Visual Prayer

Almost without exception, great medieval works of art depicting Christian scenes, and especially those from the life of Christ, were created originally as objects of devotion, prayer and teaching. My aim in this first Visual Prayer CD is to make some of them available once more for use in precisely this way.

The images used on the CD are listed below, and the introduction and prayer from the first one, the Fra Angelico Annunciation, can be played back from this page. (Please note that the degree of compression means that this sample is not representative of the audio quality of the CD). Copyright restrictions prevent us from carrying the image itself on this site, but the link to the left and below will display it on a gallery website.

For each image, I have written and recorded an introduction, which provides something of the background of the painting and the artist, and then a prayer/meditation. High quality colour images of the featured works are supplied on the CD.

It is my hope and desire that the CD will be used by individuals and groups to assist in drawing closer to Christ, and in so doing, carry forward his purpose for the world.

'Marvellous, enthralling. I was glued to my chair!The prayers go straight to
the soul and the pictures lead us there through our eyes.

Visual Prayer uses CD media to such good effect, and I think that it is so in
tune with the aims of Vision for Action'.*

A Luton parishioner, one of the first to use Visual Prayer.

(Vision for Action is the St Albans Diocese renewal programme)

'Visual Prayer is an important resource for personal and group devotion. Many people in today’s frenetic world find it difficult to find time to pray, and when they do find time often they do not know where or how to begin. This CD Rom provides ten images with accompanying spoken meditations. It will allow people to stop and in five to ten minutes create some God space at home or at work. It would also be ideal for prayer groups or housegroups. I look forward to making use of the images, learning more about the artists, and enhancing my spiritual life.'

The Revd Chris Davey, St Albans

1). Fra Angelico: The Annunciation, 1425
2). Robert Campin: The Nativity, 1420
3). Jan Gossaert: The Adoration of the Kings, 1510 - 15
4). Rembrandt: The Presentation in the Temple, 1666 - 69
5). St Appollinare Nuovo: Mosaic of the healing of the paralytic man, C6th
6). Hans Memling. Christ at the Column, 1585 - 90
7). Grünewald. Crucifixion from the Isenheim altarpiece, c1515
8). Van de Weyden. The descent from the Cross, c1435
9). Titian. Noli me Tangere (Touch me not) c 1514
10). Hans Memling. Christ gives his blessing. 1478

Visual Prayer will run on any modern Windows-based PC with sound replay facilities or on a MAC capable of full Windows emulation. Please call or email if you have any technical questions. vp@visualprayer.org.uk

Please note that the product in not a DVD and does not contain moving video. The visual content cannot be accessed on a domestic DVD/TV system.

To order Visual Prayer Series 1, send a cheque for £10, made payable to 'Three Abbeys', together with your name and address, to:

Visual Prayer
Abbey Gate House
Abbey Mill Lane
St Albans AL3 4HD

Telephone: (44) 1727 853305 for further details

If you prefer, email your order to us so that we can prepare it, and then post your cheque.

vp@visualprayer.org.uk

A devotional journey through some of the best-loved Christian works of art

A devotional journey through some of the
best-loved Christian works of art