The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)

Orazio Gentileschi’s painting, Christ Carrying the Cross , captures the profound strength and inner peace of Jesus’ suffering—His body straining beneath the weight of the cross, yet His face is calm. Fr. Mark-Mary contrasts the visible burden of the cross with Jesus’ promise of a “light burden”. He invites us to consider that what lightens the load is not its removal, but the strength that comes f...

Christ is depicted in Caravaggio’s Ecce Homo with quiet dignity amid humiliation, as He is crowned with thorns and presented to the crowd. Fr. Mark-Mary encourages a prayerful examination of conscience, recognizing our personal role in Christ’s Passion while holding fast to the light and hope that remains even in darkness. Through repentance and faith, we are called not only to witness His sufferi...

We are in a war with darkness, and we must choose to take up the side as sons and daughters of God. Fr. Mark-Mary describes Caravaggio’s painting, The Flagellation of Christ , relating each of Jesus’ assailants to a personification of sin. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Scourging at the Pillar and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. All of the Sacred Art we’ll be meditating with can...

As we meditate with the painting entitled Prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane Garden by Alessandro Maganza, Fr. Mark-Mary notices that all of the movement, lines, and action in the painting points towards Jesus. Sharing a story about one of his fellow friars, Fr. Mark-Mary explains how we can direct ourselves to Jesus and surrender our fears, worries, and pain. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Agony...

Jesus gives himself totally to us in the Eucharist, body, blood, soul, and divinity. Today’s art, The Last Supper , by Juan de Juanes (Vicente Juan Masip) includes the bowl and urn used for the washing of feet, reminding us of Peter’s request that Jesus wash him entirely. This is the attitude, Fr. Mark-Mary says, that we should bring as we receive the Eucharist. Today’s focus is the mystery of the...

Fr. Mark-Mary notices that The Transfiguration , painted by Raphael, contains a very interesting Biblical reference. Raphael has chosen to depict the beginning of Jesus’ exorcism of a demon in Matthew 17 alongside the Transfiguration. This parallel reveals the truth that Jesus can give us all spiritual authority to resist temptation, through our faith in him. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Tr...

In Lorenzo Lotto’s painting, The Adulterous Woman , we are presented with an unforgettable moment from the Gospels. A group of accusers try to trap Jesus by asking for his judgement of a woman caught in sin. However, Fr. Mark-Mary explains, Jesus’ incredible response to the accusers and the woman is a response to all of us. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Proclamation of the Gospel and Call to...

Jesus is a divine multitasker, intentionally and perfectly. Fr. Mark-Mary explains that while we might struggle to multitask, God works on multiple levels at all times. As Jesus turns water into wine in Gérard David’s painting, The Wedding at Cana , he is both continuing the joy of the celebration and revealing himself as the divine bridegroom. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Wedding Feast at...

When Jesus approaches John to be baptized, John initially resists, insisting that he is not worthy. John is troubled, explains Fr. Mark-Mary, and yet, when Jesus reassures him, he obeys with confidence and trust. Andrea del Verrocchio and Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, The Baptism of Christ guides our meditation on humility. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Baptism in the Jordan and we will be p...

Concluding our focus on St. Joseph, we reflect on the quiet but powerful transition of Mary’s care from St. Joseph to Jesus in the Holy Family. God's constant provision for Mary is evident as we see how Jesus steps into his role as protector and provider for his mother. The reflection is anchored in a 17th-century painting of The Finding in the Temple , located at St. Nicholas Church in Brussels....

We continue our series focusing on St. Joseph’s presence with the Presentation in the Temple. In today’s art, we see Joseph offering the turtle doves, artistically representing what also is happening interiorly, Fr. Mark-Mary says. St. Joseph’s heart was surely sorrowful when Simeon prophesied that a sword would pierce Mary’s heart, and yet he said yes to the Father alongside her. Today’s focus is...

If St. Joseph had not been present at the Nativity, could the adoration of the shepherds have happened? Fr. Mark-Mary continues our focus on St. Joseph’s role, highlighting the goodness of God in bringing Mary and Joseph together to raise the Savior. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Nativity and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. All of the Sacred Art we’ll be meditating with can be f...

Mary was not the only one who received an angelic visitor. Joseph too was directed by an angel to take Mary, his wife, into his home. Fr. Mark-Mary, meditating on Joseph’s presence at the Visitation, shares this as an example of God’s providential care towards Mary and towards all his children. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Visitation and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. All of t...

Henry Ossawa Tanner’s depiction of the Annunciation is distinctly unique. Fr. Mark-Mary directs our meditation to an observation of Mary’s youth and littleness before the Lord, contrasted with her complete trust and confidence. This, he says, can help us trust God despite our own littleness. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Annunciation and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. All of th...

The Coronation of Mary can be seen in a distinctly Trinitarian sense, highlighted in Diego Velázquez’s painting, The Coronation of the Virgin . Fr. Mark-Mary explains Mary’s relationships to each member of the Trinity as daughter, mother, and spouse. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Coronation of Mary and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. All of the Sacred Art we’ll be meditating wit...

Mary, through her Immaculate Conception, shares in the fullness of Christ’s victory. Fr. Mark-Mary, meditating on The Immaculate Conception , a fresco in the Church of Santa Maria dell’Orto, in Rome, explains the intrinsic connection between the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Assumption and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. All of the Sacre...

At Pentecost, the Apostles may have been filled with a reasonable amount of fear, as wind shook the upper room and fire descended. However, Jean Restout’s painting, Pentecost , draws our attention to someone who is unafraid: Mary, who has already experienced the overshadowing of the Spirit. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Descent of the Holy Spirit and we will be praying one decade of the Rosa...

St. John the Baptist said in John 3:30, “he must increase, I must decrease”. In today’s mosaic of the Ascension, Fr. Mark-Mary draws our attention to St. John the Baptist and Mary, who in turn direct our attention to Christ. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Ascension and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. All of the Sacred Art we’ll be meditating with can be found in the Rosary in a Y...

Repeatedly in the Gospels, Jesus goes off alone to pray to the Father, telling us, “pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” While meditating on today’s painting, The Resurrection of Christ by Annibale Carracci, Fr. Mark-Mary draws out the hidden nature of the Resurrection. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Resurrection and we will be praying one...

In the Old Testament, God sent Noah the sign of the rainbow to promise he would never flood the earth again. Pietro Gagliardi’s fresco of the Crucifixion also depicts a rainbow above this sorrowful scene, signifying that this is the fulfillment of God’s promise. As we meditate, Fr. Mark-Mary tells us that this symbolism can remind us that death will not have the last word. Today’s focus is the mys...

Pieter Bruegel’s painting, The Procession to Calvary , is distinctly filled with Roman soldiers. Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in a meditation focusing on the Roman soldiers observing the carrying of the cross, and relates it to his modern day experience of different reactions to Jesus in New York. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Carrying of the Cross and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary....

As  we see the bust of Tiberius Caesar at the top of today’s painting, Christ Crowned with Thorns by Titian, the phrase “render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and render to God what is God’s” may come to mind. Fr. Mark-Mary asks us to consider whether we are rendering our worship and love unto God, or unto the world. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Crowning with Thorns and we will be praying one...

St. Paul’s letter to the Romans tells us, “if God is for us, who is against us?” Reflecting on a fresco of the Scourging, Fr. Mark-Mary draws our attention to Jesus’ strength and glory shining through despite his suffering. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Scourging at the Pillar and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. All of the Sacred Art we’ll be meditating with can be found in the...

In today’s painting by Vicente Masip, Judas is pictured with a gold and black halo. Even as Judas leads the soldiers to arrest Jesus, Fr. Mark-Mary explains that this halo shows Judas has the chance to return to Jesus. We too can always return to Jesus, seeking his forgiveness as Peter does. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Agony in the Garden and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. Al...

Even at the Last Supper, anticipating his passion, Jesus is at peace, as depicted in today’s mosaic by Giacomo Raffaelli. Jesus can be at peace because he knows who he is and he knows who his Father is. In this mystery, we’re invited to find rest in Jesus through trust and surrender to the Father. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Institution of the Eucharist and we will be praying one decade of...