The Steps:

1. Lectio: reading (What does the text say?)
2. Meditatio: meditation (What does the text say to me?)
3. Oratio: prayer (What does God say to me and what do I
    say to God through the text?)
4. Actio: living (What difference can this text make in how
    I act? What possibilities does it open up? What
    challenges does it pose?)

 

Step One: Lectio as four ways of reading the text

1. Lexically: looking at the etymology of the words, their
    historical development in meaning and their usage in
    the text.
2. Syntactically: application of the rules of grammar to
    the text. The relationship of verbs to nouns, or subjects
    to predicates will add a new significance to the text.
3. Contextually: emphasizes the unified nature of the
    Bible and illustrates how every page of the Bible
    speaks of God's Plan of Salvation for all of humanity.
4. Historically: attention is given to the historical,
    religious, and social background within which the text
    was written.

    The Lectio has to do with FACTS

 

Step Two: Meditatio as three ways of thinking about the text

1. Values: look at the kind of ideas, goals, sentiments
    which can be found in the text.
2. World View: explore the way the text views the world
    and God, ie. optimistically, with circumspection, etc.
    Look for the image of God put forth in this text.
3. Virtues: uncover the kinds of virtues that the text
    promotes or discourages, ie: selflessness, pride,
    humility, vanity, truthfulness, etc.

    The Meditatio has to do with OPINIONS

 

Step Three: Oratio as two ways one can look at how one is feeling
                   about the text

1. Dialogue: begin to examine your feelings and enter
    into a dialogue between yourself and God. This is the
    spontaneous meeting of the heart of God with the heart
    of God's beloved creature through the Word of God.
2. Deliberation: consider what you want to do about all
    this. Is there anything that you can see coming out of this
    process? Changes in you, in the way you view yourself,
    others, God?

    The Oratio has to do with EMOTIONS

 

Step Four: Actio as one way of doing something about the text

1. Decision: give form and substance to the choice you
    make. What you do about your encounter with the Living
    God will verify the authenticity of the encounter.

    The Actio has to do with CHOICES

 

Additional information can be found at lectiodivina.org