In a world increasingly saturated by digital noise and impure images, the Catholic faithful are being invited to rediscover an ancient remedy: the power of the sacred gaze. At a recent Holy Hour hosted at Sacred Heart, West Reading, the community gathered not only for Eucharistic Adoration, but also for a profound encounter with Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary through “Visio Divina” – a prayerful practice that uses sacred art to draw the soul toward God.
The event was sponsored by the Lumen Christi Commission of the Diocese of Allentown, whose mission is to restore and protect the dignity given by God, while offering freedom, prevention, and healing to those harmed by pornography. More information can be found at www.adlumenchristi.org.
Deacon Dominic Civitella led the evening of Adoration. Also present were Maggie Riggins, Executive Director of Evangelization and Formation for the Diocese of Allentown, and Father Allen Hoffa, Pastor of Holy Guardian Angels, Reading and Chair of the Lumen Christi Commission.
Deacon Civitella reminded the faithful that to heal a vision darkened by the world, one must fix one’s eyes on the Light of the World.
While many Catholics are familiar with “Lectio Divina,” the prayerful reading of Sacred Scripture, “Visio Divina” – Latin for “divine seeing” – is a lesser-known but complementary practice.
It involves the slow, meditative contemplation of sacred images, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak through visual details. By engaging the senses, imagination, and emotions, this method helps deepen prayer and restore a sense of reverence for beauty.
“It’s like ‘Lectio Divina,’ but praying with an image,” the deacon explained.
Participants were given booklets featuring “The Annunciation” by Henry Ossawa Tanner (1898).
As the Blessed Sacrament was exposed, the church fell into deep silence, creating a space for attentive and unhurried meditation.
The deacon emphasized that the process is not rigid. “It’s not about me or the questions,” he said. “Wherever the Lord is leading you, that’s where you go.”
The Holy Hour wove together Scripture, silence, and sacred art, beginning with the Gospel of Luke’s account of the Annunciation and paired with imagery from the Song of Songs: “A garden locked is my sister, my bride … a well of living water.”
The reflection centered on Mary as the “enclosed garden,” the pure vessel prepared to receive the Word of God. Her deep knowledge of Scripture allowed her to offer an unreserved “yes” to God. The faithful were invited to reflect on where God may be calling them to do the same.
The involvement of the Lumen Christi Commission added a sense of urgency. The deacon noted that struggles with pornography are not merely private but affect the entire Body of Christ.
In a culture filled with harmful imagery, he stressed that gazing upon sacred art – and above all, upon Christ in the Blessed Sacrament – is a powerful remedy.
Resources from the Behold ministry, introduced to diocesan seminarians by the Commission, were used during the program. These materials help parishes use sacred art as a tool for healing and renewal (beholdvisiodivina.com).
A central focus of the evening was prayer for the next generation, particularly young people vulnerable to digital temptations. By turning to Mary, the “Mother of the Eucharist,” the faithful are invited to rediscover a reverent and centered reception of the Sacraments.
As the Holy Hour concluded, the Blessed Sacrament remained exposed – an invitation to continue gazing. In a world that often distorts the human person through the eyes, the Church offers a way to see anew: with faith, beauty, and healing in the presence of the Lord.
Article and Photo by Waldo Alvarado.
