One form of prayer I have been encouraging pupils in the Prep School to experience this week is called Visio Divina. This means using our eyes to see in a divine way, or exploring a work of art and seeing what it is that God is communicating to us through that work. I do recommend this website: https://christian.art. The site is run by a Catholic priest, who before discerning this vocation had a career as a global expert in fine art. On the website he combines his love and knowledge of art with his calling to proclaim and explain scripture. For the Gospel reading of each day there is a chosen work of art, and a little ‘homily’ linking together the work of art and the words of scripture.
All year round I have the picture accompanying this article on the wall in my office, but it has particular poignancy as we approach the end of Lent and the beginning of Holy Week. This extraordinary work of art was drawn for me by a ten-year-old boy I taught many years ago.
I will use this work of art over the coming days for some Visio Divina of my own. Through the hand of the young artist, Sean, what is God communicating? What does it tell me about the suffering that Christ endured, and endured for me? How is God inviting me to respond? What does the work of art tell me about the love that God has for me … and for us all?
May the approaching time of Easter be a time of blessing for all our families.
