Spiritual Practices: Visio Divina
Visio Divina, or sacred seeing, is a type of prayer in which we allow our hearts and imaginations to enter into an image or a scene in silence to see what God might have to say to us. You can find out more about Visio Divina here. Spend some time prayerfully reflecting on the images below and listen to what God might say to you through them.
Visio Divina, or sacred seeing, is a type of prayer in which we allow our hearts and imaginations to enter into an image or a scene in silence to see what God might have to say to us. You can find out more about Visio Divina here. Spend some time prayerfully reflecting on the images below and listen to what God might say to you through them.
Simeon's Song of Praise (Nunc Dimittis)
Gelder, Aert de, 1645-1727. Simeon's Song of Praise (Nunc Dimittis), from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=54949 [retrieved January 1, 2024]. Original source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aert_de_Gelder_-_Het_loflied_van_Simeon.jpg.
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Presentation of Jesus in the temple
JESUS MAFA. Presentation of Jesus in the temple, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48303 [retrieved January 1, 2024]. Original source: http://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr (contact page: https://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr/contact).
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Holy Family
Murillo, Bartolomé Esteban, 1617-1682. Holy Family, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=46610 [retrieved January 1, 2024]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bartolom%C3%A9_Esteban_Perez_Murillo_-_The_Holy_Family_with_a_Bird_-_WGA16356.jpg.
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Spiritual Practices: Breath Prayer
Overview
When Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple, they were met by Simeon and Anna. Both of them recognized Jesus as the hope of the world. Simeon declares that Jesus is God's salvation, a light for the Gentiles, and the glory of Israel. Anna recognizes that Jesus is the source of God's redemption. Jesus was the hope that Israel, and the entire world, had been waiting for. Simeon and Anna were overjoyed to see the new baby, the hope of the world. In the same way, we should be overjoyed that we get to know the risen Christ as our hope, our redemption, our salvation; and it all started with the birth we celebrate at Christmas. This should be a time of thanksgiving for the gift of Jesus. That is what this breath prayer is about.
Prayer
Abba Father, thank you for sending your Son
or
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for coming for us
Overview
When Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple, they were met by Simeon and Anna. Both of them recognized Jesus as the hope of the world. Simeon declares that Jesus is God's salvation, a light for the Gentiles, and the glory of Israel. Anna recognizes that Jesus is the source of God's redemption. Jesus was the hope that Israel, and the entire world, had been waiting for. Simeon and Anna were overjoyed to see the new baby, the hope of the world. In the same way, we should be overjoyed that we get to know the risen Christ as our hope, our redemption, our salvation; and it all started with the birth we celebrate at Christmas. This should be a time of thanksgiving for the gift of Jesus. That is what this breath prayer is about.
Prayer
Abba Father, thank you for sending your Son
or
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for coming for us