Description: This program is an interactive experience of scripture, art, and faith sharing — but you don’t need to be a Van Gogh to lead it (or be involved)! This can be done on its own or incorporated as a prayer experience into other young adult programs.
Get Ready
- Prep Time: About an hour and a half: One hour to select a scripture passage and prepare a prayer aid, and 30 minutes to set up the supplies and space. Tip: If you have group facilitators, you’ll want to walk them through the entire process at least once if they’ve never experienced Visio Divina before.
- Volunteers Needed: No volunteers are needed, unless you want to prepare a few “ringers” beforehand. If you’re expecting more than 10, it is helpful to have at least one other person who understands the whole process.
- Supplies: You will need an assortment of art supplies. They do not need to be expensive — a trip to the 99¢ store for children’s water colors, brushes, crayons, construction paper, magic markers, modeling clay, etc., is sufficient. If your budget allows, splurge on oil crayons, charcoal pencils, a good set of brushes, calligraphy markers, art pads, etc. These will last longer, may increase the interest in this prayer activity, and assist your participants in developing an appreciation for art as a prayer form. You might also invite any artists in your young adult community to bring some of their own supplies.
- Reserve the Space: You will need two quiet spaces for this activity: a circle of chairs, one for each participant and a work area with tables. It is helpful if these spaces are in the same room or adjacent to one another. This activity has been successful in both a parish center and someone’s home.
- Ideal Group Size: 5-10, but this prayer can be used with as few as 2 or as many as 50. If you have more than 10, split into groups of 5-8 when it comes time for sharing their art prayers.
- Who is this for? All young adults can participate and enjoy this prayer experience!
- When is a good time for this? Evenings or weekends work well. You’ll want at least an hour and a half to two hours, plus some time to socialize afterwards. This program also works well after Sunday liturgy as an extension of the scriptural reflection that happens there.
- Publicize the Program: This program can be a great extension of groups that gather regularly for scripture reflection or groups that started during Lent.
- Mass is a good place to promote this program.
- This is a great option to offer to groups that already gather for prayer and scripture reflection.
- Invite individuals who are interested in prayer. It’s a great activity for those who have a strong spirituality, but not a formal connection to the Church or to those who are active and engaged in parish life.
- Use social media, parish bulletins and newsletters, and diocesan publications.
Prayer for Program Planner: Creator God, you are the source of creativity itself. Send your Holy Spirit upon me and those who will pray with me today so that we may open our hearts to your holy word and, therefore, be re-created and renewed. Amen.
Community Building: Participants have the opportunity to connect with one another through faith sharing. Offering snacks and beverages after the prayer experience is always appropriate.
Make It Happen
- Set Up: 30 minutes before participants arrive.
- You will need two quiet spaces for this activity: a circle of chairs, one for each participant, and a work area with tables. It is helpful if these spaces are in the same room or adjacent to one another.
- One table should be set with all the art supplies including paper towels and three or four paper cups half-filled with water. Display the brushes, markers, crayons, and paper so that participants can choose a medium quickly.
- Print out a worship aid that includes the entire scripture passage you will be using, one for each participant. (See the Help section for a list of suggested scripture passages.)
- Visio divina (divine seeing) is similar to lectio divina (divine reading) in that participants use scripture to enter into prayer with God. It requires a slow reading (and often, repeated readings) of scripture for the Word to take hold. Where lectio divina is reflected through words, visio divina invites participants to envision and create an art work of some key concept they hear God trying to say to them, through pencil drawings, oils, pen and ink, crayons, clay, etc. Poetry and journaling are also appropriate art forms. There’s no limit to the creative ways one can pray to God. Visio divina has five basic steps (see Help section for more detailed instructions).
- Preparing the Pray-ers by reminding them that visio divina is not about how good an artist one is. It’s about connecting with God in a way that allows one’s prayer to take on a different dimension. Create a safe, non-judgmental environment for the participants to share their art prayers. Also, you will need to explain how scripture is going to be proclaimed. Be prepared for first-timers to be reluctant to speak until they feel more comfortable about how to do it. Additionally, the average person may not have used some of the art supplies you provide. Make sure you offer some explanation on how to use them.
- Proclaiming the Word: Gather the group in the circle of chairs. Use the detailed instructions in the Help section to explain how to proclaim the scripture. Participants often find this the most engaging part of the prayer experience.
- Reflecting on the Word through Art: Invite the participants to spend a few moments reflecting on the scripture they just heard and select a line, idea, or image that spoke to them. Instruct them to choose the art supplies they need to draw or paint that image. They may use the tables, remain in their seats, or go outside to complete their art prayer. Allow 20-45 minutes for this. Remind them to work in silence.
- Sharing Your Art Prayer: Gather the group together again in the circle of chairs to share what they have created and why they created it. Participants may be anxious about sharing what they’ve drawn. Remind them that the artwork they created is not the important part — it is just another means to connect with God in prayer. Ask questions that help the participants articulate why this word or phrase from scripture was important to them and what their artwork is supposed to convey. Allow time for others to make connections and affirming comments about what someone just shared.
- Close with the Lord’s Prayer and the sign of the cross.
Ideas
- Instead of drawing or painting, have the group take pictures with digital cameras or their phones of the scripture word that spoke to them. This can be done inside or outside. If they have taken many pictures, ask them to select one photo that best represents the key word or phrase. Upload each photo into your laptop and project them onto a screen for all to see and share.
- Have the group meet at a museum that has religious art on display. Gather in the parking lot beforehand (or meet at the parish if weather is an issue). If the group is small, read aloud the scripture passage you’ve selected all the way through. If it is a large group, split up into groups of 5-8 and have someone read the passage in their small group. Pass out copies of the reading so that participants can refer back to it as they move through the museum. Allow one or two hours for everyone to view the collection. Invite them to write down any thoughts or insights they have about what they saw and experienced while contemplating an artwork. Afterwards, gather the group again at someone’s home, or the parish, or a quiet coffee shop to discuss what they experienced, how God spoke to them through a particular piece of art, or what effect praying with art has on them. End the session with the Lord’s Prayer.
- This can be a stand-alone event, a regular, repeated opportunity for prayer, one of a series of prayer sessions that introduce prayer styles or incorporated into another event, such as a reflection on service or part of a retreat.
Recommends
- Resources and reflection guides for Visio Divina: www.seeingtheword.org
- Interview with an artist about Visio Divina: Praying with Art
Help
