“In this day of widespread interest in spiritual reading, the practice of lectio divina (literally, “divine reading”) has sparked renewed interest among Catholics who have reclaimed their ancient contemplative heritage and among those generally interested in prayer and meditation. In the first millennium, when a majority of people were unable to read for themselves, lectio divina involved hearing passages from the Bible during church services or sometimes being given a word or phrase by a spiritual mentor. Pennington, a Trappist monk and author of books on centering prayer, monastic life, and Thomas Merton, emphasizes the experiential aspects of the practice, noting that the intent is not to study Bible passages for knowledge but to deepen awareness of God’s presence. Suitable for theological collections and large public libraries.”