Monastery Provides Good Advice on Contemplative Reading

I found some very helpful remarks about lectio divina (“sacred reading”) while looking at a website from the New Melleray Abbey located outside of Dubuque, Iowa.
I hope to develop this blog into a good reference point for monastery visits or “retreats,” which have been a significant part of my own interest and development as a praying Christian.
The Cistercian, or Trappist, monks and writings are a great gift to all the faithful (c’mon all you non-Catholics, don’t shy away). Their influence on me will be inescapable as we explore contemplative life together.
Anyway, here is the comment from the New Melleray Abbey website:

LECTIO DIVINA/SACRED READING
The ancient monastic tradition of Lectio Divina or Sacred Reading can be an important element in your personal retreat because it can help you become more aware of the Wisdom contained in a specific Scriptural passages.
Whether you’re skimming through e-mail messages, perusing the newspaper, or trying to keep up with the many magazine articles and books that have caught your eye, chances are you’re used to reading things quickly and often rather superficially. Lectio is something entirely different. Its fruits are to be found by slowing down and concentrating on a specific Scriptural passage that is read slowly and prayerfully in order to be open to what God’s word is saying here and now. A personal retreat is an ideal time for making Lectio part of the day’s agenda–even if you’ve never tried it before or are just beginning. While there are no detailed procedures or methods involved in doing Lectio, it can be helpful for beginners to keep the following general guidelines in mind:
Select a short scriptural text on which to focus.
Take a few moments to quiet yourself. It’s a good idea to begin with a short prayer to the Holy Spirit asking that you be open to God’s word
Slowly read over the text you’ve selected several times until you find yourself drawn to a certain word, phrase or sentence. Let yourself "ponder" those particular words, paying special attention to thoughts or feelings that arise
Explore the significance of that particular passage and it’s connection to the events, circumstances, relationships and choices going on in your life.
Ask yourself what kind of response you need to make to the Word of God as it is being revealed to you through this particular scriptural passage
If you are accustomed to keeping a journal or expressing yourself in other forms of writing, you may find it helpful to jot down the thoughts and feelings that come to you during your Lectio period.

I will set up a link on the right margin in case you want to see more from this abbey. Tim