Illuminating Scripture

The scriptures invite us to know the Lord our God. Their content, genres, and styles vary widely. It is amazing all that words can convey, and that these words invite us into the depths of God. It is beautiful in so many ways. It is no wonder that countless monastics spent time adding beautiful art within the scriptures. This was both a beautiful gift to those who would read it after them, and a meditative way to engage with the words of the scripture itself. It was given the term illumination because it brought a new light and beauty to the words on the page. They filled pages with embellishments, flourishes, paintings, and drawings. Some were beautiful and stunning. Other times they added scenes from their everyday lives. A cat is always appropriate to add (after all, they worked hard at the monastery too).

There are many ways to illuminate a text. You can add elements around the outside of the text, or you could draw a scene being represented in the text on a facing page. Allow yourself to express the things you feel, and the places that the text causes your mind to wander. As with all art, there is no wrong way to illuminate the text. If your focus is to have a prayerful meditation with the text, then remember any art created is secondary.