Day 132: Eyes on Jesus - The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)

Day 132: Eyes on Jesus

Mon May 12 2025

Giulio Campi’s fresco of The Presentation in the Temple, is filled with people and commotion. Two women converse, a child looks towards the viewer, Simeon leans backwards, his eyes closed. Yet in all this chaos, Fr. Mark-Mary notices, Mary’s eyes remain focused on the child Jesus. We meditate on fixing our own eyes on Jesus. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Presentation in the Temple 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 Year Prayer Guide, for free linked in the complete prayer plan, or for free in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.

Summary

Detailed Summary of "Day 132: Eyes on Jesus" - The Rosary in a Year Podcast

Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Podcast: The Rosary in a Year
Episode: Day 132: Eyes on Jesus
Release Date: May 12, 2025

Introduction

In Day 132 of The Rosary in a Year podcast, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames delves into the fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. Utilizing a fresco by Giulio Campi titled The Presentation in the Temple (1547), housed in the Church of St. Rita, Fr. Ames guides listeners through a profound meditation that intertwines art, scripture, and personal devotion.

Meditation on the Fourth Joyful Mystery

1. Description of the Fresco by Giulio Campi [00:45 - 02:30]

Fr. Ames begins by painting a vivid picture of Giulio Campi’s fresco:

Scene Composition: The fresco depicts a congregation of adults around an altar within an imposing marble structure.
Key Figures:
- Virgin Mary: Central to the scene, Mary is portrayed leaning over the infant Jesus, her gaze fixed intently on Him as she sets Him on the altar.
- Simeon: Positioned at the center, Simeon is depicted as a gray-skinned elderly man. His closed eyes suggest a profound emotional response to the fulfillment of prophecy.
- Dignified Elderly Woman: She attentively points to Jesus, emphasizing His significance.
- St. Joseph: Observing from the side, he adds to the familial and communal atmosphere of the scene.
- Attendants: Clutching two turtle doves, they symbolize purity and peace.

Fr. Ames notes, "[...] a cluster of adults gathered around an altar in an imposing marble building" (01:15).

2. Insights on Mary's Focus Amidst Commotion [02:31 - 04:20]

Transitioning to the thematic elements of the fresco, Fr. Ames highlights the contrast between external chaos and internal serenity:

Simeon's Reaction: Despite the surrounding activity, Simeon’s closed eyes and strong reaction draw the viewer's attention. Fr. Ames interprets this as a visual representation of Simeon’s fulfillment of prophecy:

“'Lord, now let your servant depart in peace according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation.'”
— Fr. Ames (03:10)
Mary’s Steadfastness: While the environment pulses with emotion and movement, Mary remains a pillar of calm and devotion. Her unwavering focus on Jesus serves as an anchor amidst turmoil. Fr. Ames observes,

“Mary’s interior hasn't at all changed. She remains at rest in adoration and love.”
— Fr. Ames (04:00)

3. Reflection on Simeon's Prophecy and Mary's Response [04:21 - 06:50]

Fr. Ames delves deeper into the theological implications of the scene:

Simeon's Prophecy: Simeon declares that a sword will pierce Mary’s soul, alluding to the future suffering she will endure at Calvary.

“Simeon... announces that a sword will one day pierce her own soul.”
— Fr. Ames (05:30)
Mary’s Acceptance: In response, Mary embodies complete obedience and trust in God's will:

“Be it done unto me according to your word.”
— Fr. Ames (06:10)
Enduring Faith: Fr. Ames emphasizes that Mary's response is a model for believers facing life's uncertainties and challenges. Her ability to remain focused on Jesus, despite foreknown suffering, inspires a deeper commitment to faith and devotion.

Application to Personal Prayer and Life [06:51 - 07:58]

Drawing from the meditation, Fr. Ames encourages listeners to emulate Mary's steadfastness:

Anchoring in Chaos: In moments of personal turmoil, one can find solace and strength by anchoring their attention on Jesus, much like Mary did.

“Where can you find your anchor in your offering to the Father?”
— Fr. Ames (07:20)
Adoration and Offering: By adopting an attitude of adoration, love, and offering, believers can navigate the complexities of life with grace and purpose.
Prayer as a Fortress: Fr. Ames reminds listeners that prayer, especially the Rosary, serves as a powerful tool to maintain focus and deepen the relationship with Jesus and Mary.

Conclusion and Prayer [07:59 - 11:15]

Fr. Ames concludes the episode with a heartfelt prayer, inviting listeners to seek Mary’s intercession in maintaining their focus amid life's distractions. The prayer emphasizes:

Worship and Love:

“We worship you, Jesus. We love you, Jesus.”
— Fr. Ames (09:50)
Submission to God's Will:

“Let your holy will be done unto us according to your word.”
— Fr. Ames (10:10)

The episode closes with the traditional Our Father and Hail Mary prayers, reinforcing the themes of adoration and submission explored during the meditation.

Notable Quotes:

“Mary remains at rest in adoration and love.” — Fr. Mark-Mary Ames (04:00)
“Be it done unto me according to your word.” — Fr. Mark-Mary Ames (06:10)
“We worship you, Jesus. We love you, Jesus.” — Fr. Mark-Mary Ames (09:50)

Reflection:

This episode intricately weaves art, scripture, and personal devotion to illuminate the depth of Mary’s role during the Presentation in the Temple. Fr. Ames not only provides a detailed analysis of Giulio Campi’s fresco but also draws actionable insights for believers seeking to deepen their prayer life and maintain focus on Jesus amidst life's inevitable chaos.

Listeners are encouraged to adopt Mary's unwavering focus as a model for their own spiritual journeys, finding strength and peace through the Rosary and steadfast faith.

Transcript

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Foreign Mark Mary with Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and this is the Rosary into youo podcast, where through prayer and meditation, the Rosary brings us deeper into relationship with Jesus and Mary and becomes a source of grace for the whole world. The Rosary in a Year is brought to you by Ascension. This is day 132. To download the prayer plan for Rosary in a year, visit ascensionpress.com rosary in a year or text RIY to 33777. You'll get an outline of how we're going to pray each month and it's a great way to track your progress. The best place to listen to podcast is in the Ascension app. There's special features built just for this podcast and also recordings of the full Rosary with myself and other friars. I encourage you to pick up a copy of the Rosary Knee Prayer Guide, a book published by Ascension that was designed to complement this podcast. You'll find all the daily readings from Scripture, Saint reflections and beautiful images of the sacred art we'll be reflecting on. Today we will be meditating upon and praying with the fourth Joyful Mystery, the presentation of Jesus in the Temple with help from a fresco of the Presentation in the Temple by Giulio Campi. And this painting is in the Church of St. Rita. It was painted in the year 1547. Just a brief word on our artist before we get into a description of the painting itself. Giulio Campi was an Italian painter who was known for his frescoes and altarpieces and he came from a family of artists and ended up training his own sons in the craft. He lived from the years 1502 to 1572 in Cremona, Italy. And now to begin our time of reflection and prayer, a description of the fresco of the presentation itself. So we come to the painting. What we encounter is a cluster of adults gathered around an altar in an imposing marble building. The Virgin Mary. She leans over with the child Jesus, who's fixed in her gaze and in her hands and she's in the act of setting him on the altar. Jesus is depicted as a tiny naked newborn who she sets forth before the crowd. An attendant holds two turtle doves. Faces in the background are observing what's happening. Simeon is depicted as a gray skinned old man stands at the center of the piece with his face giving a very strong reaction to the child. To his left, a dignified elderly woman focused on the Christ child with her index finger pointing to Jesus. Shoulder to the action, St. Joseph looks on from the side. Now, today in the presentation of Jesus in the temple. Today in fulfillment of the law, Jesus is presented in the temple and the peace. The intimacy of the nativity scene we contemplated yesterday has given way to the commotion of the temple, right? No longer is there just simply this intimacy, this warmth, the worship. Now there is the fullness of human complexity and diversity. Keeping for a moment with the theme of eyes like, notice here in the temple, notice with our fresco how many different directions the eyes are going to Simeon. And his strong reaction draws the majority of attention as we ourselves are kind of pulled in with the movement of the painting to Simeon. What we notice are that his eyes are shut. Perhaps his eyes are shut because he is overwhelmed by the drama, the emotion of encountering the promised Messiah linked to that. I guess perhaps his eyes being shut is a tool being used by artists to communicate that Simeon's eyes, in seeing Jesus, they have completed their purpose, Right? This is a visual representation of the canticle of Simeon. His words that we find in the Gospel of Luke. Lord, now let your servant depart in peace according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation. You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. Yet in the midst of the commotion and the chaos, Mary's eyes are focused, and Mary's eyes are focused on Jesus. While exteriorly, everything has changed from the manger to the temple, Mary's interior hasn't at all. She remains at rest in adoration and love. And perhaps what we could add here being communicated in the temple is also this interior disposition of offering. Mary adores, Mary loves. And Mary offers Jesus to the Father. She listens. So in the midst of this, this is her anchor, this is her resting place. Adoration, love, offering. But she continues to listen. She continues to receive. She continues to ponder. But as all of this is happening, she remains focused. She remains anchored. She loves him. She worships him. Simeon, in this moment, right, he announces that a sword will one day pierce her own soul. And what does Mary do? She keeps her eyes on Jesus. She receives it. She's going to pray with it. She's going to contemplate it. She accepts it, right? Be it done unto me according to your word. But she remains focused, her eyes on Jesus. Her love, her adoration, her worship, her hope are on Jesus. And as we find her one day at Calvary, where this prophecy is being fulfilled and the sword is in fact piercing her heart and her soul, we'll find Mary still in this same adoration, love and offering. When you encounter these moments of commotion and chaos, Ask yourself, how can you turn your disposition to that of Mary's adoration, love and offering? Where can you find your anchor in your offering to the Father? As we pray today, let us ask for Mary's help as our lives become chaotic. Right. May we, like Mary, and with her help, just remain anchored. Anchored in worship. Anchored in our offering to the Father, Jesus. We worship you, Jesus. We love you, Jesus. We have received all good things from you and we offer them back to you, Jesus. Let your holy will be done unto us according to your word. Together with Mary. Let us pray in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.