4-7 Lectio Divina and Reading

In McAloon’s Reading for Transformation through the Poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins McAloon mentions that he practices lectio divina with different works of Hopkins’. Though lectio divina is probably most commonly used for reading scripture, it is very useful and effective in reading poetry. Through practicing each step of lectio divina the reader is able to focus more intently on the piece he or she is reading. Often times when I read poetry or some other writing I just read the words with no deep understanding of what they mean. And even times when I am trying to understand what the writing is saying I don’t always get the whole message. But in lectio divina because you are rereading parts of the work it allows you to see something new each time. As you begin to read and reread a piece of literature more and more of the meaning and depth is unveiled.
Most have experienced this while reading scripture but it works for literature as well. Oftentimes there is so much depth and hidden meaning in literature that it is almost impossible to uncover it all by simply reading it once. It takes rereading, focus, and meditation to uncover all that the author is trying to say. And much like what McAloon describes, the reader undergoes a sort of “transformation” from reading and meditating on these works. Through uncovering meaning in literature, readers are able to go on from this experience with a broader perspective and a greater knowledge of life and situations. Most times literature talks about a certain stage in life or a particular struggle or problem most people face. Through uncovering this and reading the author’s view we are able to better cope with these and gain a new knowledge so that we will not be ignorant to it if someone we know is facing a situation.