Scala claustralium
The Scala claustralium contains a description of the form of prayer in lectio divina . The Carthusian monk Guigo II († 1193) wrote this work before 1150. As a supposedly inexperienced in the spiritual life, he turned to his brother Gervasius from the Carthusian Monastery of Mont-Dieu, who he asks to assess and correct his statements.
Based on the verse: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. ”( Mt 7.7 EU ) Guigo explains in the Scala claustralium the traditional four stages of prayer , which he understands as“ the ladder to God ”:
- lectio (reading): reading the Bible
- meditatio ( meditation ): constant repetition of a verse associated with meditation
- oratio (prayer): answer to God
- contemplatio ( contemplation ): dwelling in the presence of God and union with him
The font was long ascribed to Bernhard von Clairvaux or, under the name Scala paradisi, Augustinus von Hippo . Although there were doubts about these attributions as early as the beginning of modern times, Guigo's authorship was only proven in the 20th century.
literature
- Guigo of the Carthusians: Scala Claustralium. The head of the monks to God. An introduction to the Lectio divina . Translated by Daniel Tibi. Traugott Bautz, Nordhausen 2008, ISBN 978-3-88309-455-7 .
- Guigo of the Carthusians: Scala claustralium. (PDF file, 527 kB)