The Bible is ancient, enigmatic, and from a culture vastly different from our own. That’s why most of us find it hard to read. So how can we understand its importance in the church, and how can it enrich our lives? Central to lectio divina is the conviction that to read the Bible faithfully and prayerfully is to learn an ancient art—by entering into dialogue with the God who speaks to each of us through the biblical page. Enzo Bianchi touches on the essentials of the history of lectio, from the...
“Abba, give me a word!” So young monks and visitors to desert monasteries would address an elder at the beginning of the 4th century. These seekers believed that a word originating outside oneself would descend into the heart and give direction to one’s inner life. Enzo Bianchi has tried to let himself be guided by this tradition in Words of Spirituality and Hope. These “words” are not listed alphabetically or by theme. They are arranged to take you on a journey. Through the use of allusions and...
“Where is God?” “Is God real?” These have been the cries of humankind since time began. Searching for the answer involves exploring what is profoundly human, which is to be found in the figure of Christ. That is why we cannot think of God without turning our minds to Jesus. Enzo Bianchi helps us finds God in stories from the Old Testament; stories of Abraham, Jacob, and Moses. It is the divine within us who really poses the question, “God, where are you?,” When we truly begin to search for God,...
