Saturday, December 31, 2022

Review: Sacred Reading: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina

Sacred Reading: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina Sacred Reading: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina by Michael Casey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This has been a slow read. Well, given that the book is on lectio divina, that shouldn't surprise because it doesn't make sense to skim read a book which is trying to tell one how to read more deeply and reflectively. Written by Michael Casey, a Cistercian monk at Tarrawarra Abbey, Australia, this book examines the practices around lectio divina, that way of monastic reading which serves as a form of contemplative practice in the Benedictine context.

Casey combines several important elements of this practice. He gives a strong theological, especially monastic, grounding to the practice, then he moves on to discussing practice in some detail. It is not easy reading, but I found both aspects very useful, even though I am distinctly a beginner in the practice. The text moves slowly, but encourages a deeper reading, which is kind of the point.

This is a really good, if not especially easy, read. Well worth the time I spent on it.

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