Day 163: Through His Eyes

Summary

---

Episode Summary: Day 163 – Through His Eyes

Podcast: The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)
Host: Ascension | Date: June 12, 2026

---

Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames invites listeners into a meditative reflection on the fifth Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary—the Crucifixion—by contemplating the perspective of Jesus on the cross. Using James Tissot’s painting What Our Lord Saw from the Cross, Fr. Mark-Mary explores what Jesus might have experienced as he looked upon the crowds at Calvary. The episode weaves together art, personal anecdote, and spiritual challenge, drawing the listener into a deeper understanding of Christ’s sacrificial love and encouraging self-examination: How do we respond to Jesus’ self-gift?

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Tissot and the Featured Painting

[01:07–02:17]

• James Tissot (1836–1902) was a French artist known both for his genre paintings of high society and, later, for an extensive series of biblical watercolors after a religious awakening.
• The featured painting, What Our Lord Saw from the Cross (1886–1894), is part of a 350-piece series depicting the life of Christ.

  "He would also explore a number of other subjects, including biblical ones... which he undertook after experiencing a revival of faith in 1885." (Fr. Mark-Mary, 01:24)

2. Vivid Description of the Painting

[02:21–03:24]

• Dozens of faces—Roman soldiers, rabbis, commoners, men and women—look up in emotional turmoil, all fixated on the viewer, who assumes Jesus’ perspective.
• In the foreground, veiled women and a young man mourn, and at the very edge, two bloodied feet protrude: Christ’s feet, placing the viewer quite literally “in his place.”
• A woman leans up to the feet in sorrowful devotion, and an open tomb is visible in the background.

  “It’s a painting where the viewer’s in the place of Jesus and you’re looking out.” (Fr. Mark-Mary, 03:41)

3. Connecting Artistic Perspective to Spiritual Experience

[03:37–06:05]

• Fr. Mark-Mary draws a parallel between the experience of being looked upon (such as when preaching or performing music) and the unique suffering of Jesus being observed—sometimes indifferently—while giving everything on the cross.
• He shares personal experiences:
  • As a young priest, seeing people fall asleep during homilies—“not the best feeling in the world.”
  • Catholic Underground events, where musical performers play for distracted crowds.
• These moments serve as a relatable entry point to understanding how painful it might be to be ignored or mocked when making oneself vulnerable.

  “It would be painful, hurtful for you to be playing your original song... and other people are not interested, they’re not receiving it.” (Fr. Mark-Mary, 05:37)

4. Standing at Calvary: Jesus’ Experience

[06:05–08:18]

• The reflection shifts: Jesus crucified is not just offering a song, but “giving his entire life” for the crowd before him.
• Most in the painting are attentive, yet some appear indifferent, some even mocking or hostile.

  “…here he is, like, giving his life for them. Here he is dying for their sins, and he can see them being disinterested. He can see those who are not paying attention, and he can hear those who are mocking him. What does this do to Jesus? How does he experience this?” (Fr. Mark-Mary, 06:35)

• The consolation of those who respond—Mary, St. John, Mary Magdalene—is juxtaposed with the pain caused by their suffering, especially Mary’s.

  “In seeing his mother and seeing her heart being pierced by the sword and seeing her tears—does this not pierce him with a greater pain and a greater depth than the thorns on his head, the nails through his hands and feet?” (Fr. Mark-Mary, 08:06)

5. Personal Application: Mirror and Window

[08:18–09:22]

• The painting acts as both a window to the past and a mirror to our present spiritual state.
• Listeners are prompted to ask themselves: Are we attentive or indifferent? Do we truly receive Christ’s gift or are we among the “disinterested crowd”?
• The mystery prompts reflection on personal identity through Christ’s sacrifice:

  “Does the fact that we have been purchased by the blood of the Lamb... define us? Does that speak to us like our worth, our dignity, our identity?” (Fr. Mark-Mary, 09:20)

6. Call to Prayer and Meditation

[09:22–09:56]

• Fr. Mark-Mary directs the listener to “go to Calvary” in prayer, imagining Christ looking upon them.

  “He’s able to see you and to hear you. What will he see as he looks upon you? What will he hear as he listens to you?” (Fr. Mark-Mary, 09:22)

• He offers simple words to speak from the heart: “I love you, Jesus. I adore you, Jesus. I receive this gift, Jesus.”

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the painting’s perspective:
  “It’s a painting where the viewer’s in the place of Jesus and you’re looking out. And so it’s what would he see?” (03:41, Fr. Mark-Mary)
• On the pain of indifference:
  “Here he is, like, giving his life for them. Here he is dying for their sins, and he can see them being disinterested. He can see those who are not paying attention, and he can hear those who are mocking him.” (06:35, Fr. Mark-Mary)
• On the sword piercing Mary’s heart and Jesus’:
  “Does this not pierce him with a greater pain and a greater depth than the thorns on his head, the nails through his hands and feet?” (08:06, Fr. Mark-Mary)
• On response to Jesus’ sacrifice:
  “What will he see as he looks upon you? What will he hear as he listens to you?” (09:22, Fr. Mark-Mary)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Artist and Artwork Introduction: 01:07–02:17
• Painting Description: 02:21–03:24
• Life Experience Parallel: 03:37–06:05
• Crucifixion Reflection: 06:05–08:18
• Personal Application: 08:18–09:22
• Call to Prayer: 09:22–09:56

---

Tone and Style

Throughout, Fr. Mark-Mary speaks gently and personally, weaving together art, scripture, and lived experience. His tone is reflective, humble, and inviting—encouraging listeners not just to contemplate the scene of Calvary, but to step into it spiritually and respond with open hearts.

---

Closing

The episode moves from meditation into praying the decade of the Rosary (content not summarized here) and concludes with gentle encouragement to continue the journey.
“Poco a poco, friends, God bless you.” (14:09, Fr. Mark-Mary)

---

Transcript

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

Mark Mary with Franciscan Friars with 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

[A]

of grace for the whole world.

[B]

The Rosary in a Year is brought to you by Ascension.

[A]

This is day 163.

[B]

To download the prayer plan for Rosary in a year, visit ascensionpress.com rosary in a year or text R I Y to 33 777. 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. No matter what app you're listening in, remember to tap, follow or subscribe for your daily notifications. Today we will be meditating upon and

[A]

praying with the fifth sorrowful Mystery, the Crucifixion of our Lord, with help from

[B]

a painting entitled what Our Lord Saw

[A]

from the Cross by the artist James Tissot. Now an introduction to our artist and artwork.

[B]

James Tissot was born in the year 1836. He died in the year 1902, and he was a French painter, illustrator and caricaturist. He was born to a drapery, merchant and milliner and decided to pursue a career in art at a young age, coming to incorporate elements of realism, early Impressionism, and academic art into his work. He's best known for a variety of genre paintings of contemporary European high society produced during the peak of his career, which focused on the people and women's fashions of the Belle epoch and Victorian England. But he would also explore a number of other subjects, including biblical ones. Tissot's painting that we're looking at today that's entitled what Our Lord Saw from the Cross, was done between the years 1886 and 1894, and it's part of his extensive series of 350 watercolors depicting the life of Christ, which he undertook after experiencing a revival of faith in 1885.

[A]

Okay, now a description of our painting.

[B]

Scattered across the rocky hills of a mountainside, dozens of faces look up, depicted in a vibrant and impressionistic style. The people are all dressed in draping robes and are seized in shades of expressive, harrowing emotion. Roman soldiers, rabbis, foreigners, commoners, distinguished men on horseback. Groups of men and groups of women share common focal point to their fixated

[A]

gaze, which is directly at the viewer.

[B]

On White Rock, a group gathers in the foreground Three women, modestly veiled, and

[A]

a young man with clasped hands mourn

[B]

the subject of everyone's gaze at the very bottom.

[A]

Two pierced and bloody feet protrude from the bottom edge of the painting.

[B]

A woman with her hands folded, head

[A]

covered with flowing auburn locks, leans up to them, eyes wide open in sorrowful devotion.

[B]

Olive trees line the perimeter of the scene.

[A]

In the back, behind much of the

[B]

crowds, is an open tomb. So I'm going to start with something with a little bit more maybe Levitas

[A]

moved to that which is of the most, the highest level of gravitas.

[B]

So Tissot's painting, it has a unique approach. It's a painting where the viewer's in the place of Jesus and you're looking out.

[A]

And so it's what would he see?

[B]

What would our Lord have seen? And it's an experience that maybe a lot of people have. Certainly have it as a priest preaching from the pulpit, where you're aware of others looking at you. You're the one speaking in this case, and all eyes are kind of on you, or at least most of the eyes are on you. And so I'm just keenly aware. For example, my first year of priesthood, I just remember very clearly making people fall asleep. Three homilies in a row. It was a friar, it was a missionary of charity, and then it was one of our homeless men at a mass at the homeless shelter. And it's not the best feeling in the world, right? You're up there and you spent time putting together this homily, and you understand people are tired, whatever's going on, or maybe you're just going too long, and people are just falling asleep. You know, not the best. Or in New York, we run an event, like an evangelization event called Catholic Underground. And the first part of Catholic Underground is a holy hour. And then we come downstairs and we go to the basement, which is the underground part. And there's often a musical performance. And there's probably three or four hundred young adults that come down to the basement. And really, so many of them are there to, like, hang out. They're there to connect and to see their friends and spend time together. But we also always have some sort of musical guest, some sort of musical performer who's up on stage and playing. And it's really difficult for them because they're up there, like, baring their souls, playing their music, and people are chatting and they're talking, and you can hear them up on the stage. And so we always kind of have to, like, prep them like, hey, if you're going to do this, here's what's going to happen. You're going to be up there and you're going to be vulnerable and you're going to be playing. But a lot of people, like, they're not just here for the concert. They're really here to, like, sort of hang out and socialize.

[A]

And.

[B]

And I start here because I think that's something that we can relate to. Like, we can understand how it would be painful, hurtful for you to be playing your original song again, burying your soul, giving this gift of yourself. And other people are interested, they're not receiving it. And I'm sure many of us have a lot of different ways in which we've experienced this. And now let's apply this and look at this in Jesus experience

[A]

as he's there crucified and he looks down from the cross, there he is, like, not just sharing his music, but there he is giving himself, giving his entire life for all of those who are there at Calvary.

[B]

And Tissot's painting has most of the people there, like, paying attention to Jesus.

[A]

There's a couple who aren't paying attention. There's some who are mocking. And we of course know there's the one thief who mocks Jesus. And so many of the soldiers who mocked Jesus, like, here he is, like, giving his life for them. Here he is dying for their sins, and he can see them being disinterested. He can see those who are not paying attention, and he can hear those who are mocking him. What does this do to Jesus? How does he experience this? But then on the other hand, we have Mary, his mother, we have St. John, we have Mary Magdalene. And what does he experience when he looks at them? I'm going to invite you to spend some time praying with this, to reflect on that. In one hand, seeing them before him, seeing them drink deeply of what he is offering, seeing them receive totally what he is giving, perhaps that's some source of consolation. And at the other hand, in seeing his mother and seeing her heart being pierced by the sword and seeing her tears, Does this not pierce him with a greater pain and a greater depth then the thorns on his head, the nails through his hands and feet? And we're invited today to place ourselves before Jesus, to place ourselves on Calvary. This painting is like a window to the past, but also like a mirror. We can reflect on all of those and how they interacted there at Calvary. The soldiers, St. John, Our lady, the good thief. But also it offers Us a window to reflect. Are we receiving this gift here and now? Are we indifferent? Do we care?

[B]

Does the fact that we have been

[A]

purchased by the blood of the Lamb, does that like define us? Does that speak to us like our worth, our dignity, our identity? So, my brothers and sisters, we pray today, let's go to Calvary and let's be aware of Jesus on the cross. Being aware of us. He's able to see you and to hear you. What will he see as he looks upon you? What will he hear as he listens to you? Look at him and speak to him. I love you, Jesus. I adore you, Jesus. I receive this gift. Jesus. 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 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. 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.

[B]

Poco. Friends, God bless you.