1. Preparing

This Visio Divina meditates on the visual aspects of the church to draw closer to Christ. It can be conducted in at least two ways. First, by being physically present within the Church. It might by your parish church or another church, chapel, shrine, basilica or cathedral in which you want to pray. Second, by imagining your place of worship. When the text gives a direction, follow it in place or in your imaginations. This Visio Divina can take place at any time but is particularly suited to the feast of your parish patron, your diocesan patron, or the Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran on November 9. If this Visio Divina takes place in a church, you may conduct it individually or in a group.  During the prayer of consideration, you may want access to reference material that explains the iconography or symbolism of different features. Look for pamphlets describing this for your church or works listed in the Additional Resources section of this Session. (Les Miller, 25 Questions About What You Will See in a Church, Toronto: Novalis, 2011; Richard Taylor, How to Read a Church, London: Rider, 2004; Richard Stemp; The Secret language of Churches & Cathedrals. London: Duncan Baird Publishers, 2010.)

2. Gazing

Notice  the doors as you enter into the narthex. Stop and look around at the features you see. Note how the transition from the outside world to the sacred space is making you feel…Where do you sense the sacred here? … Enter into the area where the congregation sits in the pews. Look at the arrangement of the seats, the architectural style of the Church, how light falls into the Church. … How do you sense God’s presence here? … Look at the rear of the Church. What to you notice here? … Gaze at the stained-glass windows and/or religious art. Notice other features around the Church: candles, statues, stations of the cross. … How does it help us connect with Jesus? … Move up to the sanctuary. What gives it a sense of holiness? … Notice the colours of the cloths, the design of the altar, any floral decorations, candles. … Look at the features of the sanctuary including the altar, the ambo, the presider’s chair, the crucifix, any art on the wall behind the presider’s chair … How do they convey a sacred presence? … Gaze at the tabernacle and its design features. … Pray with Christ in silence, abiding in his presence.

3. Responding

Listen to the words of this passage. How do the outward forms of your Church resonate with St. Paul’s message to the church in Corinth? (1Cor 3:9C-11,16-17)

Brothers and sisters:
You are God’s building.
According to the grace of God given to me,
like a wise master builder I laid a foundation,
and another is building upon it.
But each one must be careful how he builds upon it,
for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there,
namely, Jesus Christ.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If anyone destroys God’s temple,
God will destroy that person;
for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

[Source: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110920.cfm]

How do you see or feel the sacred in this church in light of the reading?

4. Considering

The prayer of consideration uses insights from each other or outside sources to move deeper into prayer. Consider each of the following prompts to extend the reading from St. Paul to your life in Christ. That is, if we are temples of God, how do the different parts of that sacred place connect us with God?

• How are you a door to the Church? How are you welcoming others into holiness?
• The narthex connects the outside world to the Church. What are the connections between your life outside the church building to worship?
• Some churches have a Baptismal font in the narthex or a holy water font. We bless ourselves with Holy Water in remembrance of our Baptisms. How are we a blessing to our families and our church communities?
• As you consider your choice of pew, think about where you like to sit. How does the location of the pew bring you closer to Christ?
• Look at the Reconciliation Room or Confessional. What is hurting your relationship with Jesus Christ right now?
• Gaze into the candles. For whom are you praying?
• Gaze at the statues. Who are they? How do they reflect God’s love? How do you reflect God’s love?
• Consider the stained-glass windows. How does God’s light shine through you?
• Look at one of the stations of the cross. How is your suffering a reflection (however dim) of the Passion of Jesus depicted here?
• The sanctuary is a safe place reserved for holiness. How do we protect the sacred within us?
• The altar is the place of sacrifice around which we gather for Eucharist. What parts of our life do we need to sacrifice to become more Christ-like?
• We hear the Word of God from the ambo. How do we live our lives in harmony with God’s word?
• Look at the colour of the cloths. [Choose the liturgical season in which this Visio Divina is being celebrated]. How do we mirror the violet anticipation of Advent? How are we the white and gold joy of Christmas? How are we the violet simplicity of Lent? How are we the red passion of Holy Week? How are we the white and gold glory of Easter? How are we the green worship of Ordinary Time?
• Consider the furnishings of the sanctuary. They are sacramentals that connect us to God. Choose any one of these items (e.g. Presider’s chair, art, Paschal candle, Credence Table). How are you like any one of these?
• Let’s gaze at the crucifix or any other crosses in the church. The vertical points to heaven. How are our lives connected to heaven? The horizontal points to other members of the People of God. How do we find God in other people?
• Lastly, let’s pray at the tabernacle. As we still ourselves in Christ’s presence, how do we love like Christ in our daily lives?

5. Resting

Abide in the space in front of the tabernacle in the church or in your imagination. Pause in this peace … let the presence of God flood your hearts … How has this experience led you closer to God? For what are you grateful?

6. Acting

Once again consider the narthex of the Church. Look at the Church bulletin or a notice board. many of the notices are signs of how the worship experience extends to action outside of the Mass. What invitations do you notice? How can you respond to these invitations or extend these invitations to others?