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Visio Divina on Video guided by Les Miller
Find out about the books that I have written or helped to write.
My Canadian Prayer Book featuring prayers and photos inspired by the Canadian landscape.
An outline of retreats, missions, presentations, days of reflection, catechetical sessions, and creation walks.
Photographs and Photo Essays.

Visio Divina for Divine Mercy Sunday

Divine Mercy Sunday falls on the Second Sunday of Easter. Here is a Visio Divina of the image given to St. Faustina.

Praying With Art for the Second Sunday of Easter

This year Easter lasts from April 5 until May 24 giving us 50 days to pray with art during this holy season. Pray with art in preparation for the Second Sunday of Easter. It is also Divine Mercy Sunday.

Cravaggio, The Incredulity of Thomas

My Seeds of Faith Blogposts

Seeds of Faith “Featuring posts by members of the Novalis publishing team, as well as leading Catholic educators and pastoral ministers, Novalis Seeds of Faith Blog provides thoughtful and engaging commentary on faith, spirituality and Church life.”

Easter Light

On this morning
this glorious morning,
the earth is transfigured.
Resurrection light shines over the land.
Earth anew in divine light.
Each other anew in divine light.
Our deepest selves anew in divine light.

Little Easter poems bloom in the Church garden:
Lily and daffodil,
Paschal lamb,
Sprinkling water,
Rising incense,
Alleluia bells,
Gilded white,
All pointing to Easter Light.

And we process in this consecrated light
out of our homes,
along stream sides,
into the narthex,
and down the aisle.
Procession becomes a pilgrimage leading through the seasons,
carrying Easter light to the forgotten and sleeping–
wending its ways through thin places vibrant with God,
wending its way through thick places in dire need of divine illumination.

Bless the eyes that see this light.
Bless the hearts that reflect this light.
Bless the hands the create in this light.
Bless the feet that walk in this Easter light.
Amen.

Day of Reflection: The Spirituality of Photography

 
Saturday, May 23, 2026
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Villa St Joseph Ecology and Spirituality Centre
445 Monk Street, Cobourg, ON, K9A 2S9
 
The advent of smartphones and their improved photographic capabilities allows us to take satisfying images that communicate not only the subject matter but also evoke the spiritual. The very act of creating and editing these images can also be seen as a prayer form. This retreat will be a time to contemplate our connections with creation and each other through photography.
While most of the day consists of hands-on experiences and reflection on our images, we will also explore the spiritual insights of photographers. Participants are expected to bring their own cameras or smartphones. We will be sharing some of our images as part of a group reflection.
This session will be facilitated by Les Miller, whose book Northern Light includes photographs and prayers that portray the spiritual dimension of the Canadian landscape.
Suggested offering: $50

Walking With Mary on the Via Matris during Lent

The Via Matris is an ancient devotion akin to the Way of the Cross that invites us to accompany Mary on her path of discipleship. It focuses on seven challenging events in her life, helping us to understand how to face the challenges in our own lives as disciples of Jesus. This devotion is particularly appropriate for Lent, as it embraces the path of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

We will be using sacred art to focus our prayers through a method known as Visio Divina. This practice is similar to Lectio Divina but uses art as an entry point to Scripture. We are invited to accompany Mary on the Via Matris just as she accompanied her Son.

POSTER: https://bit.ly/LRSA-PosterFeb2026 

REGISTER: https://bit.ly/LRSA-RegisterFeb2026

CONTACT: formation@archtoronto.org or 437-900-4287 

Visio Divina Resources for Advent and Christmas (Year A)

First Sunday of Advent

Michelangelo Buonarroti, “Isaiah” Sistine Chapel detail, | Loyola Press Commentary Arts & Faith Week 1 of Advent Cycle A

Second Sunday of Advent

Alexandre Cabanel,  St. John the Baptist | christian.art  Second Sunday of Advent Year A

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (December 8 )

Sassoferrato, The Madonna at Prayer | Description, National Gallery, London

Henry Ossawa Tanner, The Annunciation Video Visio Divina

Ken Clark https://www.faithandculture.com/home/2020/4/2/the-annunciation-1898-by-henry-ossawa-tanner (text)

Katie Weiss https://youtu.be/8R6TgaW2HwE (YouTube)

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12)

Christian.art Link

Visitation by Mariotto Albertinelli (Video Link)

Third Sunday of Advent

Geertgen tot Sint Jans, “Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness,” 15th century | Loyola Press Commentary Arts & Faith: Week 3 of Advent, Cycle A

Thursday of the Third Week of Advent (Year A)

Daniele Crespi, The Dream of Saint Joseph, | christian.art

Friday of the Third Week of Advent (Year A)

Stanley Spencer, Zechariah and Elizabeth christian.art

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Philippe de Champaigne, The Dream of St. Joseph | Description, The National Gallery, London

The Dream of Joseph by Philippe de Champaigne (Video Link)

Anton Raphael Mengs, “The Dream of Saint Joseph, Loyola Press Commentary Arts and Faith Week 4 of Advent Cycle A

Walking Through Advent with Saint Joseph (video) christian.art

Christmas Eve

Pieter Breughel the Elder, Census at Bethlehem Video Visio Divina

Christmas Day

The Christmas Story Told Through Art christian.art (video)

Holy Family

Caravaggio,  Rest on the Flight to Egypt Visio Divina Script

Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God

Domenico Ghirlandaio, Adoration of the Shepherds Video Visio Divina | Visio Divina Script for Adoration of the Shepherds

 Epiphany

Vincent Van Gogh, The Starry Night Visio Divina Script

Christmas 2024 at the National Gallery with Jan Gossaert’s ‘The Adoration of the Magi’ christian.art  (video)

Maurice Denis The Adoration of Kings christian.art (video)

Advent Reflection at St. Brigid's Church

Advent Reflection with Sacred Art

From the Archdiocese of Toronto’s Office of Formation for Discipleship:

Advent Reflection with Sacred Art

All are invited to attend an online Advent reflection using works of sacred art such as Philippe de Champaigne’s The Dream of St. Joseph. Mr. Les Miller, author of Northern Light, will lead the reflection. There is no cost, but registration is required. 

POSTER: https://bit.ly/VDAW-PosterDec2025

REGISTER:  https://bit.ly/VDAW-RegisterDec2025

CONTACT: formation@archtoronto.org or 437-900-4287

Wednesday December 3 from 7:00 to 8:30 via Zoom

Presentation at St. Augustine's Seminary

On Saturday, June 28, I presented to the alumni of the Archdiocesan Catechetical Formation program on Praying with art to Nurture our Spirituality of Catechesis. See my Visions of Wonder post with a link to slides.

Here’s an excerpt from one of these images: One image of the catechist is that of the bridge. This is the Ponte Vittorio Emmanuelle II in Rome near the Vatican. Catechists, like the Pope, are called to be bridge-builders or Pontifexes. Contrast the images from the near bank to the far bank. 

Praying with Art for the Second Sunday of Easter

This year Easter lasts from April 5 until May 24 giving us 50 days to pray with art during this holy season. Pray with art in preparation for the Second Sunday of Easter. It is also Divine Mercy Sunday.

Visio Divina Resources for Holy Week

Resources for Praying with Art are found at Visio Divina Resources for Holy Week 

Visio Divina Resources for the Fifth Sunday of Lent

Resources for praying with art are found at Visio Divina for the Fifth Sunday of Lent

Visio Divina Resources for the Fourth Sunday of Lent

Resources for praying with art are found at Visio Divina Resources for the Fourth Sunday of Lent

Marian Art in the Liturgical Calendar

The table shows art resources for praying with Mary through the Liturgical Year. These resources can help us with praying with art using a Visio Divina. A description of this prayer form is found at lesmiller.ca

Visio Divina Resources for the Third Sunday of Lent

Resources for praying with art are found at Visio Divina Resources for the Third Sunday of Lent

St. Joseph in Art

A new post on St. Joseph in Art on the Solemnity of St. Joseph

Visio Divina Series at St. Andrew's Church in Ottawa

St. Andrew’s Church in Ottawa will be running this series of Visio Divina based on Northern Light. I’ll be participating on March 16. 

Visio Divina: (in-person and online). Sundays at 12:30pm in the Pottinger Room. March 9, 16, 23, April 6, concluding with an in-person trip to the Ottawa Art Gallery at 1:00pm Sunday, April 27. A meditation upon the sacred in the Canadian landscape. Latin for “divine seeing”, Visio Divina is a form of contemplative prayer through meditation on art work or images. During this series we will be meditating on photographs and prayers from the book, “Northern Light: A Canadian Prayer Book by Les Miller”. Register here:

Visio Divina Resources for the Second Sunday of Lent

Resources for praying with art using Visio Divina are found at Visio Divina Resources for the Second Sunday of Lent

Visio Divina Resources for the First Sunday of Lent

Resources for praying with art using Visio Divina are found at Visio Divina Resources for the First Sunday of Lent.

Breton Riviere, Christ in the Wilderness

Visio Divina for Ash Wednesday

New: A Visio Divina script for Ash Wednesday featuring Bill Brandt’s Coal Miner’s Bath 

Visio Divina in Preparation for Lent

  • On February 19, 2025 at 7:00pm, I’ll be hosting a Zoom reflection to help us prepare for Lent using Visio Divina. It has three objectives:
  • Explain how Visio Divina can be used as a Lenten Prayer Practice
  • Pray with art using Guercino’s Woman at the Well
  • Explore possibilities for using art in your prayer life and ministries during Lent

This session is being offered through the Archdiocese of Toronto’s Office of Formation for Discipleship. Free registration and Zoom link: Visio Divina in Preparation for Lent

Visio Divina Resources for Advent and Christmas (Year C)

 First Sunday of Advent

The Whirlpool Galaxy (Visio Divina Script)

Also Commentary in Living With Christ by Les Miller for the First Sunday of Advent

Second Sunday of Advent

Mattia Preti,  St. John Preaching in the Wilderness Loyola Press Commentary Arts & Faith: Week 2 of Advent, Cycle C

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (December 8 or 9)

Sassoferrato, The Madonna at Prayer

Description, National Gallery, London

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12)

Christian.art Link

Third Sunday of Advent

Preaching of John the Baptist, The Preaching of John the Baptist Loyola Press Commentary Arts & Faith: Week 3 of Advent, Cycle C

Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent

Philippe de Champaigne, The Dream of St. Joseph

Description, The National Gallery, London

Friday of the Third Week of Advent

Henry Ossawa Tanner, The Annunciation Video Visio Divina

Ken Clark https://www.faithandculture.com/home/2020/4/2/the-annunciation-1898-by-henry-ossawa-tanner (text)

Katie Weiss https://youtu.be/8R6TgaW2HwE (YouTube)

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Mariotto Albertinelli, The Visitation Video Visio Divina

Christmas Eve

Pieter Breughel the Elder, Census at Bethlehem Video Visio Divina

Holy Family

Caravaggio,  Rest on the Flight to Egypt Visio Divina Script

Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God

Domenico Ghirlandaio, Adoration of the Shepherds Video Visio Divina | Visio Divina Script for Adoration of the Shepherds

 Epiphany

Vincent Van Gogh, The Starry Night Visio Divina Script

Finding Sabbath

Faith Day for the staff of Madonna Secondary School in Downsview. We focus on Vermeer’s Christ in the House of Martha and Mary to delve into Sabbath spirituality. Video Visio Divina of Jesus in the House of Martha and Mary

Glimpses of Grace

On May 28, 2024 I returned to Holy Name of Mary College School to offer a presentation on  finding joy in education. I taught at Holy Name of Mary from 1981 to 1989, so it is a wonderful homecoming. 

Presentation slides: JoyHNMCS

Article: The Joyful Classroom

Article about the chapel window: The Dream Becomes Reality

Visio Divina

Website  for Br. David Steindl-Rast: Grateful Living

Visio Divina for Catechists

On June 22, 2024, I presented a session on Visio Divina for Catechists to the alumni of the Archdiocese of Toronto Catechist Formation Program (Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation with the University of Dayton). The PowerPoint file that I’ll be using can be downloaded here.

We use Rembrandt’s Storm at Sea (1633) to focus our approach to using Visio Divina for Catechesis. 

Happy Easter!

Baker’s Woods, Thornhill, Ontario

Blessed be the small things with their Easter proclamations:

spring beauty pushing forth from leaf litter, opening to a white-and-pink prayer, 

trout lily ringing in yellow Alleluia bells,

bloodroot proclaiming God’s glory,

trillium theologian expounding on the nature of God,

raindrops blessing the spring promises,

swelling maple buds testifying to hope,

sun’s warmth reminding us of grace.

May these echoes of the sacred season bring us ever closer to You.

Source: Northern Light L.Miller

Abide in Beauty: Advent Series

Adoration of the Shepherds by Domenico Ghirlandaio

Visio Divina, guided by Catechist Les Miller

Each week during Advent, artist and Catechist Les Miller guided us in an hour of prayer and meditation, contemplating images of the Annunciation, Joseph’s dream, the Journey to Bethlehem, and the Nativity.  

Behold!

I was interviewed about Northern Light by Salt & Light TV for their Behold! program. If you want to see my segment (Season 4, Program 2) you’ll have to subscribe to their Salt & Light + service or wait until it comes around again on their channel. 

Abide in Beauty Videos 2023

Sermon on the Mount by Jan Brueghel
The Annunciation by Henry Ossawa Tanner
The Calling of Matthew by Caravaggio
de Champaigne, The Dream of Saint Joseph
The Icon of St. Monica by Maria Papuga
Visitation by Mariotto Albertinelli
Christ in the Home of Martha and Mary
Census at Bethlehem Pieter Brueghel the Elder
Icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Adoration of the Shepherds by Domenico Ghirlandaio
The Supper at Emmaus by Caravaggio

Recent Photographs

Worcester Cathedral
Peterborough Cathedral
Norwich Cathedral Cloisters

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