Day 135: Miracles of Love - The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)

Day 135: Miracles of Love

Thu May 15 2025

Why does Jesus perform miracles? Fr. Mark-Mary, meditating with help from a painting by Carl Bloch, says that Jesus doesn’t just do miracles as a sign or as a magician. Jesus does miracles as acts of love, motivated by true compassion. We take a moment to rest in this sign of love at the Wedding Feast with Jesus and Mary. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Wedding Feast at Cana 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

Podcast Summary: The Rosary in a Year (Day 135: Miracles of Love)

Overview

In Day 135: Miracles of Love of The Rosary in a Year podcast, hosted by Fr. Mark-Mary Ames of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, listeners are guided through a profound meditation on the second luminous mystery of the Rosary—the Wedding at Cana. This episode, released on May 15, 2025, delves deep into the themes of love, humility, and divine intervention, enriched by the contemplation of Karl Bloch's evocative painting, Wedding at Cana.

Introduction to the Day's Focus

Fr. Mark-Mary Ames initiates the episode by inviting listeners to immerse themselves in the Rosary journey, emphasizing the transformative power of building a daily prayer habit. He highlights resources available for followers, including the Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide and the Ascension app, which offers special features and full Rosary recordings.

Artist and Artwork: Karl Bloch's "Wedding at Cana"

A significant portion of the episode centers around Karl Bloch's painting, Wedding at Cana. Fr. Mark-Mary provides a concise biography of Bloch, noting his Danish roots, his influences from Rembrandt, and his studies in Italy. The artist’s dedication to Classical Realism is evident in his meticulous portrayal of biblical scenes.

Description of the Painting

Bloch's Wedding at Cana is vividly described:

Visual Elements: A luminous blue sky arches over a grand classical gateway, letting daylight illuminate a bustling banquet table. Guests engage in conversations while servants move busily around them.
Foreground Details: Four servants are prominently featured. One pours the transformed wine with a blend of focus and astonishment, another observes with wide eyes, a third kneels over a vessel pointing towards the banquet table, and Jesus and Mary are seated gracefully among the wedding couple, seemingly unaware of the unfolding miracle.

Host's Reflections and Insights

Fr. Mark-Mary shares his personal journey of engaging with the Visio Divina practice, expressing his enthusiasm:
"I'm really loving putting together these Visio Divina episodes... I get excited and I kind of start talking to myself. And today the streak continues." ([07:30])

Jesus' Humility and Motivation for Miracles

A pivotal moment in the reflection occurs when Fr. Mark-Mary discusses the subtle portrayal of Jesus in Bloch's painting:

Search for Jesus:
"To find Jesus, you actually have to search for him... He is keeping a pretty low profile." ([12:15])
Humility in Action:
"Jesus doesn't come as some sort of magician or showman... He does the miracle as an act of love and concern." ([14:42])

Examples of Miracles Driven by Love

He elaborates on various miracles performed by Jesus, underscoring that each act is rooted in compassion and love:

Healing the Blind:
"He gives sight to the blind because he wants them to see, because he loves them." ([18:05])
Healing Lepers and Raising Lazarus:
"He heals lepers because he loves them and he wants them to be well... He raises Lazarus from the dead out of love." ([20:50])
Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes:
"He multiplies the loaves and fishes because he's moved with compassion, for he wants them to be fed." ([23:10])

The Relationship Between Jesus and Mary

Fr. Mark-Mary poignantly reflects on the bond between Jesus and Mary:

"Even more importantly, they love each other. And they love each of us so well." ([29:25])

He encourages listeners to find rest in their mutual love and to recognize the deep, interpersonal connections exemplified in their relationship.

Meditation and Prayer

The episode seamlessly transitions into a guided prayer, inviting listeners to:

Visualize Being at the Banquet Table:
"Let us place ourselves at the table with Jesus... notice his tender and gentle smile as he grabs and squeezes his mother's hand." ([32:45])
Embrace the Moment of Change and Love:
"They share a knowing glance that they are both keenly aware that everything's about to change... They linger in this moment together." ([34:10])

The prayer reinforces the themes discussed, culminating in the recitation of the traditional Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be prayers, anchoring the meditation in sacred tradition.

Conclusion

Fr. Mark-Mary concludes the episode with heartfelt gratitude:

"Thanks so much for joining me and praying with me today. I look forward to continuing this journey with you again tomorrow." ([45:00])

He encourages listeners to persist in their Rosary journey, promising continued insights and spiritual growth.

Key Takeaways

Love as the Foundation of Miracles: Jesus' miracles are not mere displays of power but profound acts of love and compassion.
Humility in Divine Acts: The subtle portrayal of Jesus highlights his humble approach, focusing on the needs of others rather than seeking attention.
Deepening Relationship with Jesus and Mary: Engaging with the Rosary fosters a more intimate connection with the divine, enriching the believer's spiritual life.
Integration of Art in Prayer: Utilizing sacred art like Bloch's painting enhances meditation, providing visual avenues to explore and understand biblical events.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

"I'm really loving putting together these Visio Divina episodes..." ([07:30])
"To find Jesus, you actually have to search for him... He is keeping a pretty low profile." ([12:15])
"He does the miracle as an act of love and concern." ([14:42])
"He heals lepers because he loves them and he wants them to be well." ([20:50])
"Even more importantly, they love each other. And they love each of us so well." ([29:25])
"Thanks so much for joining me and praying with me today." ([45:00])

Resources Mentioned

Prayer Plan Download: Visit Ascension Press or text RIY to 33777.
Ascension App: Available for enhanced podcast features and full Rosary recordings.
Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide: Complements the podcast with daily readings, saint reflections, and sacred art images.

This episode of The Rosary in a Year serves as a heartfelt exploration of divine love manifested through humble acts, encouraging listeners to deepen their prayer life and embrace the transformative power of the Rosary.

Transcript

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Foreign Mark Mary with Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and this is the Rosary in the Year 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 135. 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 the podcast is in the Ascension app. There are 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 in a Year 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 second luminous mystery, the Wedding at Cana, with help from the painting Wedding at Cana by Karl Bloch. So a brief introduction to our painter Carl Bloch. He lived from the years 1834 to 1890. He lived in Denmark and was profoundly influenced by Rembrandt's work and also by the time he spent living and studying in Italy, Bloch was married and had eight children. This particular painting is oil on canvas and its style is called Classical Realism. Now a description of the painting A luminous blue sky fills a grand classical archway with daylight flooding along Banquet Table where wedding guests, men and women, sit in conversation with servants buzzing around them. In the foreground, a group of four servants are gathered. One bent over a large stone jar, carefully pours out the newly transformed wine. His expression is a mix of focus and astonishment. Another, standing by looks on with wide eyes as if just beginning to understand what has happened. A third servant, dressed in simple garments, is kneeling over a vessel. His arm is raised up and pointed directly to the banquet table. And there at the table sit Jesus and Mary as well as the bride and bridegroom, the bride and the bridegroom who are gazing at each other, unaware of the unfolding drama. So I gotta be honest, I'm really loving putting together these Vizio Divina episodes, praying with the artwork as part of the Rosary in a Year Journey. And so far, basically every episode as I'm praying with the artwork, I get some new insight. I'm just like, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh. That is good. That is good. I get excited and I kind of start talking to myself. And today the streak continues. When I was praying with Carl Bloch's painting of the wedding at Cana, at first I kind of naturally assumed that Jesus was in the foreground, in the front left of the painting, right? Because it seems to be where much of my attention was drawn. So I just kind of figured that's where Jesus was. But then I realized, no, like, that's not him at all. The foreground, it shows the interaction between the servants and the steward who is tasting the wine. Jesus. To find Jesus, you actually have to search for him. And we find him. We find Jesus and Mary, as noted, at the banquet table, seated to the right of the bride and the bridegroom. And in the scene, Jesus is keeping a pretty low profile. And I think this reveals, like, a really beautiful truth about Jesus actions and his motivation. At the wedding feast of Cana, but also in many of his other miracles, Jesus doesn't come as some sort of magician or jester or showman, right? He's not trying to just do tricks to draw attention. At the wedding feast, Jesus doesn't turn the water to wine just to do a miracle. He does the miracle because they were out of wine. He does the miracle as an act of love and concern and for this wedding to be celebrated with the fullness of joy possible. Certainly he understands the consequence of this miracle. It's the first of his public signs. He understands that it's going to get people's attention and it's going to elicit a variety of reaction. But he does it first and foremost with a heart filled with love and moved with compassion. And we see this often in his miracles. He gives sight to the blind because he wants them to see, because he loves them. He's invested in their good and their well being. He heals lepers because he loves them and he wants them to be well. Like he raises Lazarus from the dead out of love, even, like the multiplication of the loaves and the fish. Like, he doesn't just do this to do a sign. He does this as the scripture says, because he's moved with compassion, for he wants them to be fed. Like he loves them, he cares about them. And so that's why he does the miracle. Like Jesus, he's come to draw all men to himself. And this will require his self manifestation, the manifestation, the revelation of his glory, of his identity. But when he's here, he comes and he works as One who loves right as the divine bridegroom who loves his bride, who desires to provide for his bride, to protect his bride, to care for his bride. And who will freely lay down his life for his bride. Like why? Because he loves his bride. Because he loves his body, the church. And because he loves you. And he loves me. Like this is why. This is why. For God so loved the world. As we pray today, let's place ourselves at the table with Jesus. We hear behind us the commotion of the servants and the steward and the little dashes of excitement as a few people know what really happens and as the news begins to spread. But look at him and notice his tender and gentle smile as he grabs and he squeezes his mother's hand. And they share a knowing glance that they are both keenly aware that everything's about to change. And filled with love and compassion. He squeezes her hand just a little tighter and Mary leans her head on his shoulder. And they linger in this moment together. Yes, Jesus works miracles. And yes, Mary is the most powerful of intercessors. But even more importantly, they love each other. And they love each of us so well. Let us too find rest in their love. And now with Mary, let us pray. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. All right. Thanks so much for joining me and praying with me today. I look forward to continuing this journey with you again tomorrow. Poco. Poco. Friends, God bless y' all.