For decades, award-winning artist Anne Goetze documented the closed-cloister Visitation Order of contemplative nuns in Annecy, France. To better understand the faith journey of her aunt, Soeur Margarite Marie, Goetze explored this quiet world in depth through her art. The body of work grew as Goetze traveled to the remaining monasteries in the United States, and the journey of discovery evolved organically, ultimately becoming her own.Founded by St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal in 1610, the Visitation Order was the first contemplative order to be started by a woman, allowing admittance to widows and those that were not in the best of health. Over the centuries, the Visitation Order has spread to monasteries all over the world.Through paintings and photographs, Goetze developed a series of works, called Pray to Love, which depict the lives of these nuns. In time, the body of work grew and evolved to become an art exhibit, and soon traveled to galleries throughout the U.S. and to remaining monasteries. Feeling compelled to bring awareness to this quiet yet moving way of life as the numbers of participants dwindle, Goetze created artworks that reflect the beauty, simplicity, and importance of the contemplative women who dedicate their lives to prayer and live by example their motto: "To be a gentle presence in a violent world."This book includes over 200 pages, featuring paintings and photographs with captions and text written by the nuns, as well as the artist's own story. Through both the artworks and the text, this book offers many insights that change common perceptions of the religious and contemplative life. In opening a window into their lives, Goetze's art provides the gift of inspiration as it helps us to strengthen our own faith.
