Visio Divina
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| Rublev's Trinity Icon |
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| Heavenly Throne |
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| Jesus' Embrace |
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| Rembrandt's Prodigal Son |
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| Most Sacred Heart of Jesus |
1. Choose an Image for Prayer
You can use any type of image for Visio Divina. It can be works of art (not necessarily
religious), a religious painting, icon, or stained glass
2. Preparation for Prayer
a. Prepare your sacred space. Put up an altar and light a candle, if possible. This
lighted candle can remind you of the presence of God in your midst as you pray.
Place the hard copy of the image that you chose to use for prayer. If it is from
you cell phone or laptop, make it sure that you have put your gadget on silent
mode so as not to disturb or distract you in prayer.
b. Be aware of the GRACE that you want to beg from God for your prayer period.
This is the spiritual experience that you want from God.
Example:
Lord, my God, I beg for the grace of openness to receive and become more
sensitive to your unconditional love for me.
Dear God, I beg for the grace of a forgiving heart.
My Lord Jesus, I beg for the grace to desire you more in my life.
3. Settle down in prayer.
a. Settle in the awareness that you are in the presence of God.
Do the quieting exercise that you find helpful for you (Breathing sensations, body
sensations, listening to sounds, etc.)
b. Reverence God by making the sign of the cross and offering yourself to Him who
loves you. Ask Him to enter into this time of prayer with you.
PRAYER WORKSHOP 2021-22
VISIO DIVINA Modified by Eda Castillo for San Carlos Seminary
c. Pray the grace that you want from God.
d. Read a verse from scripture that speaks of God’s presence, something related to
the image that you chose, or the reading of the day.
4. Look at the image, allowing it to speak to your heart.
(“Read/Listen)
a. Close your eyes for a while and ask God to help you pray with the image. Ask him
to speak to you through this image.
b. Look at the image. Then move your eyes to each and every detail in the image.
Notice the thoughts and feelings that surface as you look at the image.
What part of the image calls or draws your attention?
Gaze on this part of the image.
5. Reflect
a. Close your eyes and see the image in your imagination. Let the color and shape
speak to you. Allow it to speak a word, awaken an emotion or image in your
heart. What does it tell you or remind you? How is this related to your life?
b. Hear God’s whisper in your heart through the word, emotion or image that you
see and hear in your heart.
6. Respond: Speak from the Heart
a. Speak to God from the heart about the word, emotion, or image that are now in
your heart.
b. Be silent and let God speak to you in words, emotions, images, or silence.
7. Rest in God
a. Give back to God the part of the image that called your attention, the words,
images, emotions that you hear, saw, and felt in your heart.
b. Gaze at the image once again and simply rest in God’s presence in silence.
8. Closing the prayer
a. Take a deep breath and say words of gratitude to God for what you received or
what happened in this prayer.
b. Ask for anything that you feel you need from him.
c. Close with the Our Father.
You can use any type of image for Visio Divina. It can be works of art (not necessarily
religious), a religious painting, icon, or stained glass
2. Preparation for Prayer
a. Prepare your sacred space. Put up an altar and light a candle, if possible. This
lighted candle can remind you of the presence of God in your midst as you pray.
Place the hard copy of the image that you chose to use for prayer. If it is from
you cell phone or laptop, make it sure that you have put your gadget on silent
mode so as not to disturb or distract you in prayer.
b. Be aware of the GRACE that you want to beg from God for your prayer period.
This is the spiritual experience that you want from God.
Example:
Lord, my God, I beg for the grace of openness to receive and become more
sensitive to your unconditional love for me.
Dear God, I beg for the grace of a forgiving heart.
My Lord Jesus, I beg for the grace to desire you more in my life.
3. Settle down in prayer.
a. Settle in the awareness that you are in the presence of God.
Do the quieting exercise that you find helpful for you (Breathing sensations, body
sensations, listening to sounds, etc.)
b. Reverence God by making the sign of the cross and offering yourself to Him who
loves you. Ask Him to enter into this time of prayer with you.
PRAYER WORKSHOP 2021-22
VISIO DIVINA Modified by Eda Castillo for San Carlos Seminary
c. Pray the grace that you want from God.
d. Read a verse from scripture that speaks of God’s presence, something related to
the image that you chose, or the reading of the day.
4. Look at the image, allowing it to speak to your heart.
(“Read/Listen)
a. Close your eyes for a while and ask God to help you pray with the image. Ask him
to speak to you through this image.
b. Look at the image. Then move your eyes to each and every detail in the image.
Notice the thoughts and feelings that surface as you look at the image.
What part of the image calls or draws your attention?
Gaze on this part of the image.
5. Reflect
a. Close your eyes and see the image in your imagination. Let the color and shape
speak to you. Allow it to speak a word, awaken an emotion or image in your
heart. What does it tell you or remind you? How is this related to your life?
b. Hear God’s whisper in your heart through the word, emotion or image that you
see and hear in your heart.
6. Respond: Speak from the Heart
a. Speak to God from the heart about the word, emotion, or image that are now in
your heart.
b. Be silent and let God speak to you in words, emotions, images, or silence.
7. Rest in God
a. Give back to God the part of the image that called your attention, the words,
images, emotions that you hear, saw, and felt in your heart.
b. Gaze at the image once again and simply rest in God’s presence in silence.
8. Closing the prayer
a. Take a deep breath and say words of gratitude to God for what you received or
what happened in this prayer.
b. Ask for anything that you feel you need from him.
c. Close with the Our Father.
