“As Christ was incarnate, he became the visible image of the invisible God; hence, images of Christ are appropriate because they witness to the true Incarnation” (St. Athanasius).

Visio Divina, or praying with sacred art, is a practice that has impacted me deeply in my own journey of life and faith. It gives me joy to share this way of prayer with others. While many of us have encountered sacred art or been struck by a favorite image, we might be unsure how to help these images go deeper into our heart.

About Visio Divina

What It Is

“Visio Divina” is Latin for “Divine Seeing.” Like Lectio Divina, it includes being attentive to God’s Word in Scripture, but it uses an image first to guide our meditation.

Some Basics

While I have some recommended steps below to pray Visio Divina on your own, know that these are just recommendations to help the prayer process. Go where the Spirit moves your heart.

I like to recommend slowing down when praying Visio. Don’t be afraid of the silence. Be attentive to one or two things in the image, and ask the Lord why you relate to them.

Each of us brings our own story and life into our prayer. The hope with Visio is that we can embrace our humanity, just as God became man at the Incarnation. If it is helpful, place yourself in the scene and imagine what things would have sounded and felt like. It can make the Gospel come alive in a new way.

Steps of Visio Divina

1. Visio

Gaze on the image, trusting that God will use it to speak to your heart. This is the time to be aware of what is striking you most about the image and talk to the Lord about it.

2. Meditatio (Meditation)

The meditative stage involves reflecting on the meaning of the Scripture. Take to prayer a word or phrase that struck you from the Scripture reading.

3. Oratio (Prayer)

Enter into a conversation with the Lord regarding the theme of the Visio Divina or whatever is coming up in your heart. If helpful, you can pray with the reflection questions often included in a Visio Divina.

4. Contemplatio (Contemplation)

Contemplation is simply resting in God. It is a time of divine intimacy. At this stage, you are drawn into relationship, a loving encounter with God.

5. Operatio (Action)

Ask yourself and God how to apply what you have received in prayer in your own life: “How will I live this out?”

Pray with us on the theme of the Nativity this Christmas Season using the Visio Divina reflection below:

Image: Murillo, Bartolome Esteban. The Adoration of the Shepherds, 1668, oil on canvas, the Wallace Collection, London. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bartolom%C3%A9_Esteban_Perez_Murillo_-_Adoration_of_the_Shepherds_-_WGA16387.jpg4, public domain.

Scripture Reading (Revised Standard Version-Catholic Edition): Luke 2:1-7, Isaiah 7:14

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirin′i-us was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

“The Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Imman′u-el.”

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Place yourself in the scene. What do you see and hear? Talk to the Lord about it.

2. In the mystery of the Nativity, we see that God takes on human flesh and enters into poverty and the mess of a stable to be close to us. Our wounds and weaknesses do not deter him but are places of intimacy. What are some wounds or struggles in your own life? Invite Jesus into these places.

3. Jesus shows us the beauty of joy in His presence, even amid non-ideal circumstances. What circumstances does the Lord have you in right now? Pray for the grace to find the joy of Christ’s presence here.

4. Luke’s Gospel mentions there was no room for the Holy Family at the inn. The Christmas season is a beautiful time to examine if we leave space in our heart for the Lord. What is something that fills your heart and attention instead of God? Take it to prayer, and invoke the Lord in such places of your heart.

5. How do you desire to live out from this time of prayer during this Christmas Season?

Katie Weiss is the founder and executive director of Behold Visio Divina.

Visio Divina: Praying With Art This Christmas Season