Visio Divina: Praying Traditional Catholic Prayers with the "Eyes of Your Heart"
Prayer is an integral part of the Catholic faith, providing a means of communicating with God and deepening one's relationship with Him. While traditional forms of prayer, such as reciting scripted prayers or engaging in contemplative prayer, are widely practiced, there are also lesser-known forms of prayer that can enrich one's spiritual journey. One such form is Visio Divina, a contemplative practice that involves praying with the "eyes of your heart" through the visual medium. In this article, we will explore the concept of Visio Divina and how it can deepen your prayer life and overall faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
What is Visio Divina?
Visio Divina, which means "divine seeing" in Latin, is a method of prayer that involves meditating on sacred art or visual images to encounter God's presence. It is similar to Lectio Divina, a form of prayer that involves meditating on Scripture, but instead of using words, Visio Divina employs images as the focal point of reflection. Through the process of Visio Divina, one can engage their senses, emotions, and imagination to enter into a deeper awareness of God's presence and to foster a contemplative encounter with Him.
Image of the dove, a symbolic representation of the Holy Spirit.
The concept of Visio Divina can be traced back to the early Christian tradition, where art and images were used as a means of prayer and worship. In the Catholic Church, sacred art, such as icons, stained glass windows, and statues, has been used for centuries to depict the mysteries of the faith and inspire devotion. Visio Divina allows the faithful to enter into a visual dialogue with these sacred images, inviting them to go beyond the surface level and explore the spiritual truths and messages they convey.
How to Practice Visio Divina
To practice Visio Divina, one can follow these simple steps:
Preparation: Find a quiet and sacred space where you can be present and attentive to God's presence. Light a candle or say a short prayer to invoke the Holy Spirit's guidance.
Choose an Image: Select a sacred image that resonates with you. It could be a painting of a biblical scene, a depiction of a saint, a crucifix, or any other visual representation of the faith. Allow yourself to be drawn to the image intuitively, without overthinking or analyzing.
Gaze: Begin by gazing at the image with an open heart and mind. Take in the details, colors, and textures of the image. Let the image speak to you, and allow yourself to be present in the moment without rushing or judging.
Reflect: Enter into a reflective mode by asking yourself questions such as "What do I see?" "What emotions or thoughts arise in me as I look at this image?" "How does this image connect with my life or faith journey?" "What might God be saying to me through this image?" Allow your intuition and emotions to guide your reflections, and be open to any insights or inspirations that arise.
Meditate: Move from reflection to meditation by allowing the image to draw you into a deeper state of contemplation. Close your eyes and imagine yourself stepping into the scene or becoming one with the image. Engage your senses, emotions, and imagination to fully immerse yourself in the experience of praying with the image. Allow yourself to be present to God's presence in the image and be receptive to any graces or messages that may be communicated to you.
Respond: After spending time in meditation, offer a response to God. It could be a simple expression of gratitude, a prayer, or a resolution to live out a particular virtue or message that arose during the practice. Allow yourself to be open to God's grace and guidance, and surrender any attachments or expectations.
Visio Divina can be practiced with a wide variety of images, such as icons, religious art, nature scenes, or everyday objects. In Catholic prayers, it can be especially powerful when combined with images that have particular significance within the tradition of the Church.
Paradise Found Studio & Visio Divina
Paradise Found Studio is dedicated to providing images that encourage deeper reflection into God, your Catholic faith, scripture, and more.
Cover of the Comic Guide to The Holy Rosary
The Comic Guide to The Holy Rosary, an activity book by Kevin Pawlowski of Paradise Found Studio, contains dozens of images that can be used for Visio Divina prayer. For example, traditional Catholic prayers, like the Our Father and Hail Mary are illustrated to encourage reflection of each prayer’s meaning. Even the Apostles’ Creed is illustrated over 3 pages, so each article of faith can be an object of focus.
All 20 mysteries of the Holy Rosary are also illustrated, based on classic artistic imagery. That allows you to focus on key moments in the lives of Jesus, the holy family, and the apostles. Each mystery also has the corresponding bible passage for further reflection.
2nd page of the Memorare prayer.
1st page of the Apostles’ Creed.
The 5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion of Our Lord.
The 5th Glorious Mystery: Mary Is Crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth.
Images for Visio Divina prayer are also available as canvas prints. For example, the mosaic of the San Damiano Crucifix, by Kevin Pawlowski, includes many symbols and images that represent God, the Communion of Saints, people in the life of Jesus, and stories from the Gospels.
Also available are etchings by Gustave Doré, painted with watercolor by Kevin Pawlowski, that depict stories from the Old and New Testaments. All these images can be hung in a quiet place, to be used for reflection in Visio Divina prayer.
Mosaic of the San Damiano Crucifix.
Painted etching of the Nativity.
The Comic Guide to The Holy Rosary and canvas art prints are available at www.paradisefoundstudio.com and www.rosarycomic.com.
The fun activity on everything rosary!
All the mysteries, prayers & history beautifully illustrated! Learn how to pray the rosary & gain a deeper understanding of our Catholic faith! 44 pages softcover magazine format. For ages 8 and up.
Included:
4 complete rosaries with instructions!
Comic stories about the history of the rosary and the life of Holy Mary!
Prayer coloring pages… a hands-on way to learn important Catholic prayers!
Lavishly illustrated mysteries with related bible passages to color while reflecting!
Artist: Kevin Pawlowski (Texas US, 1968- )
Title: San Damiano Crucifix
Medium: Glass mosaic on board
Date: 2019
This is a glorious glass mosaic by Kevin Pawlowski. 13 months in the making, over 6,500 ties were hand applied to a 4’w x 5’h structure. The reproduction was created by the artist to best display on a rectangle design. The background is filled with the same cobalt mosaic tiles that wrap the sides of the original.
The design is based on the original San Damiano Crucifix hanging in the Basilica of Saint Clare in Assisi, Italy, but with a Latin American twist. Turquoise, blue and red elements were added, which were inspired by Latin American folk art. This is a nod to Pope Francis, combining the roots of St. Francis with the South American background of the Pope.
Artist: Kevin Pawlowski (Texas US, 1968- )
Title: He Is Not Here
Medium: Watercolor over antique engraving
Date: 2015-2018
“He Is Not Here”, by Kevin Pawlowski, is a watercolor painting over an antique etching by Gustave Doré. The painting is a beautiful rendering of Mary Magdalene and another Mary visiting the tomb of Jesus the dawn after the Passover. They are met by an angel who asks "Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised." (NAB, Luke 24:5-6)
Purchase a canvas art print for the perfect decoration for any home.