A 14-session Christmas-time blog series using the ancient spiritual disciplines of Lectio Divina & Visio Divina.

(Each of us) are wired in different ways. Some of us respond better to the written word, some to the spoken word, some to music, some to art, some even to movement. Through this exploration of prayer, I’ve found we can connect to God in each of these ways. Though we may have a preferred sense through which to pray, the richest prayer life will come through experiencing God through all your senses. Kathryn Shirey

Experiencing God through all your senses.

That’s why those of us who train others in the ancient art of spiritual direction encourage a variety of spiritual practices in our on-going pursuit of Christ. Two ancient disciplines first developed by Jesus-followers in ages past are called by fancy Latin names: Lectio Divina (which simply means divine reading) and Visio Divina (which simply means divine seeing). These two spiritual practices, when brought into your devotional life with God, can bring a new vitality to your journey with Jesus.

We invite you to join us for a 14-session blog series which combines the reading of the Christmas story, as found in God’s Word, with seeing, using fourteen pieces of beautiful artwork that can bring your imagination to life. ENJOY!

Below, you will find a complete list of all the posts (14 blogs) of this series. We suggest that you bookmark this home page for ease of use. Enjoy!

Session 1: An Introduction. Scenes from The Life of Mary, Hans Memling (1480); Luke 1: 1-4.

Session 2: The Visitation. The Annunciation, Henry Ossawa Tanner (1898); Luke 1: 26-33. 

Session 3: I See It All Now. The Annunciation, Deanna Burton (2014); Luke 1: 34-38

Session 4: Straight To Zachariah’s House. De Visitatie, Frans Francken II (1618); Luke 1: 39-41 

Session 5: Sheer Joy. Jump for Joy – Mary and Elizabeth, Corby Eisbacher (2008); Luke 1: 42-45.

Session 6: Bursting With God-News. The Annunciation – The Flower of God, Edward Burne-Jones (1862); Luke 1: 46-49

Session 7: Engaged To Be Married. An Extraordinary Night in Bethlehem, Hannah Carlon (2012); Matthew 1: 18-19

Session 8: Interrupted Plans. Joseph’s Dream in the Stable in Bethlehem, Rembrandt (1645); Matthew 1: 20-25

Session 9: On The Way. Mary and Joseph on the Way to Bethlehem, Hugo van der Goes (1475); Luke 2: 1-5 

Session 10: Suddenly. Annunciation to the Shepherds, Taddeo Gaddi (1330); Luke 2: 8-11

Session 11: Glory To God – Peace On Earth. The Annunciation to the Shepherds, Govaert Flinck (1639); Luke 2: 12-14 

Session 12: Seeing Is Believing. Adoration of the Shepherds, Gerard van Honthorst (1622); Luke 2: 15-20 

Session 13: A Band Of Scholars. The Three Wise Men, Lily Pakula (2014); Luke 2: 6-7, Matthew 2: 1-2, 9-11 

Session 14: A Child Is Born – For Us! Large Nativity with Joseph, Joseph Wayne Forte (2010); Isaiah 9: 6, Revelation 22: 13 

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Here’s how to best use Lectio Divina & Visio Divina during this Christmas season.

1) Prepare: Find a quiet place where you can be free of distractions. Close your eyes, breathe, clear your mind, asking God to enter into your time of prayer. Welcome Jesus into your midst, asking the Holy Spirit to speak to you through your reading of God’s Word and your meditation on the Christmas image in today’s blog.

2) Lectio (read): Open your eyes and slowly read today’s Christmas text. Notice what words are drawing your interest. Ponder slowly on those words. Ask the Holy Spirit to work with your imagination, drawing you deeper into these familiar words. Close and rest your eyes a minute.

3) Mediatio (meditate): Open your eyes and scan the entire image we’ve given you today. Let your eyes be led. Focus on the part of the image that catches your eye and name it. Sit with the picture for a moment. Close your eyes, once again, imagining that piece of the image in your mind.

4) Oratio (pray): Open your eyes and look again at the piece of the image that caught your attention. Pray, asking God to bring forth a word, a thought, an image, or an emotion that might be associated with what you are seeing. Close and rest your eyes.

5) Contemplatio (contemplation): Open your eyes and gaze, one final time, at the whole image. Slowly re-read the Christmas text for today as well. Pause. Breathe. Go slow. What is God speaking to you today through these words and this image? How will you respond to Him? Spend some time processing these things with Jesus. Pray a prayer of closure, asking the Holy Spirit to indwell and empower you as you go through your day. In closing, you might want to journal a few notes about your Lectio Divina & Visio Divina experience today.

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You might also want to check out our other popular Advent series:

From November 26 through Christmas Day, join us for our 30-Day Christmas-Time Devotional from our 30-day series: Luke’s Christmas Gospel of Jesus. Check it out here.

 Joy Comes In The Morning. As you celebrate the Advent/Christmas season, enjoy one of our personal favorites, a Christmas-time short story (10 sessions) about the time when Santa Claus, a man who takes his work very seriously, decides to pack it all in and skip Christmas altogether! I guess even ole St. Nick can use a good reminder of what Christmas is all about!

Let It Be. Fiat Mihi. Over the years, this post has become our most popular blog. Step into the powerful message of Mary, the mother of Jesus, her Fiat Mihi.

 Handel’s Messiah. Do you know the story behind this great Christmas-time musical masterpiece? Read about the amazing work of God as George Frederic Handel composed and presented his new composition in 1742.

 God Rest Ye Merry. See how one little comma can make a whole lot of difference in what we’re actually trying to convey to others at Christmas time.

 Joseph, The Stone-Crafter’s Christmas-Time Prayer. Tradition says that Joseph of Nazareth was a carpenter by trade, but most likely, the ‘earthly father’ of Jesus, and his young son, were skilled craftsmen in stone.