasional pithy sentence of obvious piety, often garnered from the weekly church bulletin--then Michael Casey's "Sacred Reading" will appear as a limited run production for a very select few who probably belong in a monastery anyway.Casey's point is precisely that: all Catholic Christians are indeed medieval monks, those who toil in the "middle times" between the Cross and the Second Coming, with a very keen eye on the past and a fierce hope for the future. Christian identity is all consuming, and Casey examines how Christians have embraced the Sacred Scriptures and the treasury of historical and ecclesiastical writings to discover our pasts, our current identities, and our future destinies. If there is one word that does not describe this work, it is "casual."Those who are familiar with the Liturgy of the Hours, the official daily Catholic prayer format, have no doubt come across the Office of Readings, a nocturnal prayer service noted primarily for its two lengthy readings from the Hebrew Scriptures and the Church Fathers or spiritual writers. The Office of Readings takes its inspiration from the monastic Lectio Divina, "Sacred Reading," a time of intensive and devotional reading that occupied much of a monk's life, as reader [and copier!] Casey observes that this study formed the monk's identity, commanded his obedience, and directed him toward intensive meditational prayer. In this work the author democratizes the process, making a persuasive argument that as baptized persons we cannot imitate a God we do not know.Shakespeare observed that "knowledge maketh a bloody entrance," and Casey is not sanguine about the intensive dedication necessary to a life of immersion in the divine sources. Two features in particular come immediately to mind. The first is a dedication of time. I recall a time not so long ago when I realized I needed a daily physical workout in the early morning. The AM purview of Facebook and the New York Times had to go for the good of "Brother Ass," Francis of Assisi's colorful phrase for the human torso. Similarly, a commitment to at least thirty minutes to one hour of immersion in Lectio Divina will require a major investment and, no doubt, divesting of more earthly pursuits. One needs to recall that "Shrouds have no pockets," and that Sacred Reading is, after all, the saving of one's soul.A second consideration is attitudinal. Casey instructs his readers to embrace Lectio Divina with humility. I tend to read critically or pragmatically [as in, can I use this material in a class?] The author advises us to approach the text purely for its own sake, its access to the wisdom of God. We read for grace and guidance, for introduction to a world of the Holy Spirit that to some measure will be foreign to all of us. Casey is cognizant of the human tendency to rebel against new ideas and to avoid any trace of the ancient as "irrelevant," that favorite curse word of 1960's Catholicism. He calls to mind that the theology of both Hebrew and Christian Scripture is in fact backward looking, toward the saving deeds of God. A Christian who is not historically minded does not know himself.As to the object of our study, Casey cites the Church's practice of reading Scripture and the treasury of its saints, thinkers, and leaders. With regard to Scripture, he cautions against cherry picking, the practice of hopping through sacred texts for the familiar or "what I need at this moment." Casey puts that responsibility in the hands of God; a reader makes a commitment to a particular book of the Scripture and remains with the text in its entirety. He wisely urges the use of a biblical commentary both for textual clarity and theological clarity. For example, I found Robert Alter's "The David Story" indispensible for profitable reading of 1 and 2 Samuel. Similarly, the Catholic commentaries known as "Sacra Pagina" from Liturgical Press are eminently useful in reading New Testament books.As to non-Biblical works, the author might have been more helpful in assisting a novice reader through text selection. His elaboration of famous publishers through the last two centuries gets ahead of his purpose. I did a double take at the mention of the House of Migne [France] which published thousands of texts of ancient church fathers in a venture dating to the 1800's. Thus, while much of Chapter Five is highly useful, some cherry picking might be in order on page 126. I would recommend "Classics of Western Spirituality" produced by Paulist Press [127ff] which addresses precisely the need for which this work is written. Casey does provide a more personal list of recommendations [130-131] which incorporates multiple types of sacred writing, from the ancient pastoral letter known as the "Didache" through Church fathers of the first five centuries and on to the great body of monastic writing and eventually to Christian mystical writing.Throughout his work Casey never loses the purpose of Christian study, the grace of prayer and meditation. The discipline, humility, and sheer immersion into Sacred Reading effects a reordering of human priorities and a lasting hunger for the God of Israel and his Eternal Son. It is a prize of unspeakable value...and it does not come cheaply.

I enjoyed this book. Seems to be written from a scholarly perspective, but I felt was light on the history of the practice. Also it is more of a description on a mindset and lifestyle of Lectio Divina and not very nuanced in the ways of its practice. It has great suggestions and I think encouraging. I liked that the author’s word choice pushed me, causing me to keep a dictionary handy.

I love this book. I ordered another of this authors' based on how good it is.

This well written book on the techniques of Lectio Divina covers the theological as well as practical elements of the approach. Building on a lengthy (perhaps too lengthy) background of the monastic origins of the practice, the book goes on to discuss both the how and what to read - including a very interesting view of the Church Fathers as source material for the Lectio. All in all, a good book - but a much harder read than I prefer - especially the first couple of chapters.

Michael Casey is a great resource for any of us who are feeling the need to regroup spiritually. He takes the common dicipline of spiritual reading and breathes new understanding in it through the reintroduction of the Western Fathers and their thoughts. As a protestant evangelical with a mystical bent, I was very pleased with ecumenism that is prevalent throughout, and yet never at the cost of a true spirituality that is centered on the person of Jesus Christ and the scriptures that reveal Him. As a neo-pentecostal, I was also pleased with the openess Casey's approach has towards a contemporary moving of the Spirit in an individuals life or relationship with God.

I read the authors other book, Toward God, and wanted to go deeper. This is a good follow-up

Michael Casey is so easily accessible yet so important among the modern writers. This book would be very helpful to many people who want to learn how to pray with the bible in a thoroughly Catholic way. Very few books like it.

Gave me a new insight into Lectio Divina based on the Benedictine Tradition

One of the best books on the subject

Fantastic intro to Lectio Divina. Michael Casey is clearly writing from both his personal experience of the practice and his formal education on the practice. Would definitely recommend both reading and practicing what Casey suggests!

all ok