Life and Ministry with Audio-Visio-Lectio Divina
Some years back, Fr. Paul Fachet, OMI introduced a group of us at Queen’s House to the powerful biblical artwork of the late German painter Fr. Seiger Köder. That quickly became known as Visio Divina for some. At one annual gathering of Oblate Retreat Centres at King’s House, Minnesota, those present spent a very rich half hour sharing on Elijah in his cave.
Finding this method of evangelizing and teaching both fascinating and effective, I began to use this biblical art for what I called Visio-Lectio Divina, adding Visio to the usual four stages of Lectio Divina: Lectio, Meditatio, Oratio and Contemplatio.
Over time and realizing the power of more right-brain activity to communicate the truths of our faith, I began to use keynote presentations, music and rituals during the missions and retreats. That eventually developed into what I call Visio-Audio-Lectio Divina, a process of seven stages: Visio-Audio-Lectio-Meditatio-Oratio-Contemplatio and Operatio.
The process unfolds as follows: After an opening hymn, prayer and introductory comments, we appreciate the art (Visio) while listening to a song relating to the art (Audio). For example, I would use the song God of Silence by Fr. Kevin Anderson for the painting of Elijah in his cave. Then we would read together on the screen the pertinent scripture passage (Lectio). We then discuss and share what God is saying to us through all these means – painting, song and scripture – as Meditatio. Someone would then read some appropriate intercessions (Oratio) after which we enter into a period of silence (Contemplatio) begun and ended with a Taizé chant.
The Operatio is a way of applying this prayer experience to our daily lives. During a mission, that will take the form of a ritual depending on the liturgical season (veneration of the Word, cross and relics, burning of incense, washing of hands and blessing one’s self with holy water, etc.).
During my personal holy hour, Operatio becomes for me working on a homily for that day or the upcoming Sunday and writing a love letter to Jesus in a journal sharing with him my feelings about the Word I have just pondered. That activity flows from the transformation of my relationship with my father by means of a letter sharing my feelings with him eleven years after he died, that I never was able to share with him when he was alive. I trust my relationship with Jesus is being transformed in a similar way by sharing my feelings with him about his Word.
One person who was struggling in a relationship with a member of her community, saw herself as Peter in Köder’s painting of Jesus washing Peter’s feet – one hand up resisting, the other hand resting on Jesus’ shoulder, accepting. This person knew she should do something about that troublesome relationship but was afraid to. The next day, she told me she had morphed into Jesus – now she knew she had to wash that person’s feet. She did that by writing a letter to her with love, communicating her feelings about the other person’s hurtful behavior without any expectation, as a way of trying to forgive her. That Operatio set her free to move on in her life with greater peace and freedom.
For my daily prayer, the process is simple: Lectio, Meditatio, Oratio, Contemplatio and Operatio. Variations of this process can also be used for Morning or Evening Prayer, as I did for one group of Oblates on retreat. For anyone working with larger groups, I would recommend adding the stages of Visio, Audio and using a ritual for Operatio. In addition, I often use a banner of my coat of arms for the masses pre ceding missions and retreats, as my motto (Regnum Dei Intra Vos – The Kingdom of God is Within You) sets a very appropriate context for the following sessions.
I will always be grateful to Fr. Paul for his introduction to this method of evangelizing and praying that has very positively influenced both my ministry and life of prayer.
By Archbishop Emeritus Sylvain Lavoie, OMI
