Handout #8 From the Literal to the Spiritual Meaning Lectio Divina and Ignatian method

A. The Literal Meaning of a biblical text: 1. In his 1943 encyclical Divino Afflante Spiritu, Pope Pius XII clarified that the “literal” meaning of a biblical text is what the author intended to communicate within the cultural context of his writing.

2. It is the task of Biblical scholarship and the Historical Critical Method that biblical scholars use, to help contemporary readers understand that literal meaning – in other words, biblical scholarship is intended to help the readers understand what the original authors were trying to say to the audiences of their time.

B. The more than literary sense 1. While the literal sense is important to know, this is not what “inspires” most contemporary readers, who no longer live in the world of ancient Israel, or in the early Christian community.

2. Throughout Christian history, spiritual writers have developed methods for reading the Bible in a more than literal sense

3. In early Christianity, and through the Middle Ages, other “senses” were identified which were not intended by the original author, but which later readers found in the text a. Allegorical / Spiritual: the most common “reading” of the bible is the spiritual sense; it is based on the fact that language often allows multiple readings; thus, a reader may view himself as “sinner” and thus take the message of story of the Pharisee and Publican to heart, even though he is neither a Pharisee or a Publican. b. Tropological / Ethical: a less common reading is to find a moral or ethical message in a biblical passage which may not be what the original author intended, but which speaks to the situation of the reader. For example, when St. Antony heard the words to go sell all that one has and give it to poor and come follow, he heard the words as a moral imperative addressed to him and acted accordingly. c. Anagogical / Eschatological: another interpretive tool is to hear the message of a passage as referring to the end time and having specific application to the hearer. Thus, one might hear of the prophetic warnings addressed to Israel by the prophet Jeremiah, and hear in them a warning for his/her life that was not intended by the original author, but which resonates as clearly now as it did then.

4. It is important to note with such readings that they can legitimately be applied to the life of the individual, but no further. This can be called private revelation, and the Church has always admitted the fact that the word of God can speak a powerful and transforming message to an individual. However, the moment the individual believes that he/she is being called to proclaim that message to the larger community, it moves into the realm of public revelation and then the Church determines whether such a message is indeed for all, or rather just for the individual.

C. Methods for reading the biblical text 1. Lectio Divina: a time honored monastic practice for reading the scriptures is lectio divina. It involves several steps a. It is a regular and constant practice of 30-45 minutes daily b. It involves a prayerful reading of a biblical book, with no real intention to “learn” it or “finish” it c. Rather, the book becomes the means for God to communicate with the individual d. In the state of very slow and prayerful reading, the individual pauses over words or phrases that strike him/her for whatever reason, and allows understanding to emerge about why that particular word or phrase is so striking. Could it be that that word is especially necessary for the person’s growth in faith? Is there some meaning in that given word that requires further reflection? e. Once the person has exhausted the given word or phrase, reading commences as before, at a slow and prayerful pace. f. When the time limit is reached, no matter where the individual is, lectio is finished for the day g. It may conclude with a word of thanks to the Holy Spirit, and the person is encouraged to continue to reflect upon a significant word or phrase throughout the day for further insight

2. Ignatian method: the great founder of the Jesuit order, St. Ignatius of Loyola was famous for encouraging the reader of the Bible to enter into the biblical text and become one of the characters. This method is especially appropriate for scenes from the Gospels, but also possible with other biblical narratives. 1. Begin: consider how God looks upon you and loves you; become aware of being in God’s presence; stand for a moment, bow if you wish, then be seated comfortably for your time of prayer 2. Preparatory Prayer: offer to God all your will and actions, especially in this time of prayer; ask God for a specific grace that you need and desire right now (peace, consolation, hope, etc.). 3. Contemplate the Biblical Story that you have selected: o Read the text slowly and carefully; recall what it is about; then let it come alive for you! o Place yourself inside the story, using your imagination; become one of the characters in the scene. o Participate in the dynamics of the scene, dialoguing & interacting with Jesus and other characters. o Observe what is going on around you in the scene: What do you see, hear, feel, smell, taste, touch? o Dialogue with the other characters: What do they say or ask you? What do you say or ask them in reply? o Notice what is going on inside you as you pray: joy, sorrow, peace, confusion, love, anger, etc. o If you get distracted or your mind wanders, gently return to the biblical text and re-enter the scene. 4. Colloquy: enter into a short personal conversation with Jesus (or God the Father, or the Holy Spirit); speak heart-to-heart, as if conversing with a close friend. 5. Closing Prayer: conclude by praying the Our Father, Hail Mary, or another familiar/favorite prayer; you might stand, kneel, bow, raise your hands, or adopt another posture to mark the end of your prayer. Afterward, briefly review what you experienced during this time of prayer (maybe journal about what happened), and look forward to your next prayerful encounter with God (when? where? which biblical text will you use?).1

D. How to proceed with study of the Bible and/or praying with the Bible 1. It is important to make a distinction between the two a. Study of the Biblical Text is an academic discipline and like any discipline, it requires the use of tools and the application of certain methods b. Praying with the Bible is a method for deepening ones faith, hearing the voice of God in ones life, and coming to better understand oneself in the flow of believers (Jewish and Christian) throughout the centuries; while it can involve the use of some methods, it does not require “study” of the biblical text, in order to be effective and beneficial 2. Study of the Biblical Text a. The academic study of the biblical text has the goal of helping the student understand the biblical text as a product of human ingenuity, creativity and history b. The primary focus in the study of the text is to understand how and why the text developed in its original historical context (also called diachronic study) and to understand how it interacted with the readers of its time and can interact with readers in the modern period (also called synchronic study) c. There are many tools that are used to pursue the academic study of the Bible: Critical editions of the Biblical Text; Bible Dictionaries; Lexicons; Bible Atlases; Concordances; Introductory books into the Biblical books, the testaments, or the entire Bible; one volume and multi-volume commentaries on the Biblical Books; thematic studies on Biblical books, topics, issues, etc.; Histories of ancient societies; Anthologies of Ancient Literature; and Archeological studies

1 The website of Fr. Felix Just, SJ provides a wealth of methods for using the scriptures to deepen a life of prayer: (www.catholic-resources.org/Bible/Prayer- Methods.htm) accessed on d. While it is easiest to take a course in order to begin ones academic study of the Bible, there are some on-line courses that are also available and they will be listed in the resources section e. A simple method for Bible study could be the following i. Get a good study edition of the Bible (see the list of resources for possible choices); even better, get two different editions so that you can compare the translations ii. Begin your study by reading an easier book: a narrative such as the Book of Exodus or the Book of Ruth or the Gospel of Mark; a collection of prayer/poetry, such as the Psalms; a letter such as Paul’s letter to the Philippians iii. Read the introduction provided in your study Bible, so that you are fairly familiar with the historical background of your book, who wrote it (if we know), why they wrote it, to whom they wrote it, when they wrote it, etc. iv. Become familiar with the general outline of the book – how is it divided up? v. Giving yourself a 30-45 minute daily study period, begin to read the text, looking at the bottom for any notes that help to explain the text. If you run into something that puzzles you, check a Bible dictionary, or look in a good commentary for an explanation. Toward the end of your study session, you may wish to go back over the entire section, now with the knowledge that you did not have before vi. A person of faith may wish to conclude their study session with the question: if this is what the story meant to its original audience, what does it say to me? vii. When you have completed your study of the book, you choose another book and repeat the process 3. Praying with the Bible a. The goal of praying with the Bible is to infuse ones prayer with the book that is at the heart of our liturgy and which tells the story of salvation b. Prayer with the Bible does not require an academic study of the Bible, although some basic knowledge of the Bible does help one pray more effectively c. There are many different methods for prayer with the Bible: Lectio Divina, Biblical meditation, Ignatian method, Centering Prayer, Taizé prayer, etc. d. The idea behind any method is to move from the biblical text into the life of the believer – in other words, it is not about accumulating knowledge about the Bible, but rather such prayer allows the Bible to become the medium through which God speaks to the believer e. A possible method might look like this: i. Identify a rather regular time and place when you will pray with the Bible – usually a 30 minute stretch in a silent situation (you cannot do this with the radio or TV running, and you should turn off your phone as well) ii. Choose a biblical book that will serve as your book for a period of time iii. Read the introduction to the book so that you have a general idea of what the book is about – but do not read it to acquire knowledge, as much as to create a general sense of what situation gave rise to the book iv. At the beginning of your 30 minutes, say a brief prayer to the Holy Spirit, asking God to speak to you through the word v. Read the words of your text slowly and deliberately, lingering over any word or phrase that catches your eye; you may wish to write it down, and then sit with it for a while, asking God why it is that word that is so important for you to notice vi. Once you have exhausted a word or phrase, go back to your reading, allowing the text to make sense, but not going so far as to study the text for the strategy of its composition; if you encounter another word or phrase, repeat the process above vii. After 25 minutes of such “reading,” put a marker at the spot where you finished, and turn again to the Holy Spirit, asking the Spirit to speak to your heart, and thanking the Spirit for the ways in which you have heard God’s word viii. If a given word or phrase intrigues you and sticks with you, then take it with you throughout the day ix. Repeat the process the next day f. Each method has its own strategy, so it is important to become familiar with the different methods to see what would best work for you

Recommended resources for beginning your study of the Bible and praying with the Bible

I. Short and basic Introductions Binz, Stephen J. Introduction to the Bible: A Catholic Guide to Studying Scripture (Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 2007)

Binz, Stephen J. Threshold to God’s Word: A User Friendly Guide to Scripture Study (New London, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 2014)

Cunningham, Phillip J. Exploring Scripture: How the Bible came to be (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1992)

Witherup, Ronald D. The Bible Companion: A Handbook for Beginners (New York: Crossroad Publishing Company, 1998)

Threshold Bible Study Series by Stephen Binz (http://store.pastoralplanning.com/thbist1.html) is a thematic Scripture study program designed for both personal study and group discussion. It currently consists of 25 titles

Little Rock Scripture Study (http://www.littlerockscripture.org/en/introduction.html) is a Scripture Study program that is a partnership between the Catholic Diocese of Little Rock Arkansas and the Liturgical Press

II. Advanced Introductions to the Bible and its Testaments Harris, Stephen L. Understanding the Bible, 8th edition (Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill, 2010) – Earlier editions (such as the 6th and 7th) which are MUCH less expensive are equally fine Coogan, Michael D. The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures, 3rd edition (New York: Oxford University Press, 2014) – The first two editions, which are much less expensive, are equally fine

Ehrman, Bart D. The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings, 4th edition (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008) – Earlier editions (much less expensive) are equally fine; while some of Ehrman’s other writings are quite controversial, this is a basic historical introduction that reflects the views of most mainline scholars and may, for the most part, be trusted as accurate and non-biased

II.a Visual resources Levine, Amy-Jill, “The Old Testament” from The Great Courses produced by the Teaching Company. Consisting of twenty-four 30-minute lectures, this series appears both as a DVD and/or a CD, and provides an outstanding look at the Old Testament through the teaching of an eminent U.S. Jewish Scholar

Johnson, Luke Timothy, “Jesus and the Gospels” from The Great Courses produced by the Teaching Company. Consisting of thirty-six 30-minute lectures, this series appears as a DVD and/or a CD, and provides an in- depth look into the person of Jesus as he appears in the New Testament tradition

Eban, Abba, Heritage: Civilization and the Jews (WNET New York – produced by Thirteen) this PBS series is available for on-line viewing at (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/heritage/). Of particular interest are the first two segments which cover the period of both the Old and New Testaments

From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians, produced by Frontline, this PBS production is also available for on-line viewing at (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/), but it may also be purchased as a separate DVD. In its six hours, it covers the biblical period that created the New Testament, and presents the opinions of many biblical scholars about how those texts came into existence and why

III. Bible Versions 1. Catholic Study Bible – 2nd edition (New American Bible), edited by Donald Senior and John J. Collins, it was published by Oxford University Press in 2011, and is available in paperback for $23.19 at Amazon

2. HarperCollins Study Bible – Student Edition (New Revised Standard Version), edited by Harold W. Attridge and produced by the Society of Biblical Literature, it appeared in 2006 and is available in paperback for $28.37 at Amazon

3. The New Jerusalem Bible, edited by Henry Wansbrough and published by Image in 1985, it is available in Hardcover for $37.77 and in paperback for $22.24

4. The Jewish Study Bible – 4th edition, edited by Adele Berlin and published by Oxford University Press in 2003 provides a uniquely Jewish translation of the Old Testament text, and is accompanied by excellent notes and perspectives from Jewish scholars. It is available for $16.50

5. The Jewish Annotated New Testament, which uses the NRSV translation, was edited by Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler and was published by Oxford University Press 2011, provides Jewish insights into the New Testament text and its traditions. It is available for $22.95

6. The Complete Parallel Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books was released in hardcover in 1993 by Oxford University Press. It contains parallel versions of four bible translations: New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible. It is available in hardcover for $56.08

7. Synopsis of the Four Gospels, Revised Standard Version is published by the American Bible Society and was revised in 2010. It is available in hardcover for $30.43 IV. Miscellaneous Brown, Raymond E. Responses to 101 Questions on the Bible (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1990)

Fitzmyer, Joseph A. A Christological Catechism: New Testament Answers (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1993)

The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, edited by R.E. Brown, J.A. Fitzmyer, and R.E. Murphy (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990)

New Collegeville Bible Commentary: Old Testament Series New Collegeville Bible Commentary: New Testament Series (http://www.litpress.org/Products/CategoryCenter.aspx?categoryId=S- NCBC) Both series are available through Liturgical Press, Collegeville MN