Praying with John Baptist de la Salle
Saint John Baptist de La Salle’s knowledge of Scripture was profound. Passages from the Bible filled all of his meditations and other writings. He knew that by meditating on the word of God, people encounter Jesus Christ. Upon encountering Jesus, they will believe. In believing and in deepening this belief, they will be so filled with faith that they will spread the Good News effectively and live full lives.
A meditative studying of the Bible—lectio divina—is an ancient form of prayer for Christians. One way of doing lectio divina is this:
- Pick a short passage from a story or chapter in the Bible that strikes a chord with you.
- Read the passage slowly, relishing each word. Let God’s Spirit speak to you through the words of the Scriptures you are reading.
- Ponder the passage, letting your mind wander over what you have read. A main idea will probably emerge, some notion that stands out because it relates to your life experience. Spend time thinking about these words; sometimes just repeating them over and over helps.
- Respond to the passage by talking to Jesus. Let the Spirit lead you. Express all your feelings and thoughts. (Many people like to write their responses or dialogues with Jesus in their journals.)
- End the meditation with a concluding prayer.
If you are going to make the Gospels the first and principal rule of your life, you need to spend regular time with God’s word. Is there some practical way in which you can spend time every day reading the Good News?
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