Day 169: The Faithful “Yes”

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Day 169: The Faithful 'Yes'"

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

---

Introduction

In the 169th episode of The Rosary in a Year podcast hosted by Ascension, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, leads listeners through a profound meditation on the faithful "Yes" exemplified by the Virgin Mary during the Annunciation. This episode delves deep into the theological and artistic significance of Mary's consent to God's plan, encouraging listeners to strengthen their own relationship with Jesus and Mary through the Rosary.

---

Today's Focus: The Annunciation Mystery and Van Eyck's Painting

Fr. Mark-Mary Ames begins the session by introducing the first joyful mystery of the Rosary: the Annunciation. He ties this mystery to a masterpiece by Jan van Eyck, titled The Annunciation, painted between 1434 and 1436. This artwork serves as a focal point for the day's meditation, illustrating the profound encounter between Mary and the Angel Gabriel.

---

Art Description and Symbolism

An Art Historian provides a detailed description of Van Eyck's Annunciation (00:36–03:17). The painting features the Virgin Mary and the Angel Gabriel in a Gothic vaulted hall adorned with stained glass windows. Gabriel is depicted with vibrant, eye-patterned wings and regal attire, while Mary is portrayed with a rich ultramarine blue gown and a tiara, seated before an open book with blooming lilies nearby. The floor is intricately etched with Old Testament scenes, symbolizing the fulfillment of prophecy through the New Testament.

Symbolic Details Explored:

• Architectural Styles: The juxtaposition of Romanesque and Gothic elements in the church interior symbolizes the transition from the Old to the New Testament (03:24–05:15).

• Floor Tiles: Depictions of David and Samson foreshadow Jesus' ultimate victory and Mary's pivotal role in salvation history (05:16–07:00).

• Inscribed Words: Gabriel's words are written normally, while Mary's response is upside down, signifying her direct address to God rather than to the observer (07:01–07:30).

---

Mary's Obedience and Fiat: Key Insights and Quotes

Fr. Ames delves into the meaning of Mary's "fiat" or her wholehearted "Yes" to God (07:31–10:05). He emphasizes that Mary's consent is a model of complete trust and obedience, stating:

"Mary's response is written in Latin, but it's also upside down, which is different from the words of the angel Gabriel, which are written in Latin, but are clearly visible... Mary's fiat is directed to God, reflecting her pure obedience and unwavering trust." (07:31–09:46)

He further quotes Mother Teresa to illustrate the nature of surrender:

"Take whatever He gives and give whatever He takes with a big smile." (06:55–07:15)

Fr. Ames explains that Mary's "Yes" signifies a deep relationship with God, inviting listeners to emulate her trust in their own lives, especially amidst challenges.

---

Theological Reflections on Trust in God

The conversation transitions into a theological reflection on placing trust and hope in God rather than worldly entities. Fr. Ames underscores the importance of seeing God's hand in all circumstances, both joyful and difficult:

"Our trust and our hope are above all of these circumstances, and they go directly to God... We don't place our hope in princes or horses and chariots, but in a God who speaks to us, who invites us, who forms us, who transforms us, and who carries us through life." (08:01–09:49)

He encourages listeners to respond to God's invitations with radical surrender, much like Mary did, fostering a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him.

---

Prayer Segment

The episode transitions into a period of prayer, guiding listeners through the Lord's Prayer and multiple Hail Marys, culminating in the Glory Be. This segment reinforces the themes discussed, allowing participants to internalize the meditation through prayer.

---

Conclusion

Fr. Mark-Mary Ames concludes the episode by expressing gratitude for the listeners' participation and reiterating the journey ahead:

"Thanks so much for joining me and praying with me today. I look forward to continuing this journey with you again tomorrow. Poco a poco. Friends, God bless you all." (14:01–14:05)

Listeners are encouraged to continue their daily Rosary practice, building upon the insights gained to cultivate a stronger bond with Jesus and Mary.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Mother Teresa on Surrender:

  "Take whatever He gives and give whatever He takes with a big smile." (07:15)

• Trust in God Over Worldly Powers:

  "We don't place our hope in princes or horses and chariots, but in a God who speaks to us, who invites us, who forms us, who transforms us, and who carries us through life." (08:47)

• Mary's Fiat Directed to God:

  "Mary's response is directed to God, reflecting her pure obedience and unwavering trust." (07:30)

---

Closing Thoughts

This episode of The Rosary in a Year serves as a profound exploration of Mary's faithful "Yes" and its implications for personal spirituality. Through the lens of art, scripture, and theological reflection, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames invites listeners to deepen their prayer life and emulate Mary's steadfast trust in God's plan.

For more resources and the complete prayer plan, visit Ascension Press - Rosary in a Year.

Transcript

[Mark Mary]

Foreign Mark Mary with Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and this is the Rosary in a 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.

[Franciscan Friar]

The Rosary in a Year is brought.

[Mark Mary]

To you by Ascension.

[Franciscan Friar]

This is day 169.

[Mark Mary]

To download the prayer plan for Rosary in a year, visit ascensionpress.comrosaryinayear or text RIY to 33777. You'll get an outline of how we're gonna pray each month and it's a great way to track your progress.

[Franciscan Friar]

The best place to listen to this.

[Mark Mary]

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. No matter what app you're listening in, remember to tap, follow or subscribe for your daily notifications.

[Franciscan Friar]

Today we will be meditating upon and praying with the first joyful mystery, the Annunciation, with help from a painting by the artist Jan van Eyck entitled the Annunciation and now a brief introduction to our artist and artwork. Our artist Jan van Eyck was born in the year 1390, he died in the year 1441 and he was a pioneering Flemish painter and one of the most significant figures of the early Netherlandish and Northern Renaissance art movements. Known for his mastery of oil painting and meticulous realism, Van Eyck revolutionized artistic techniques and introduced a level of detail and naturalism that profoundly influenced European art. The Annunciation that we'll be looking at today was painted between the years 1434 and 1436. Our painting today is an oil painting. It was originally painted on wood, but it was later transferred to canvas and.

[Art Historian]

Now a description of our painting. In this Flemish depiction of the Annunciation, the Virgin Mary sits opposite the Angel Gabriel, both adorned in ornate robes in a Gothic vaulted hall with stained glass windows. Gabriel, fair haired, has colorful wings dotted with eye like patterns reminiscent of peacock feathers. He wears a crown and a richly decorated robe of gold and scarlet embellished with opulent jewels. Mary, with blonde hair, wears a tiara and gown of rich ultramarine blue cinched with a red belt. She is seated before a table with an open book, her hands raised to shoulder height and gently opened her gaze towards the viewer. A bouquet of blooming lilies rests before her and Old Testament scenes are etched into the floor. A dove descends from an upper window, emanating thin golden rays and approaching the Virgin Mary. The words Gabriel speaks and then Mary's response are inscribed in fine gold lettering.

[Franciscan Friar]

Now our Painting Today by Jan van Eyck. It really is a masterpiece. It's obviously visually striking, but also symbolically so rich, so full of meaning. And before we dive into our particular focus, just I want to explore a couple of the symbolic details included by van Eyck. First, if you note the architecture, you'll notice that the upper story of the church interior is in a Romanesque style, while the lower story is a Gothic style. Romanesque style being older than transitioning into Gothic, which is a newer style of art. And this is to represent the movement taking place and the Annunciation as the Old Testament is being fulfilled by the new here, namely by the incarnation of the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. Similarly, if you notice the tiles on the floor, they are depicting different events in salvation. History of battle and victory of God's chosen ones, the two that we have clear access to show David conquering Goliath and then Samson destroying the Philistine temple. These are Old Testament precursors to the ultimate victory of Jesus, right? A victory quickly impending by his taking flesh. But also it's appropriate, right, insofar as Mary has a role in this victory, as their ongoing fiat will crush the head of Satan. Like with the symbolism of the architecture, Van Eyck is clearly communicating that history has been building up to this moment, this moment of the Annunciation and incarnation, and that it's not a break from what has been, but a fulfillment of what has been. A last little detail is that we notice that Mary's response is written in Latin, but it's also upside down, which is different from the words of the angel Gabriel, which are written in Latin, but are clearly visible, like as normal text would be to the viewer. And what van Eyck is doing here is using this little stylistic detail to point out that Mary's Behold, the handmaiden of the Lord is directed to God from earth. We can read the words of the angel, but then Mary's words are flipped because they're not directed to us, they're not directed primarily to the angel, but they are directed to a divine recipient. The angel speaks to a person, right, to Mary. But Mary is speaking to God. So I want us to spend some time with this last image, the image of Mary speaking directly to God, right? Her obedience is to God, as her trust is in God. One of Mother Teresa's sayings, that's one of my favorites, is take whatever he gives and give whatever he takes with a big smile. The he, of course, alluding to God and the way in which God will give and take. It's Going to be through very concrete circumstances and events, more so than by a direct and unmediated purification, which we could see, for example, in the angel Gabriel coming directly to Mary. This is very clearly an invitation from God, but also for us, like, we can see this in the call, right, to fidelity to the duties of our vocation. So it's directly from God. Certainly that can happen, but it's gonna be extraordinary, not to be expected. And we can see this as Mary journeys through a variety of difficulties and sufferings, including the passion of our Lord. Similarly, like, we can see certain health struggles or natural disasters happening. And technically, right, being allowed by God, though not directly willed by him. And then also there's, like, what events or circumstances God wants us to not just passively accept, but actively try and remedy. So in all of this, we have God either, like, with his hand extended in an offering or his hand extended in invitation. Either he's giving this to us or he's inviting us, like, to bring it to him, to carry it, to traverse.

[Prayer Leader]

It, we with Him.

[Franciscan Friar]

But ultimately, like, our trust and our hope are above all of these circumstances, and they go directly to God. Like, we don't place our hope in princes or horses and chariots, right, to quote a psalm, but in God, in a God who speaks to us, who invites us, who forms us, who transforms us, and who carries us through the unfolding events and circumstances and particularities and realities of life. Again, like, we don't see all of this happening. It's just radically and totally, like, arbitrary or purely as obstacles. But as I've said, like, we want to see in all that's happening the hand of God, right?

[Assistant]

It can be a hand of offering.

[Franciscan Friar]

Or a hand of invitation. And particularly in the difficult moments, there's this invitation to radical surrender. There's this invitation to come to him.

[Assistant]

And say, like, help me.

[Franciscan Friar]

I can't do this alone. Like, I don't get it, but I trust you. May your grace carry me. But like Mary, who pondered everything in her heart, who took it all in.

[Prayer Leader]

And dialogued through it all with God.

[Franciscan Friar]

We keep our primary conversation, our primary focus and hope and confidence in God. And it's true that the world often doesn't understand it. Like, they may not understand, like, why you're being faithful. Like, they may not understand your fidelity or your purity or your obedience. Like, it might seem like what you're doing is upside down, but that's okay. We're not talking to them, right? Your yes is to God.

[Assistant]

Your focus is him.

[Franciscan Friar]

Now, Mary's Obedience, her fiat.

[Assistant]

It was a yes to whatever God.

[Franciscan Friar]

Would give and whatever he would take.

[Assistant]

For her whole life. And as we said again and again.

[Franciscan Friar]

And again, he was faithful to her. He delivered her.

[Assistant]

He conquered the chaos, the disorder, the suffering and the darkness.

[Franciscan Friar]

By our yes to Him. Already now we share in that victory. So asking for a greater capacity to stay in trust of God, to see his hand of offering or invitation to all things, and to keep our primary like conversation with him and not the world with Mary.

[Participant]

Let us now pray in the name.

[Assistant]

Of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Congregation]

Amen.

[Franciscan Friar]

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

[Assistant]

On earth as it is in heaven.

[Congregation]

Give us this day our daily bread.

[Assistant]

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

[Franciscan Friar]

And lead us not into temptation, but.

[Assistant]

Deliver us from evil.

[Congregation]

Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord.

[Franciscan Friar]

Is with the Blessed art thou among.

[Assistant]

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

[Prayer Leader]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Participant]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Congregation]

Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Assistant]

The Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Leader]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Participant]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Congregation]

Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, The Lord.

[Assistant]

Is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Leader]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Participant]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Congregation]

Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, The Lord.

[Franciscan Friar]

Is with the blessed art thou among.

[Assistant]

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

[Prayer Leader]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Participant]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Congregation]

Amen.

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

[Assistant]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Leader]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Participant]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Congregation]

Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Assistant]

The Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Leader]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Participant]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Congregation]

Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Assistant]

The Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Leader]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Participant]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Congregation]

Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord.

[Assistant]

Is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Leader]

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for.

[Participant]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Congregation]

Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Assistant]

The Lord is with the. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Leader]

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for.

[Participant]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Congregation]

Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Assistant]

The Lord is with the. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Leader]

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for.

[Participant]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Congregation]

Amen.

[Assistant]

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is.

[Participant]

Now and ever shall be, world without end.

[Congregation]

Amen.

[Prayer Leader]

In the name of the Father and.

[Assistant]

Of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Congregation]

Amen.

[Assistant]

All right.

[Franciscan Friar]

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 you all.