April 20, 2016 Book: Transformed by God's Word: Discovering the Power of Lectio and Visio Divina Author: Stephen J. Binz Ave Maria Press. Notre Dame, IN. 2015. Pp. 210 An Excerpt from the Jacket: Stephen J. Binz offers the first book to combine the ancient Western practice of lectio divina (sacred reading) with the lesser-known Eastern Orthodox tradition of visio divina (sacred seeing). Binz suggests a life-changing way to pray through twenty gospel readings --- starting with the Annunciation and ending with Pentecost --- paired with beautiful, never-before published contemporary icons. Binz walks you through six stepts --- reading, seeing, meditating, praying, contemplating, and acting --- and also provides simple suggestion s for self-reflection that can lead to practical changes in your everyday life. An Excerpt from the Book: Icons have been described as theology in line and color. They are the visual language of Eastern Christianity. The Byzantine world in which icons were produced and first viewed was one in which everyone had knowledge of the biblical literature. So icons do not take the place of scripture for the uneducated; rather they are expressions and interpretations of the sacred texts. They are viewed in the context of scripture and its proclamation in the Church's liturgy. Icons express and interpret the Word of God in a way similar to the preaching and writing of the early patristic theologians. So the Byzantine viewer gazing at an icon absorbs the imagery in light of their prior textual knowledge. For this reason, our listening and reflecting on scripture is complemented by our gazing and meditating on sacred images. Table of Contents: The ancient tradition of Lectio Divina Experiencing God's Word through icons The formative experience of Lectio and Visio Divina The Annunciation Visitation Nativity of Christ Presentation in the Temple Jesus is found in the Temple Baptism of Jesus Wedding at Cana Proclamation of God's Kingdom Transfiguration of Jesus Christ Last supper Agony of Jesus Flagellation of Christ Here is the Man Carrying the Cross Crucifixion Resurrection Ascension Pentecost Dormition of Mary Coronation of Mary