Tonight was my second opportunity to pray Lectio Divina with Gianna. As promised, here are the nuts and bolts for the process.

First of all, I encourage reading the entirety of the passage from a real Bible, not just an excerpt from a tablet or other device. Maria Montessori, a Catholic herself, wrote in her book The Absorbent Mind that, “the senses, being explorers of the world, open the way to knowledge. Our apparatus for educating the senses offers the child a key to guide his explorations of the world, they cast a light upon it which makes visible to him more things in greater detail than he could see in the dark, or uneducated state.”  

For this reason it’s helpful to let children feel and experience the weight of the Bible, the importance of Sacred Scripture that can be transmitted through touching it. Let your child connect physically with God’s word as you root them deeply in it.

Pope Benedict XVI wrote in recommendation of the practice of Lectio Divina that, “the diligent reading of Sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer brings about that intimate dialogue in which the person reading hears God who is speaking, and in praying, responds to him with trusting openness of heart (cf. Dei Verbum, n. 25). If it is effectively promoted, this practice will bring to the Church – I am convinced of it – a new spiritual springtime.”

If we are to help renew our Church, and usher in this new spiritual springtime, we must introduce our children to all the riches the Church has to offer. A simple version of Lectio Divina is appropriate and possible, even with a small child.  Don’t be discouraged by interruptions or distractions. Let your child be themselves while doing what you can to maintain a peaceful, positive experience with Scripture.

Lectio Divina Method for Young Children

Before you Begin Lectio Divina

Allow your child to snuggle in on your lap, bringing out your Bible to read to them. Show them your Bible, let them hold it, and feel the weight of the Word of God. Handle it with care, slowly turning the pages, mentioning special or favored parts. In doing this, you will make scripture more accessible to them. Express to them the wonder and joy we find in God’s words in the way you touch the pages, in the way that you read the words.

Reading

Explain that you’re going to read a passage from the Bible about Mary, and ask them to pay attention to what God is doing in the story and how Mary responds to the events in her life. Read the scripture passage slowly, stopping to explain any new or unusual words.

Meditation

Ask if your child has any questions or comments about the story. Are they wondering about anything? Can they connect this story to other parts of the Bible they’ve heard? Does it remind them of anything in their own lives? If they don’t have any questions, tell them what stood out for you in the story, what your favorite part was or what you wonder about. You can also ask some prompting questions,like what’s happening in the story? How were the characters feeling? How would you feel if you were ______?

Prayer

Invite your child to respond to the story in prayer. Remind them that God gives us Scripture to teach us and help us to grow closer to Him. Say something like, “let’s pray together about this story.” Ask them what they would like to say to God about it. Be sure to model prayer for your child, praying out loud your response to the passage. You can thank God for the gift of Scripture, ask for help or insights, and speak about how it touched your heart. Help make the time prayerful for you both. Be gentle, calm, and snuggly.

Listening

This is the time for contemplation, which you can explain to your child as listening to God. Now that you’ve spoken to God, it’s important to stop, quiet our hearts and minds, and listen for His response. Allow at least 30 seconds of quiet, explaining that we can listen to what God is saying in our hearts. If you child is restless, still try to model silence and peace during this time.

Closing Your Lectio Divina Time

Ask if your child heard God speaking to their hearts. If not, reassure them that it’s okay, that sometimes we are still learning how to listen for His voice, and sometimes He just likes to spend a quiet moment with us. Share some of how God spoke to your heart with your child. End by giving your child a blessing.

If you give this method a try, please let me know how it works for you and your child. I would love the feedback!

And if you’re interested in giving it a try within the context of a book, make sure you check out Marian Consecration for Families with Young Children, which has a Lectio section.