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How to Avoid Spiritual Gluttony During Lent
As a spiritual director, I’ve asked a few people what they are doing for Lent. I was impressed by the variety of responses: a new biblical or spiritual reading plan, extra hours in Adoration, regular Stations of the Cross meditations, subscribing to a daily app or podcast, or volunteering at a local charity… Some were planning to do more than one. These are all good activities, but I was a little overwhelmed. My follow-up question: How will these bring you closer to God? A puzzled look usually follows. The assumption is that if a person is doing a lot of holy activities, then being in the presence of God will certainly follow. But…
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A new delight in icon gazing
I’ve been practicing something called ‘icon gazing’. In ancient times, it was called visio divina. Similar to lectio divina, which could mean ‘spiritual reading’, visio divina is ‘spiritual gazing’. The practice is basic. Select an icon that might be speaking to the circumstances of your life. Gaze at the image with the ‘eyes of your heart.’ (see Eph 1:18) Use your imagination and enter the scene in various ways. Attend to what you are feeling and follow your intuition. Ask yourself, “What is the Lord saying to me?” I call icon gazing the “see and be seen” way of praying. Years ago, my executive mentor told me I needed to go…