Product Description

David Foster is a Benedictine Monk of Downside Abbey and chaplain to Downside School. He has always been concerned to bring the riches of the monastic tradition to lay people as they struggle to live the Christian life in the modern world. Lectio Divina or the art of spiritual reading is an art which is all but lost outside monastic communities. But following St Benedict's opening command in his Rule to 'listen', attending to the word of God through the printed text is an art which needs to be rediscovered in a world in which we are surrounded by a cacophony of sound and noise. David Foster has written a masterly guide to this art.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38145 in Books
• Published on: 2005-12-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 161 pages

About the Author
Dom David Foster OSB is a Monk of Downside Abbey. He was the editor and compiler of The Catholic Prayer Book from Downside Abbey.

Customer Reviews

Sitting with God
I never thought that monastaries held anything relevant for the modern spiritual life, yet David Foster proved me wrong.

In an engaging written style that does not assume you are an oxford university professor, Foster brings to the reader a precious spiritual discipline that has helped me draw closer to God.

He explains, in essence, that reading the Bible should not be the same process as reading any other book. The Bible is God's letter to us, and can therefore bring deep change in our hearts and lives. Lectio Divina is an ancient practice still used in monastries today. Basically, it is 'reading with God'; you let God talk to you through scripture, and then you talk back.

It isn't some strange, mystical practice that we should be weary of. In fact, its something that you begin to hope will be used more widely in the church. It can be done by anyone in any place. All you need is a bible.

This book is a solid introduction to lection divina and is really all you need in order to learn how to do it.

Really very helpful.
Reading with God is a super really helpful book. The author explains in simple and effective ways the way of praying through Reading With God.
This book has brought a new prayer path into my life.

Great way to begin Lectio Divina
Reading with God is a brilliant book for those who have never done Lectio Divina before and want to start. Rather than just attempting to describe Lectio Divina it actually takes you through the motions giving you a helping hand with extracts of scripture. Step by step Dom David walks with you and how the meditation on scripture can deepen our faith and appreciation and understanding of scripture. Dom David is a very kind and gentle man in person and it is reflected in this fantastic book. Can't recommend it more!