“There is nothing in the world so much like prayer as music is.” – William Shakespeare.
Are you are looking for a new type of meditative prayer for Lent this year? Perhaps you should consider Audio Divina. Audio Divina (divine hearing) is a musical spin on Lectio Divina (divine reading) and is a dialogue with God through musical prayer.
Pianist/Composer Ben Batalla has created a new Lenten Music Series Podcast (YouTube Channel) called Live Amplified which features Audio Divina. The podcast episodes share the Gospel for each Sunday of Lent, followed by an original piano improvisation and reflection by Batalla. I have prayed along with the first two episodes and found them to be a fresh new way to experience Lent and draw closer to the Divine.
Audio Divina is different than just using music in the background while praying. The music is front and center so that one can enter the scripture through the music. For Batalla, playing the piano IS prayer … “Music is a big part of how I pray and relate to God because sometimes, music is the only way I can really express to God what is happening inside my own heart.”