Day 161: Sharing Eternal Victory

Summary

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

Episode: Day 161 – Sharing Eternal Victory

Date: June 10, 2026
Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Guest Contributors: Fr. Mike Schmitz and other prayer participants

---

Overview

Day 161 of the "Rosary in a Year" podcast centers on meditating with the Third Sorrowful Mystery: the Crowning of Thorns. Fr. Mark-Mary Ames invites listeners to reflect deeply on Christ’s suffering and victory through prayer and sacred art. Using Caravaggio's "Ecce Homo" as a visual anchor, the episode explores themes of sorrow, contrition, hope, and the eternal victory found in Jesus.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to the Painting and Its Relevance

[01:04]

• Artwork: Caravaggio’s "Ecce Homo" (1605)
  • Commissioned by Cardinal Massimo Massimi, later part of King Philip IV’s collection, and authenticated in 2021 after being lost for centuries.
  • Style: Psychological realism, focusing on raw emotions and minimizing background distractions to emphasize the figures' emotional weight.
• Purpose: Using art to facilitate deeper contemplation on Christ’s suffering and the human factors involved.

2. Vivid Description of the Scene

[02:38]–[03:49]

• Jesus is depicted as humble, bare-chested, and crowned with thorns.
• A purple cloak is draped over him; his wrists are bound, and blood trickles down from his crown.
• The central figures include Pontius Pilate (wrinkled, gesturing "Ecce Homo" — "Behold the man") and another man placing the cloak, stunned by the gravity of the moment.
• Pilate’s demeanor: confident, knowing the consequences yet detached.
• The crowd: vindictive, pressing for Jesus’ condemnation.
• Quote:
  • “Look at him. I present to you your Lord. This is what Pilate's hands say. This is what I believe Caravaggio is saying. And this is what I'll say: let’s look at him.” — Fr. Mark-Mary ([04:52])

3. Personal Reflection and Invitation to Contrition

[04:54]–[05:22]

• Fr. Mark-Mary shares his own visceral emotional response: deep contrition, sorrow for personal sins, and recognition that our sins necessitated Christ’s suffering.
• Encourages listeners to use the painting during a daily or pre-confession examination of conscience to visualize the true weight and consequence of sin.
• Quote:
  • “My immediate and deepest movement... is to contrition and deep sorrow for the ways in which my own sin has made this moment necessary.” — Fr. Mark-Mary ([05:00])

4. Beholding the Consequence of Sin & Moving Toward Hope

[05:47]–[06:45]

• Listeners are urged to “be still here, to look at him, to implore him, to console him.”
• Important distinction: while it’s necessary to recognize sin’s consequences, we shouldn’t remain in shame or darkness.
• The analogy of Jesus’ luminous body like a sanctuary candle in a dark church—symbolizing the persistence of hope and light amidst suffering.
• Quote:
  • “Let the light reflecting off of Jesus’ own body be like the light of a flickering sanctuary candle in a dark church, the sensible reminder that light remains. Darkness is not victorious, because He is the Lord.” — Fr. Mark-Mary ([06:35])

5. Sharing in Christ’s Victory

[06:48]–[08:25]

• Emphasis shifts from suffering to the promise of resurrection and victory.
• Even in darkness and agony (the crowning of thorns), Jesus brings hope and conquers evil.
• Through repentance and mercy, we are invited to share in Jesus’ ultimate kingship and eternal victory.
• Quotes:
  • “He will rise. And in his rising, we too will share in his victory.” — Fr. Mark-Mary ([07:41])
  • “Behold the man. Behold the power of God.” — Fr. Mark-Mary ([07:55])
  • “We, who have shared... in his crowning of thorns, through his mercy, through his rising, through our repentance, will actually share in his victory, will actually share in his kingship.” — Fr. Mark-Mary ([08:06])

---

Key Timestamps

• [01:04–03:49] — Description of Caravaggio’s "Ecce Homo" and its emotional significance
• [04:52] — Invitation to contemplate Christ: “Let’s look at him.”
• [05:00–05:22] — Personal contrition and connection to Christ’s suffering
• [06:35–06:48] — The sanctuary candle analogy: hope in darkness
• [07:41–08:25] — Sharing in Christ’s eternal victory

---

Notable Quotes

• “Look at him. I present to you your Lord. This is what Pilate's hands say. This is what I believe Caravaggio is saying. And this is what I'll say: let's look at him.” — Fr. Mark-Mary ([04:52])
• “My immediate and deepest movement... is to contrition and deep sorrow for the ways in which my own sin has made this moment necessary.” — Fr. Mark-Mary ([05:00])
• “Let the light reflecting off of Jesus’ own body be like the light of a flickering sanctuary candle in a dark church, the sensible reminder that light remains. Darkness is not victorious, because He is the Lord.” — Fr. Mark-Mary ([06:35])
• “Behold the man. Behold the power of God.” — Fr. Mark-Mary ([07:55])
• “We, who have shared... in his crowning of thorns, through his mercy, through his rising, through our repentance, will actually share in his victory, will actually share in his kingship.” — Fr. Mark-Mary ([08:06])

---

Tone and Language

Fr. Mark-Mary maintains a deeply reverent, contemplative, and pastoral tone. The language is vivid, emotionally direct, and invites listeners into both introspection and hopeful participation. There’s a gentle but insistent call to move from sorrow for sin toward confidence in Christ’s conquering hope.

---

Takeaway for Listeners

This episode serves as a spiritual exercise: to look honestly at Jesus’ suffering, acknowledge our role in it, yet not to remain stuck in shame. Instead, listeners are invited to step into the hope and light of Christ’s resurrection—joining Him in eternal victory through faith, repentance, and ongoing prayer.

---

Prayer and Meditation

The episode concludes with a communal praying of the “Our Father” and a full decade of the Rosary, reinforcing unity with Mary and Jesus and grounding the reflection in concrete prayer.

---

For more resources and the full prayer plan:
ascensionpress.com/riy

Transcript

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Foreign.

[Host/Announcer]

Mark Mary with Franciscan Friars, the Renewal and this is the Rosary in 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.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

This is day 161.

[Host/Announcer]

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 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. On behalf of myself and the whole team here at Ascension, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who's helped support this podcast financially. Your generosity is so appreciated and helps us to reach as many people as possible. And if you haven't already, please consider supporting [e-mail] support

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

today we will be meditating upon and praying with the third

[Fr. Mark Mary]

Sorrowful Mystery, the Crowning of Thorns, with

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

help from a painting entitled Ecce Homo by the artist Caravaggio. So our artist, as we had yesterday, is Caravaggio and again he was born in the year 1571, died in the year 1610. This particular painting was done in the year 1605 and it was likely commissioned by Cardinal Massimo Massimi as part of a competition between Caravaggio and a couple other artists. It later became part of King Philip IV's private collection in Spain and it was misattributed for centuries. It resurfaced at a Madrid auction in the year 2021 and was authenticated after extensive study by experts at Museo del Prado. The art style is psychological realism. Caravaggio captures raw human emotions, Pilot's hesitation, the soldier's cruelty mixed with pity and Christ's serene acceptance, all contributing to the narrative's tension. And there's minimal background which is true to Caravaggio's mature style. This lack of context enhances focus on the figure's emotional weight. And now a description of our painting. Humble bare chested eyes cast down.

[Prayer Leader]

Jesus stands wearing the crown of thorns

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

as another man places a purple cloak

[Fr. Mark Mary]

over his undressed shoulders.

[Prayer Participant 1]

His wrists are bound and crossed at

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

his waist he holds a branch. His shoulder length brown hair is lined with drops of his precious blood.

[Prayer Leader]

In his meekness and amidst the mockery,

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Jesus still presents a quiet dignity in

[Fr. Mark Mary]

his submission in front of him, an

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

old man dressed as a Renaissance statesman wrinkles his forehead as he turns his

[Prayer Participant 2]

gaze to the viewer.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

His gesture towards Jesus evokes the title Ecce Homo. Behold the man. What Pontius Pilate spoke as he put the fate of Jesus to the vote. A vindictive crowd behind Jesus. The man placing the cloak stands with

[Prayer Leader]

his jaw ajar in a moment of

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

reflection and perhaps of comprehension as he views up close the face of Jesus. His face communicates he may sense that

[Fr. Mark Mary]

there's something deep and consequential occurring in

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

contrast to the subtle realization of that man. Pilate is brash. His eyes are knowing, piercing, yet detached, as he coarsely carries on the sentencing despite what he knows. I really believe, especially with today's painting, what's important for us is to try and create the time to really look

[Fr. Mark Mary]

at Jesus, take him in in our own personal prayer, and then respond from the heart as we're move

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

as a step in the right direction and an aid to getting you started. I'll just share a few thoughts. I feel like the intention of Caravaggio and what he wants the viewer to do today is quite explicit through the gesture of Pontius Pilate, right? He says, like, look at him. I present to you your Lord. This is what Pilate's hands say. This is what I believe Caravaggio is saying. And this is what I'll say, like,

[Fr. Mark Mary]

let's look at him.

[Prayer Participant 3]

And as I look at him personally,

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

my immediate and deepest movement, actually a

[Fr. Mark Mary]

visceral movement, is to contrition and deep

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

sorrow for the ways in which my

[Fr. Mark Mary]

own sin has made this moment necessary.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

And I move from this repetition of Jesus.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

What I might also propose is that this is a great painting to spend time with during an examination of conscience, perhaps like a daily one, your nightly one, but especially before going to confession. In an examination, we reflect not only on the particular sins that we need to confess, but it's important for us also to behold, if you will like,

[Fr. Mark Mary]

the consequence of our sin, which in

[Prayer Leader]

a way, we see here, right, in the mockery, in the pain of our

[Fr. Mark Mary]

Lord crowned with thorns.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

And so we take a moment to

[Fr. Mark Mary]

just be still here, to look at him, to implore him, to console him. But even now, like, even today, we don't, if you will, like, set up our tent here, right? We don't make our home in darkness and shame.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

And as we leave, kind of like what I want you to do is

[Fr. Mark Mary]

to let the light reflecting off of Jesus own body be like the light of a flickering sanctuary candle in a

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

dark church,

[Fr. Mark Mary]

the sensible reminder that light remains. Darkness is not victorious, because he is the Lord. So even in Jesus scourging, even in his crowning of thorns, there is light. And even in this darkness, there is hope. Because he who we behold is the Lord. And even this he will order, even this he will conquer for good. He will rise. And in his rising, we too will share in his victory.

[Prayer Participant 2]

So today, like let us leave

[Prayer Leader]

with

[Fr. Mark Mary]

the light and the hope of forgiveness of sins, of new life in Christ

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

and in sharing

[Fr. Mark Mary]

in his ultimate and eternal victory. Behold the man. Behold the power of God.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

We who have shared, if you will,

[Fr. Mark Mary]

in his crowning of thorns, through his mercy, through his rising, through our repentance, will actually share in his victory, will actually share and his kingship.

[Prayer Participant 1]

And so now, my brothers and sisters,

[Prayer Leader]

with Mary, let us pray.

[Prayer Participant 3]

In the name of the Father and

[Fr. Mark Mary]

of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Amen.

[Prayer Leader]

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done

[Prayer Participant 1]

on earth as it is in heaven.

[Prayer Participant 2]

Give us this day our daily bread

[Fr. Mark Mary]

and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but

[Prayer Participant 2]

deliver us from evil.

[Prayer Participant 3]

Amen.

[Prayer Participant 4]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Prayer Participant 2]

The Lord is with the Blessed art

[Prayer Participant 1]

thou among women, and blessed is the

[Prayer Participant 5]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Participant 3]

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for

[Prayer Leader]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Prayer Participant 4]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Prayer Participant 2]

The Lord is with the Blessed art

[Prayer Participant 1]

thou among women, and blessed is the

[Prayer Participant 5]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Participant 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Prayer Leader]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Prayer Participant 4]

Hail Mary, full of grace, The Lord

[Prayer Participant 1]

is with the Blessed art thou among

[Prayer Participant 5]

women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Participant 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Prayer Leader]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Prayer Participant 4]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Prayer Participant 2]

The Lord is with the Blessed art

[Prayer Participant 1]

thou among women, and blessed is the

[Prayer Participant 5]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Participant 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Prayer Leader]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Prayer Participant 5]

Amen.

[Prayer Participant 4]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Prayer Participant 2]

The Lord is with the Blessed art

[Prayer Participant 1]

thou among women, and blessed is the

[Prayer Participant 5]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Participant 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Prayer Leader]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Prayer Participant 4]

Hail Mary, full of grace, The Lord

[Prayer Participant 1]

is with the Blessed art thou among

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Participant 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Prayer Leader]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Prayer Participant 4]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord

[Prayer Leader]

is with the Blessed art thou among

[Prayer Participant 5]

women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Participant 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Prayer Leader]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Prayer Participant 3]

Amen.

[Prayer Participant 4]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Prayer Participant 2]

The Lord is with the.

[Prayer Participant 1]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed

[Prayer Participant 5]

is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Participant 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Prayer Leader]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Amen.

[Prayer Participant 4]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Prayer Participant 2]

The Lord is with the.

[Prayer Participant 1]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed

[Prayer Participant 5]

is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Participant 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Prayer Leader]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Prayer Participant 4]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with the.

[Prayer Participant 1]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed

[Prayer Participant 5]

is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Participant 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Prayer Leader]

us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Amen.

[Prayer Participant 4]

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

As it was in the beginning, is

[Prayer Leader]

now and ever shall be, world without end.

[Prayer Participant 5]

Amen.

[Prayer Leader]

In the name of the Father and

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Prayer Participant 5]

Amen.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Thank you so much for joining me

[Prayer Participant 3]

and praying with me today.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

I look forward to continuing this journey with you again tomorrow.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

All right. Poco Poco.

[Prayer Participant 1]

Friends, God bless you.