Frances White is an amazing 70-year-old, catholic woman, who proves that life begins after retirement.

This talented, parishioner of Tacarigua RC Church began her journey into the art world just three years ago. “I attended a sip and paint with my Sister in Canada and it was as if something exploded inside of me and the urge to start painting could not be denied”, she said, but Frances believes it existed within her all along: “I remembered when I was ten years old, I participated in a school competition and won third prize, which was a record, it was from Sir Solomon Hochoy”. But after that, the Artist in Frances became dormant until that faithful day in 2019.

Frances retired as a Library Assistant at 50 years old but re-emerged in the working world doing Accounts at Alicia’s Guesthouse and now she’s back again, this time exploring her third career choice as an Artist in her 70th year of life.” I really enjoy painting” she said, and her work consists of beautiful sites throughout Trinidad and Tobago. “ I also like photography, so I go all over and I take pictures and then I come home and start painting them”.

The spiritual connection between God and Frances is intensified through her painting, “When I paint is like it’s not me that doing it, it’s the (Jesus)that doing it” she confesses that after completing a piece of art she often wonders how she was able to accomplish it, “I would do a painting and I wonder how that reach there? It’s like he is just using my hands to do it.”

Frances’ art collection can be seen on Instagram @Franceswhite4489 and one of her lovely pieces is also displayed at the Rotunda in the Red House. Her collection is filled with fantastic paintings of many local churches and familiar buildings throughout Trinidad and Tobago. Frances shared that her goal behind each work of art is to “give peace and harmony to everyone who sees her work”

Mount St Benedict x Frances White

So here’s how we are going to do it:

1. Set aside 20 minutes in the day for the guided prayer experience.

2. As you begin to pray, take a few minutes to open your heart and mind to God.

3. When you are ready, slowly look and notice the image, taking your time to let feelings and thoughts come to you as you take in forms, figures, colours, lines, textures, and shapes. What does it look like, or remind you of? What are your initial thoughts? What feelings are evoked?

4. Now, return to the image with an open heart and mind again. You may now experience new thoughts, meanings, and feelings. Start exploring new meanings and feelings that come to you associated with the image. Be aware of any assumptions or expectations that you bring to the image. Regardless of your response to the image—delight, disgust, indifference, confusion—contemplate prayerfully the reason for your response and what these responses might mean for and about you.

5. As you go deeper in this prayer, open yourself to what the image might reveal to you. What does the Spirit want to say, evoke, make known, or express to you in quiet meditation? What are your feelings, thoughts, desires, and meanings evoked by the image and how they are directly connected to your life?

6. Now take the time to respond to God. Jot down in a journal the insights you want to remember, actions you are invited to take, wisdom you hope to embody, or any feelings or thoughts you wish to express. Bring your prayer to a close by resting in God’s grace and love.

Please email us as at forwomen@catholictt.org on the impact this activity may have had on your day, and be sure to share the artist’s image on your social media feeds.

Source info: https://www.patheos.com/resources/additional-resources/2009/07/praying-with-art-visio-divina