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Lectio Divina with Cardinal Thomas Collins
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Lectio Divina (​“divine, or sacred, reading”) is the name given to a spiritual tradition among Christians over the last two thousand years, in which they attentively and pray​erfully read the word of God.

Although there is an element of study in “Lectio Divina”, it is not the same as Bible study, or exegesis, where one seeks to interpret the sacred text through analysis, and with the help of the work of scripture scholars.

In Lectio Divina we seek not to master or grasp the sacred text, but rather through it, prayerfully and silently, to come into the presence of God. We seek to be humbly a​ttentive to God’s Holy Word, to savour it, and to let it enter into our heart as much as our heads, so that it may transform us.

One approach to Lectio Divina is simply to move systematically though a book of the Bible, but it never involves worrying about “covering” a certain quantity of text: what matters more is the quality of our humble attentiveness. We choose a small portion of the sacred text, and reflect prayerfully upon it.

Lectio Divina is not intended to increase our intellectual knowledge of the Bible (though it also has that effect); instead, it is intended to draw us closer to God, and to transform our attitudes and behaviour.

Cardinal Thomas CollinsOne Sunday evening each month, all are welcome to join Cardinal Thomas Collins for Lectio Divina at St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica (65 Bond Street, Toronto). Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the event will be available via livstream only at this time.

We begin with Vespers (Evening Prayer) at 7 p.m. followed by Lectio Divina from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m.

LIVESTREAM: Lectio Divina is livestreamed via the St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica website at www.stmichaelscathedral.com/live

POSTER: Download letter-sized poster to print and post in your community

2020-2021

Psalms and Canticles

The Psalms and Canticles are the songs of the Bible. For 3,000 years, they have given life to the People of God in times of sorrow and joy. On the Cross, Jesus prayed a psalm. Since the earliest days of the Church, the psalms have been at the centre of private prayer and liturgical prayer - in the Mass and in the Liturgy of the Hours prayed throughout the day by priests, deacons, religious and laity. Join us in meditating upon selected psalms during Lectio Divina in 2020-2021.

  • September 13, 2020
    Watch video | Download booklet
    An Invitation to Prayer (Psalm 95)

  • October 4, 2020
    Watch video | Download booklet
    The Two Ways (Psalm 1)

  • November 1, 2020
    Watch video | Download booklet
    Anxiety in the Night (Psalm 6)

  • December 6, 2020
    Watch video | Download booklet
    How Great Is Your Name O Lord Our God (Psalm 8 and Psalm 19:1-7)

  • January 3, 2021
    Watch video | Download booklet 
    In Life’s Struggle: Despair and Trust (Psalm 13 and Psalm 11)

  • February 7, 2021
    A Life of Honour (Psalm 15 and Psalm 112)

  • March 7, 2021
    My God, My God (Psalm 22)

  • April 11, 2021
    With My God I Can Scale Any Wall (Psalm 18:1-30)

  • May 2, 2021
    A Canticle of Triumph Through Sorrow (Tobit 13:1-8)

  • June 6, 2021
    The Majesty of God (Psalm 29 and Psalm 150)

2019-2020

Men & Women of the Old Testament

We learn about God from the stories of how people encounter God, and make him present in their life. During Lectio Divina this year, we will prayerfully meditate on passages about men and women in the Old Testament who illustrate the human condition, with its temptations to sin, and its opportunity for the grace of repentance and salvation.

Video Archive

Audio Archive (Podcast)

We are grateful to Salt & Light Catholic Media Foundation​ for their support in recording and broadcasting Lectio Divina. For a complete broadcast schedule, please visit www.saltandlighttv.org/lectiodivina