meditatio

Meditatio is a Latin term meaning reflection, contemplation, or meditation. In Christian spiritual practice, meditatio designates the second step of lectio divina, the fourfold method of scriptural reading and prayer: lectio (reading), meditatio (reflection on the text and its meaning), oratio (prayer), and contemplatio (contemplation). The term emphasizes active mental engagement with the text, weighing its meanings, implications, and application to life.

Etymology and usage: The noun derives from meditare, to think over or ponder. In medieval and patristic literature, meditatio connotes a deliberate and often imaginative turning of the mind toward divine truths, not simply memorized repetition. It may involve meditating on a Bible passage, on a Christian mystery, or on a virtuous example, with the aim of deeper understanding and interior transformation.

Historical context: Meditatio appears across Christian spiritual writers from late antiquity through the medieval period, within monastic and scholastic contexts. It is usually distinguished from lectio by its inward, contemplative character, and from oratio by its emphasis on thinking rather than directly praying aloud.

Practice and aims: In practice, meditatio often involves repeated, structured reflection, using questions, mental imagery, or doctrinal themes to draw out meaning for personal faith and conduct. The ultimate goal is a closer union with God through interior conversion, leading to contemplation and action.

See also: Lectio Divina, Contemplatio, Oratio.