While Lectio Divina is a method of praying with scripture, Visio Divina (Latin for "divine seeing") is a method for praying with images or other media. Scripture shows us that imagery has been an important part of God's way of communicating with us. Ezekiel's vision of dry bones (Ezek 37:1-14 NASB), and Peter's dream on the rooftop (Acts 10), are just two instances of how images and prayer are vitally connected.
"Genuine sacred art draws man to adoration, to prayer and to the love of God, Creator and Savior, the Holy One and Sanctifier.” - CCC 2502
With our culture becoming more and more visually oriented, an intentional way of praying with images is needed now more than ever. Visio Divina invites us to see at a more contemplative pace. It invites us to see all there is to see, exploring the entirety of the image. It invites us to see deeply, beyond first and second impressions, below initial ideas, judgments, or understandings. It invites us to be seen, addressed, surprised, and transformed by God who is never limited or tied to any image, but speaks through them.
“Authentic Christian art is that which, through sensible perception, gives the intuition that the Lord is present in his Church, that the events of salvation history give meaning and orientation to our life, that the glory that is promised us already transforms our existence. Sacred art must tend to offer us a visual synthesis of all dimensions of our faith.”
- Pope John Paul II, Veneration of Holy Images, no. 11
Visio divina can be practiced individually or with a group in a small group, classroom or worship setting. Anywhere you can use a piece of art as a focal point for prayer. Scripture can also be paired with the image in order for the viewer to reflect on the scripture through the art.
Note: If at any time, you begin to feel distracted, that's okay. Write down any distracting thoughts and then spend a few minutes quieting your mind again and focusing on Jesus and then pick up wherever you left off in the process.
"I've been incorporating Visio Divina with the students more since our last morning [staff] training, and they really enjoy it. What was neat yesterday was that since we talked about icons and the Iconoclast Movement in Ecumenism this chapter, I did Visio Divina with them with an icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. I was amazed at the little things they picked up on or that stood out to them and the meaning they derived from it. This is definitely a visual generation! It also gave us a good chance to discuss how the Western church and the Eastern church view religious art. I've never used an icon before for Visio Divina but I think I will intentionally pick more images to pray with that relate directly to the culture or time that we are studying, rather than just picking one that goes with the Gospel for the day."
- Audrey Mayer - Teacher at Our Lady Academy
Step 1: Relax and open your heart and mind to God . Ask God to speak clearly to you in a way that you can hear. Prepare to bring the whole of yourself – analytical, emotional, and intuitive – to the process. (Heb 4:1)
Ask God to open the eyes of your heart, enabling you to see what God wants you to see. (Eph 1:17-19).
Step 2: Gaze at the image. Let your eyes rest on the characters and objects. Note your feelings as you examine the whole and parts of the work. If the image is specifically related to a scripture, scene, or story from the Bible, go and read it.
Step 3: Read or listen to accounts of the events. They might be scripture, insights into the work, or guided meditation. Remain receptive and open to surprises the Lord may be personally revealing to you. Release pre-conceived notions. Keep an attitude of wonder in our Lord.
Step 4: Gaze at the work again. Imagine that you are in this scene. What do you see from your vantage point? What you hear? smell? sense? What is God asking you to personally experience with Him.
Step 5: Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. Bring all of what you’ve experienced before God. Does the image now evoke a value or different way of thinking or being? Does it open or deepen a desire in your heart? How do you feel God is calling you to respond? Gratitude? Supplication? Wonder? Lament? Confession? Forgiveness? Praise? How is the sacred present to you in this experience?
Step 6: How does this Visio Divina relate to your life now? How is Jesus trying to personally encounter you through your prayer today?
Step 7: What insight from this experience do you want to retain? How will you do that? Record your insights you want to remember and the actions God has invited you to take. Spend some time thanking God for speaking to you.
"All that is good,
all that is true,
all that is beautiful
brings us to God."
- Pope Francis
LiturgyTools.net
Free-to-use artworks for readings from the Roman Catholic lectionary. These give suggestions for art that can be used for Visio Divina.
CARFLEO.com
The Catholic Association of Religious and Family Life Educators of Ontario has weekly posts on that can be used for Lectio and Visio Divina.
Pathways to God
Jesuits in Britan Release New Artwork Each Month
Christian.art
“Our mission is simple: Art and Christianity no longer resonate as an inherent, magnificent pairing. Actually it is a feeling that goes both ways: most Christians no longer see Art as being important or even as a relevant way of promoting the faith; and non believers don’t value Christianity as having been at the forefront of the arts throughout the centuries, responsible for creating some of the most magnificent artworks out there. Our offering is simple: one newsletter a day where we simply send you the Gospel reading of the day, alongside a work of art that we believe is poignant, reflective and appropriate to that reading. We offer a short reflection on the artwork and the reading. We simply give you the tools for you to meditate on the daily Gospel alongside a work of art. We are an apostolate within the Roman Catholic Church, based in London, England"
Visio Divina Videos – University of Portland
“Welcome to the Visio Divina video archive. Visio Divina — “sacred seeing” — is an ancient form of Christian prayer in which we allow our hearts and imaginations to enter into a sacred image, in silence, to see what God might have to say to us. The videos below offer guided experiences of Visio Divina. All that is required is your receptive, contemplative silence.”
1.) https://carfleo.com/2016/04/06/visio-divina-praying-with-art/
2.) https://www.patheos.com/resources/additional-resources/2009/07/praying-with-art-visio-divina
3.) https://www.educatemagis.org/blogs/lenten-visio-divina-or-praying-through-art/
4.) https://www.prayerandpossibilities.com/pray-with-eyes-of-the-heart-visio-divina/
5.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Return_of_the_Prodigal_Son_(Rembrandt)
6.) https://www.messagesfromgoddevotional.com/articles/2019/3/20/visio-divina-part-1
7.) https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2018/12/pope-francis-dave-yoder/
8.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Perpetual_Help (Icon image)
9.) Visio Divina Handouts