Summary of Lectio Divina and the Practice of Teresian Prayer by Sam Anthony Morello

Anthony Morello offers a concise yet rich summary of St. Teresa of Avila’s teachings on prayer within the framework of lectio divina. Rooted in Carmelite spirituality, which draws deeply from monastic traditions, lectio divina involves a prayerful engagement with Scripture. As the Carmelite Rule emphasizes: “Each one of you is to stay in his own cell or nearby, pondering the Law of the Lord [i.e., sacred Scripture] day and night and keeping watch at his prayers unless attending to some other duty” (Carmelite Rule, 8).

The Four Stages of Lectio Divina

1: Lectio (“Reading”)
Lectio involves the careful reading of Scripture, focusing on any word or phrase that captures your attention. St. Teresa of Avila emphasizes the importance of this Christ-centered prayer, advising the use of the Gospels to focus on the life and words of Jesus. “I have always been fond of the words of the Gospels—and found more recollection in them than in very cleverly written books” (Way, 21, 3). For Teresa, true prayer must be attentive and centered on the words being spoken, otherwise, it is mere “gibberish” (Way, 25, 3).

2: Meditatio (“Meditation”)
In meditatio, the repeated words from lectio inspire personal reflections, images, and intuitive thoughts. St. Teresa considers meditation an ascetical practice that requires effort and suggests using visual aids like icons to engage the senses and focus the mind. She encourages fostering a “holy imagination” to connect more deeply with the mysteries of Christ: “I strove to picture Christ within me, and it did me greater good–in my opinion–to picture Him in those scenes where I saw Him more alone” (Life, 9, 4).

3: Oratio (“Prayer”)
Oratio is a personal dialogue with Christ, where we express our thoughts and feelings freely. For Teresa, this intimate conversation is the essence of mental prayer: “Mental prayer, in my opinion, is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends” (Life, 8, 5). Teresa emphasizes that the most important aspect of prayer is not the quantity of thoughts but the depth of love: “The important thing is not to think much but to love much” (Castle, 4, 1, 7).

4: Contemplatio (“Contemplation”)
Contemplatio is the gift of moving beyond the words of Scripture to experience the presence of God directly. St. Teresa teaches that all prayer aims toward this contemplative union with God, which she describes as a “short cut” to spiritual perfection (Castle, 5, 3, 4). Although contemplation is a supernatural gift that cannot be achieved by effort alone, one can prepare by growing in virtue and maintaining a simple, loving focus during prayer.

Conclusion

In summary, Teresian prayer, deeply rooted in lectio divina, is a path to discovering God’s truth and transforming one’s life by being open to the divine presence. As Teresa reminds us, “If you are experiencing trials or are sad, behold Him on the way to the garden. He will look at you with those eyes so beautiful and compassionate, filled with tears; He will forget His sorrows so as to console you in yours” (Way, 26, 6).