The Way of Beauty

Vision of St. Helena

Scripture Meditation

Matthew 6:19-21

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. 

But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there also will be your heart.

Vision of St. Helena

Paolo Veronese

Vatican Museums’ Pinacoteca

Circa 1580

“This richly decorated portrait of St. Helena immediately draws us into a very personal and intimate experience of prayer.”

“Tradition holds that, while clearing the hill of the Holy Sepulchre, St. Helena found the relics of the cross on which our Lord was crucified. And Veronese captures St. Helena by portraying her like a Roman goddess in the majestic moment that she received her vision of the cross.”

Prayer and Reflection

“Regard Vision of St. Helena. How does her contemplation help you see the face of God? In what way does her interior glimpse of God’s beauty invite you into prayer.”

The comments above are taken from Meditations on Vatican Art by Fr. Mark Haydu. To truly enter into this Visio Divina, I suggest purchasing the book as each masterpiece comes with a complete description, prayer and reflection, and spiritual exercise.