04/03/2026
This Good Friday, we invite you to slow down and sit with the Cross through the contemplative prayer practice of Visio Divina.
What is Visio Divina?
Rooted in the contemplative tradition of the Church, Visio Divina invites us to pray through sacred art. Rather than simply looking at an image, we allow God to speak to us through itโnoticing what draws our attention, what stirs our hearts, and where the Holy Spirit is leading us.
Why Good Friday?
Today the Church asks us to stand at the foot of the Cross. There is no Sacrifice of the Mass, but rather Veneration of the Cross and reflection on the weight of what Christ chose to endure for us. Visio Divina gives us a way to enter into that mystery more deeply, to gaze upon the Crucified Christ and let His sacrifice pe*****te beyond our minds and into our hearts.
About This Painting
The Crucifixion (ca. 1420โ23) by Fra Angelico, a Dominican friar and one of the great painters of the early Italian Renaissance. Painted in tempera on wood with gold ground, this work reflects Fra Angelicoโs deep faith. He reportedly never painted without first praying. The gold background speaks to the heavenly reality breaking into this darkest moment of human history.
Image and information courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Maitland F. Griggs Collection, Bequest of Maitland F. Griggs, 1943 (43.98.5).
