Into the Wild: A Family-Friendly Devotional on Henri Matisse and the Season of Lent

The Season of Lent is a walk into the wild, a 40-day adventure filled with wild beasts, wild love, beauties, challenges, visions – and bold, bright colors.

In this family-friendly Lenten devotional full of Scripture, art, and activities, we take this adventure with Henri Matisse, one of the most daring and beloved artists in modern history. From his childhood in northern France to what he called his “masterpiece,” the Chapel of the Rosary in Vence, Matisse explored faith and wildness throughout his life.

He once said he liked to pray with a pencil: “At the moment I go every morning to say my prayers, pencil in hand; I stand in front of a pomegranate tree covered in blossom, each flower at a different stage, and I watch their transformation… filled with admiration for the work of God. Is this not a way of praying?”

So grab a pencil (or a crayon, or a paintbrush!), your favorite Bible, and a decent internet connection (all the paintings referenced here can be found online; each purchase comes with a companion “Link Sheet” pdf for guidance). Week by week, with the words of Scripture and the art of Henri Matisse as our guides, we’ll head into the wild – all the way to the beautiful, joyful love of Easter morning.

The scriptural passages in this devotional correspond to Year A in the Revised Common Lectionary – but since their themes are universal, this devotional can be used fruitfully during any Lenten season.  

(For a version of this devotional designed for grown-ups, check out “Henri Matisse and the Colors of Lent.” It’s a deeper dive into Lent’s big ideas and Matisse’s amazing art. And by the way, the two resources are designed so they can be used side-by-side, for families or congregations who want to explore the season together, across generations.)

Files: This listing is for a downloadable PDF, printing instructions, an e-reader version, and a companion “Link Sheet” with hyperlinks to all the paintings mentioned in the devotional. Any or all of these can be distributed electronically to members of your congregation.

Please note: you will not receive a physical product as this is a digital download. This resource is for congregational use only, which means it may not be reproduced commercially, duplicated, or resold :)