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Oratio – Praying in Response to God’s Word
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Bible study must lead to prayer. In this way, studying Scripture creates an intimate exchange between God and the individual. In lectio and meditatio, we listen as God speaks; in oratio, we respond to God with open hearts.
Lectio divina invites two different levels of prayer: active prayer and receptive prayer.
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Oratio is a word-filled prayer. Having heard God’s word inviting our response, we then answer. We offer to God prayers of praise, petition, and thanksgiving based on the Scripture we have studied. When we root our prayer in Scripture, we receive new vocabulary in which to pray. The words of the Scriptures begin to enter into the language of our prayer to God. |
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Contemplatio is a prayer with minimal words. It is a resting in God. Sometimes it is helpful to choose one word or phrase from the Scripture we have read to bring to the prayer. We can then allow that word or phrase to remain with us throughout the day so that the experience of prayer continues. |
In both personal Bible study and in the group experience, learning to pray with the Scriptures is essential. After reading and reflecting on the Bible, our study is not complete until we conclude our experience of God’s word in prayer. In this way, prayer becomes part of the daily habit of dialogue with God’s word. Then in the weekly group session, ending the session in prayer completes the group experience.
There are lots of different methods of prayer in groups, but it is most helpful when the words of the Scripture and the discussion of that week become part of the content of the prayer together.
4. Collatio – Forming Community through Scripture |
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