Visio Divina
Kitchen Maid with Supper at Emmaus, by Diego Velázquez, 1620-22
Visio Divina is a prayer practice in which God speaks to us through what we see. In Latin, the words “Visio Divina” mean "holy" or "divine" seeing. I have appreciated this prayer practice for several years, using art. However, it can also be applied to everything we see in the created world, whether grand or tiny. Visio Divina can usher us into a new experience of God.
I invite you to this prayer practice with the attached painting, Kitchen Maid with Supper at Emmaus, by Diego Velázquez, 1620-22.
I pray Visio Divina using a 3-step process:
Step 1 is to Look.
Let your eye roam, looking across the entire painting. What first catches your eye? What do you notice about the young woman’s expression? What do you notice about her hands? What about the scene in the background?
Step 2 is to Linger.
Spend a moment lingering over the details. What do you notice about light and dark? What emotions do you see reflected on the woman’s face? What do you think is happening here?
Step 3 is to Listen.
Listen to your own heart. What feelings does the image evoke? What Scripture passages come to mind? How do you sense God is speaking to you through this painting?
Jesus so often revealed himself to people who were considered outsiders at that time—women, servants, the sick, the poor, the overlooked. This painting, and the story behind it, invite us to look for Jesus’ face in unexpected places and among unexpected people.
Gayla Irwin is an artist and spiritual director living near downtown Littleton. Allow Gayla to guide you through this prayer practice on YouTube.
