VISIO DIVINA AS A LENTEN PRAYER PRACTICE
One of the pillars of Lenten practice is prayer. Visio Divina (Divine Seeing) is a prayer form that helps our Lenten journey by opening scripture visually. Visio Divina is a way of drawing closer to God through contemplating images. It meditates on sacred art, architecture and sculpture. We can see the living Word with new eyes.
Visio Divina is linked with Lectio Divina, the better-known method of prayer the focuses on contemplative reading of Bible passages. Thomas Cardinal Collins (Archbishop Emeritus of Toronto) has a beautiful series of Lectio Divina on YouTube. Classical Lectio Divina has four movements: Lectio or reading, Meditatio or meditation; Oratio or praying; and Contemplatio or contemplation. However, Visio Divina is not as standardized as Lectio Divina. The method of Visio Divina I use follows the spirit of Lectio Divina in that it is an opening to God’s presence at all its steps.
Let’s take an example of Lenten art, Guercino’s Christ and the Woman of Samaria at the Well to illustrate the prayer practice of Visio Divina. This is the Gospel for the 1st Scrutiny of the Elect participating in the Rite of Christian Initiation proclaimed on the 3rd Sunday in Lent.
PREPARING
Prepare the resource for a Visio Divina. It can be digital, print, video or a live guide. An excellent site for resources is Fr. Patrick van der Vorst’s christian.art website where we find his reflection on this passage and Guercino’s art. Open the Bible to John 4. Settle yourself in an appropriate prayer space. Quiet yourself in silent prayer.
GAZING
Gaze at the image. Look at the different sections of the art. The skies…. the landscape… the well… the tree… the Samaritan woman… her expression… the jar… her clothing… her hands… her posture… Jesus… his face… his expression… his clothing… his hands… his posture. On what details do you focus? What emotions are evoked? Gazing goes beyond looking. When we gaze, we go beyond the image into a sacred realm. We become aware of the glimmers of grace radiating through the image. Engage your imagination. Where are you in the scene? What do you see from that perspective? How do you see or feel the sacred in this image?
RESPONDING
Read the passage from John 4:5-16,19-26,39-42 slowly and meditatively. How does the passage resonate with the art? Respond to the image with prayer.
CONSIDERING
Consider the different layers of understanding from this passage in context of the art. John tells us that Christ is travelling to Galilee through Samaria with his disciples. He rests by a well while the disciples go on to purchase food. He strikes up a conversation with a woman that leads to her conversion to discipleship. This conversation tells us about how Jesus relates to you and I. Jesus creates an unlikely encounter that transcends boundaries: cultural, gender, social and spiritual. What are the barriers that interfere with your relationship with Jesus? Jesus listens and challenges the Samaritan woman. If Jesus were speaking with you, how do you think he would challenge you?
Compare the hand gestures of the Samaritan woman with those of Jesus. What hand gestures do you make when telling others about your faith life? Look at the colour of Jesus’ cloak that is mirrored in the blue of the pot. The living water. How does the living water nourish you?
This encounter mirrors the movements of Visio Divina: being, seeing and doing. In the first part of the narrative, Jesus and the Samaritan woman both speak about their identities. The Samaritan woman with five husbands and Jesus as the living water. We then see the scene through different lenses: the narrative lens of the story, the symbolic lens of the well and the water, and the catechetical lens of the conversion story. Lastly, the encounter leads to action. The Samaritan woman, full of gratitude and passion, becomes a missionary disciple to her own community.
Take another, deeper look at the art. What insights did the resource produce? If you are praying in a group, you may wish to exchange each other’s insights. What questions remain?
RESTING
Gently gaze at the image for a while. How does this image lead you closer to God? Does it open a new awareness? Rest in this sacred space. Offer gratitude for insights gathered or questions raised.
ACTING
The outbreath of prayer is action. How does this prayer experience connect with your life? How can your insights help others? Which insight or part of the image do you most want to carry with you? St. Clare called this step “imitation.” How does this prayer help us to imitate Christ? You may want to discuss this experience in a group or journal your ideas.
If you wish to pursue this prayer practice, here are a few of the many art works that are suitable for Visio Divina in the Sundays of Lent:
- Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoy, Christ in The Desert
- Briton Rivière, The Temptation in the Wilderness
- Sandro Botticelli, The Three Temptations in the Wilderness
- Raphael, The Transfiguration of Christ
- Laura James, Transfiguration
- Il Guercino, Christ and the Woman of Samaria at the Well
- Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, Christ and the Samaritan Woman at the Well
- Brian Jekel, The Man Born Blind
- El Greco, Christ Healing the Blind
- Rembrandt, The Return of the Prodigal Son
- Murillo, The Return of the Prodigal Son
- Rembrandt, The Raising of Lazarus
- Giovanni di Paolo, The Resurrection of Lazarus
- Giotto, Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem
- Anthony Van Dyke, The Entry of Christ into Jerusalem
- Ford Madox Brown, Jesus Washing Peter’s Feet
- Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper
- Caravaggio, The Taking of Christ
- Hans Memling, Scenes from the Passion of the Christ
- James Tissot, The View from the Cross
- Diego Velasquez, Christ Crucified
May our Lenten pilgrimage of the heart open the eyes of our hearts to see Christ anew among us.
Les Miller is a husband, dad, grandfather and catechist. He has served the Catholic education community for 40 years as teacher, chaplaincy team leader, Department Head. AQ Instructor, textbook writer, and Religious Education and Family Life Consultant. Les authored the 25 Questions Series, Words for the Journey and award-winners Catholic Teacher’s Companion and Northern Light. Currently, he is an instructor and advisor with the Archdiocese of Toronto’s online Catechist formation program and lead contributor to the St. Monica Institute’s series on praying with art, Abide in Beauty.
