The Preaching as Hospitality Formation Program welcomes you to this series, “A Midsummer's Reflection Series with the Artwork of Vincent Van Gogh,” to kick off the summer months. Throughout the month of June we offer you daily reflections on hospitality found in the scriptures from the Book of Genesis to the Letters of St. Paul. These meditations were written by scripture scholar, Dr. Jefferey Morrow a former faculty member here at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology. Currently, Dr. Morrow is a scripture professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio.
Three years ago as our program was in its early stages, Dr. Morrow spent a summer writing these meditations. Now we are able to offer them to you beginning tomorrow, June 1 as a way to pray and meditate with these scripture passages on hospitality as we begin a slower pace to the calendar year. The title, Midsummer Reflections, is an ode to the liturgical feast day of the Birth of St. John the Baptist on June 24. This feast has been called, “A Mid-Summer’s Christmas”, as it marks six months until the celebration of Christmas. It is also six months until we will feature once again our Advent meditations.
The painting you see here is entitled, “The Starry Night” painted by Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) The Dutch painter's recognizable style is well known and loved. “The Starry Night” is one of Van Gogh’s most recognizable, painted in June 1889. It was painted from Van Gogh’s bedroom at the asylum he was admitted to for a mental breakdown. The peacefulness of the village below sleeping with the celestial activity in the sky is a spiritual encounter Van Gogh experienced assuring him that God is at work in our lives as the village sleeps.
Throughout these weeks we will present several pieces of art from Van Gogh that helps to capture the essence of summer, relaxation and hospitality. We hope these paintings that we paired with the scripture meditations for each week will assist you with your meditations and prayerful encounter.
So enjoy, relax and be at peace knowing that God is at work in your lives. May these meditations and artwork invite us in to experience God’s hospitable care He provides us each and everyday of our lives.
May God be Praised,
Fr. Dominic Ciriaco
Program Director
