What can a work of art preach?
That question was at the heart of a Sept. 23 Study Day that brought together Dominican Sisters of Springfield and Dominican Nuns from the Monastery of Mary the Queen in Girard, Ill. Gathering at Sacred Heart Convent, the Sisters and Nuns reflected together on the theme “The Beauty that Saves: Art and the Holy Preaching.”
The Study Day grew out of a desire for greater collaboration between Dominican women religious. Sr. Anna Marie Pierre, OP, of the Girard monastery, envisioned opportunities for Dominican Sisters and Nuns to come together for shared reflection and learning. The first Study Day was held at the monastery in September 2025 and focused on “Pilgrimages of Hope – Synodal Process.” This year’s gathering at Sacred Heart Convent turned to the intersection of art, beauty and the Dominican tradition. 
The theme was inspired by “The Beauty that Saves,” a phrase drawn from St. John Paul II’s 1999 Letter to Artists. In his letter, the pope reflected on the relationship between art, beauty, faith and the search for God. He specifically pointed to the work of Dominican artist Fra Angelico as an example of how artistic intuition can be enriched by faith.
For the Study Day, participants considered the work of two Dominican artists: Fra Angelico, a Dominican friar whose religious art has made him one of the best-known artists of the Italian Renaissance, and Plautilla Nelli, a lesser-known Dominican nun and artist from 16th-century Florence. Nelli, recognized as the earliest known female painter from Florence, produced large-scale religious works and led an all-female artists’ workshop at her convent.
The pairing offered an opportunity to consider how Dominican artists have used their gifts to communicate the Gospel – and how art itself can become a form of preaching.
Sister Marie Michelle Hackett began the afternoon session by reminding participants that God is always communicating with us. “Art speaks without using words. A painting can communicate tenderness, suffering, joy, mystery, or hope. Creation itself is a way that God communicates with us. God invites us to contemplate art,” she said.
That invitation to contemplation was central to the day. Participants were invited to spend time with Fra Angelico’s The Annunciation and consider a question: What preaching would you do after contemplating this work?
For Sister Celestine Rondelli, the experience offered a new way of seeing liturgical art. “I thought it was so nice to see our friends from Girard. The day was interesting, and I'd never thought of liturgical art like that before. After listening to others, I have a greater understanding,” she said.
The Study Day was also an opportunity simply to be together. Sister Damien Marie of Girard appreciated the chance to gather with friends and study together. “The topic was interesting and I loved catching up with our friends,” she said.
Sister Jean Patrick quickly added her own connection to that sentiment. “Sister Damien Marie was always in my office when they all lived in Siena Hall. It’s nice to have these events so we can visit. We had many discussions on how we interpreted the pieces of art and overall, it was a great day,” she said.
Through the Study Day, the Sisters and Nuns shared not only an exploration of art, but also the Dominican practice of allowing contemplation to lead toward preaching. They found in the work of two Dominican artists another way to encounter the Gospel – and an invitation to consider what beauty might help them proclaim in response to the challenges of today's world.
