Praying with Sacred Art: Pondering the Mystery of Redemption through Visio Divina

One of the most powerful ways of encountering God is through our senses, especially through our perception of beauty. In this rich journey through sacred art, Derek Rotty accompanies readers through the mysteries of salvation history, highlighting some of the Church’s most moving and celebrated works of visual art. Embracing the ancient tradition of visio divina, Rotty shows how contemplation of sacred art can lead us to prayer in the same way that reading Scripture can. Along the way, he reflects on key pieces like the Isenheim Altarpiece and Raphael’s Transfiguration, unpacks the classical definition of beauty, and explains how sacred art aids contemplative prayer. He reveals how transcendence, symbology, and tradition all work together to draw the soul toward God.