Are you having trouble concentrating when you’re supposed to be praying? Does your mind wander when you try to follow God’s admonition that we should: “Be still and know that I am God”(Psalm 46:10 RSVCE)?

Maybe it’s time for a fresh approach to prayer. Of course, most of us have heard the phrase “to sing is to pray twice.” How true that is!

But art can have a similar effect on us if we let it. And that brings us to this week’s featured program: Christ Contemplated at the National Gallery, London. (It airs 5 p.m. ET, Saturday, Feb. 15; 10 p.m. ET, Sunday, Feb. 23; and 3 a.m. ET, Tuesday, Feb. 25 on EWTN, EWTN.com/everywhere.)

For viewers who love sacred art, this program is a feast for the eyes, while the commentary of the 12 masterpieces of Christ’s life by Father Marcus Holden and Teresa Lane is a feast for the mind.

EWTN is not only premiering this program on television, it is making it available for free at OnDemand.EWTN.com, beginning Friday, Feb. 14 (our Valentine’s gift to you!).

In EWTN’s On Demand section, you will be able to “scrub” through the video to find the picture that interests you, listen to the commentary and then freeze the frame so you can contemplate the painting. This simple act could very well lead you into prayer.

What does the painting say to you about the life of Christ? You might be surprised at the emotions it evokes in you.

Here is a highlight for Lent — Christ Mocked by Hieronymus Bosch:

Going through a rough time? Does it feel like you against the world? One of the smallest paintings featured in this program gets increasingly disturbing as we gaze at it. What did our Savior suffer for you personally? In this picture, we see that the Crown of Thorns is about to be hammered into Christ’s head. Our hosts tell us that Christ is surrounded by four human caricatures. The man in the lower left has a symbol of paganism on his headdress and looks gleeful at the prospect of what is going to happen. The man in the lower right is viciously grabbing Christ’s chest. In the upper right, we see a man wearing a bestial collar with spikes. His hand is on Jesus’ shoulder and he is about to whisper something threatening in Christ’s ear. His look is one of pride. And in the upper left, we see a soldier holding a dreadfully spiked crown and a cudgel with which to slam the crown into Christ’s skull.

Father Holden says the figure of Christ, who gazes directly at the viewer, reminds him of the so-called “Reproaches” on Good Friday, where Jesus says: “My people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me.”

Spend five minutes with this picture. Ask the Lord what he wants you to take away from it? How is he speaking to you?

In addition to the above, the program looks at The Adoration of the Kings by Jan Gossaert, The Raising of Lazarus by Sebastiano del Piombo, Christ Contemplated by the Christian by Diego Velasquez, The Annunciation by Crivelli, The Heavenly and Earthly Trinities by Bartolome Murillo, The Baptism of Christ by Piero della Francesca, Christ Driving the Traders From the Temple by El Greco, The Agony in the Garden by Giovanni Bellini, The Mond Crucifixion by Rafael, Noli Me Tangere (“The Resurrection”) by Titan, and The Supper at Emmaus by Michelangelo Caravaggio.

Spend some time with each painting. You’ll not only be amazed at what you see, but where it will take you.

Michelle Laque Johnson is director of communications at the EWTN Global Catholic Network; this is a shortened adaption from the “EWTN Wings” weekly programming email. To have info about EWTN shows and specials sent directly to your inbox, sign up at EWTN.com/wings.