The Annunciation by Jan van Eyck (c. 1434-36). Mary is reading and at prayer when Gabriel appears.
Pray Scripture
understand what the Spirit is saying
Praying before and after reading Scripture underlines our dependence on God in order to hear, understand and respond to what the Spirit is saying to the church. The Book of Common Worship includes a number of prayers for illumination as well as psalm prayers and collects based on the Scriptures of the Christian year.
Deepen your prayer life
Reading and singing prayers from Scripture is a way to deepen our prayer life. Using scriptural prayers such as the psalms, the Lord’s Prayer or the canticles (e.g., the prayer of Zechariah in Luke 1:68-79) can shape our own prayer life in profound ways.
Hear the transforming Word from God
Lectio Divina is another way to read Scripture prayerfully or contemplatively, helping us to be open to hearing the words of Scripture as a personally enlivening and transforming Word from God.
Chant the psalms
Hear a cantor singing the Laudate Psalms (Psalm 145-150) from the Daily Lectionary and learn how to chant the psalms.
