Application for creative contemplation

In the course of developing the smartphone application EucharistiAPP, our goal was to provide a greater forum for creativity and spirituality. The interface has a unique and uniform design that allows us to reach our goal of allowing people of every age to enter into their “inner space” of contemplative prayer without interruption.

We tested this “digitally” guided spiritual process on people of almost every age using analogical tools such as: verbal directions, drawing on paper, playing of background music. The results showed that this process is applicable to almost every age level and confirmed in us the belief that the creative power of drawing can open up a virtual space to receive God’s Word.

Click on the image to surf on its webpage called eucharistiapp.com.

The name of the application

The EucharistiAPP name refers to the Eucharistic dimension of creating and prayer. They can only become a life-giving force and source of our happiness in full, when we are present in them in a Eucharistic way: in full devotion, by making ourselves totally available, completely fitting in the Heavenly Father’s plan.

Jesus calls us to live in a Eucharistic way (cf. “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” Jn 6:56). That is why our application can be used as one of those “aids” (e.g. Scripture, rosary, writing of Saints, spiritual writings, etc.) through which we can explore the richness of the Eucharistic Life even more on a greater level.

The word and the picture together create the fullness of the contemplative process. This premise smoothed the way for planning the application. The process of making a spiritual path visible, “incarnate”, has been already prepared. We tried to do this not only with words but with pictures as well. This method planted into the virtual world opens up all kinds of possibilities. The drawings can be started over, changed, saved. Everybody can create an image in their own simple way. Only a few people have the chance to express their spiritual experiences through the media by directing their own movie. However, through this application, in a simple and understandable way, everyone can be creative even if they did not have the best grade in art class. Also, the drawings are not just creations but they are reflections of the soul. It is a message for each individual. People can see with their eyes what they have created from their hearts during the spiritual process and they are able to take this experience to another level. This is a path of healing which leads to wholeness, that is to say to Jesus.

Some words about the project: the first phase of the development of the EucharistiAPP was a separate project organized by the Esztergom-Budapest Archdiocesan Religious-Education Office, Hungary, as an ongoing formation for catechists. The training project was called a Creative Catechetical Exhibition. In the preparatory phase of the program the catechists who applied participated in an Ideas Completion that set the stage for a common project. The final group of three met online for half a day on February 29, 2020. Then – alongside regular consultation – we tested the movements of the application in Religious Education classes. These took place in schools and in parishes. The results were published on March 25, 2020. The project of the Creative Catechetical Exhibition can be considered as the first step of the creation of the Creative Catechetical Workshop (abbr. CCW).

Click on the image to view and download our presentation (37 MB).

You can use the paper-based version of the EucharistiAPP app designed for smartphone to enrich your individual and community prayer. Card sets with a golden background are prepared for three age groups: 7-12, 12-16 and 16+. The Scripture passages recommended for prayer are included on a separate collection of cards. EucharistiAPP onpaper is a creative and contemplative prayer, in which God invites you to become a conscious companion as you get to know him and create with the Eternal Word. For this prayer, you will need a Bible, paper and coloring drawing tools. We recommend that the prayer is started by greeting God (for example, by making the Sign of the Cross). Then, follow the instructions on the golden cards. To capture the creative process, we encourage you to take pictures while drawing at the designated times. For a more fruitful and effective prayer, when opportune, we encourage you to compare the findings of your prayer to that of the teachings of the Church through her endowed gifts of Sacred Scripture and Tradition.

About starting the prayer

If the prayer is conducted in a group or during catechism time, we recommend that the prayer leader introduce the time frame and flow of the prayer (e.g. “It will be 45 minutes long, I will let you know when to draw, when to take notes,” etc.). The prayer leader would then begin the prayer time by making the Sign of the Cross or with a short spontaneous prayer or intention, followed by showing the cards with instructions. Special attention should be paid to the timing (if longer time is needed for the drawing and picture taking sections). Possible modes of displaying cards are: online sharing (in this case as separate images), projection, large printouts.

Drawings created

The creative contemplation was about the transfiguration (Lk 9:28-36). The drawing started considering the words: “led them up a high mountain by themselves”

With the consent from the authors, we introduce the works of art created during the testing process conducted in March of 2020.

Tools used for drawing: paper, color pencils.

About finishing the prayer

At the end of prayer, the leader may encourage those who partook of the prayer to review the journey they just experienced by individually reading their personal notes, and if possible, by sharing their drawings with the group. We suggest closing the prayer with words of gratitude towards God. The leaders are advised to compare the fruits of prayer with that of the Good News of Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Catholic Church, to personally point out differences and similarities; thus, guiding those entrusted to them to a fuller knowledge of God.

Nihil obstat

Budapestini, die 21 Aprilii 2021. Dr. Ladislaus Gájer, censor deputatus

Nr. 633-4/2021 Imprimatur. Péter Card. Erdő, primas, archiepiscopus

Click on the image to view and download our presentation (3 MB).