Day 177: Earthen Vessels

Summary

The Rosary in a Year: Day 177 - "Earthen Vessels"

Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Podcast: The Rosary in a Year
Episode Title: Day 177: Earthen Vessels
Release Date: June 26, 2025

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Introduction

In Day 177 of The Rosary in a Year podcast, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames delves into the profound theme of human fragility and divine grace through the lens of the Transfiguration, one of the Rosary’s luminous mysteries. This episode seamlessly blends theological insights, historical art analysis, and personal reflections to guide listeners deeper into their prayer life and relationship with Jesus and Mary.

Exploring the Transfiguration Icon

Fr. Mark-Mary begins by introducing the episode’s focal point: a Byzantine-style icon titled The Savior's Transfiguration, traditionally attributed to Theophanes the Greek. He provides a comprehensive overview of the icon's artistic and historical significance:

• Artist and Historical Context: Theophanes the Greek, a pivotal figure in 14th-century Byzantine art, is renowned for reshaping Russian medieval iconography. Although there is some debate about the icon's attribution due to stylistic variations, it remains a quintessential example of late Byzantine artistry, dating back to around 1403, just before the fall of Constantinople.

• Icon Description: The icon portrays Christ in radiant white at the top, surrounded by his divine glory depicted through concentric geometric patterns and sharp white rays. Flanking Christ are the prophets Moses and Elijah on red mountain peaks. Below, the three disciples—Peter, James, and John—are shown descending the mountain in fear, their dark robes illuminated by pale blue light emanating from Jesus, symbolizing the moment of divine revelation (02:44).

Notable Quote:

"Icons are written and not painted as they are viewed more as visual theology than just like artistic creation."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames (00:41)

Theological Significance of Icons

Fr. Mark-Mary transitions into a discussion on the spirituality and theology of icons, emphasizing their role in Eastern Christianity:

• Incarnation and Visibility: Icons testify to the Incarnation—the belief that God became visible in Jesus Christ. They serve as "windows to heaven," fostering contemplation and communion with the divine rather than mere aesthetic appreciation.

• Spiritual Engagement: The deliberate flatness and distorted perspectives in icons are intentional, directing the viewer’s focus towards spiritual truths and encouraging prayerful reflection.

• Iconography as Worship: Unlike secular art, icons are created through prayer, fasting, and adherence to strict theological guidelines, making them a form of "visual theology."

Notable Quote:

"The goal of an icon is to lead us into contemplation and communion with the thrice Holy God."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames (03:20)

The Transfiguration: Lessons on Human Fragility and Divine Grace

Focusing on the Transfiguration mystery, Fr. Mark-Mary draws parallels between the biblical event and the human condition:

• Peter’s Fragility: Referencing 2 Peter 1:16-17, Fr. Mark-Mary reflects on how Peter, despite witnessing Jesus' divine glory, denied Him three times during the Passion. This underscores the inherent fragility and weakness of humans—the "earthen vessels" (08:03).

• Daily Communion and Vigilance: Acknowledging human weaknesses necessitates a continuous and vigilant relationship with Jesus. Fr. Mark-Mary stresses the importance of daily prayer and sacramental life to sustain faith and resist temptation.

• Lifelong Transformation: Transformation in Christ is portrayed as an ongoing journey, not a singular moment. While the Transfiguration was a pivotal mountain experience, genuine transformation encompasses both mountains and valleys, light and shadows (10:45).

Notable Quote:

"We truly do carry this treasure in earthen vessels... sincerely believing does not automatically mean faithfully doing."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames (08:03)

Reflection on Grace and Mercy: Fr. Mark-Mary emphasizes that recognizing our weaknesses should inspire both compassion and a steadfast commitment to seeking divine grace daily. He highlights Peter’s ultimate return to Jesus after his denial as a testament to the boundless mercy available to all believers (10:00).

Notable Quote:

"May our recognition of our frail humanity not be a source of discouragement, but may it lead us to an ever total abandonment to divine grace and commitment to remaining in the radical closeness to Jesus that we call union with God."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames (10:20)

Conclusion and Prayer

The episode culminates with Fr. Mark-Mary’s heartfelt prayer, invoking divine grace and the intercession of Mary. The recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, Hail Marys, and Glory Be serves as a practical application of the discussed themes, reinforcing the importance of daily prayer and reliance on God’s mercy.

Closing Remarks: Fr. Mark-Mary thanks the listeners for joining the prayer session and encourages them to continue their journey of faith and transformation, hinting at the continuity of this spiritual expedition in future episodes (14:50).

Notable Quote:

"In following Jesus, right, we are signing up for a lifelong journey... transformation in Christ doesn't just happen in a moment on a mountain, but it takes a lifetime."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames (10:30)

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Key Takeaways

1. Icons as Spiritual Tools: Beyond their artistic beauty, icons like The Savior's Transfiguration are profound theological expressions meant to draw believers into deeper contemplation and connection with the divine.

2. Human Fragility: The episode underscores the vulnerability inherent in human nature, using Peter’s denial as a poignant example of how even the faithful can falter, emphasizing the need for continual reliance on God’s grace.

3. Commitment to Daily Prayer: Building a daily habit of prayer and maintaining close communion with Jesus and Mary are essential for spiritual growth and steadfastness in the faith journey.

4. Lifelong Transformation: True transformation in Christ is an enduring process, marked by both high and low moments, requiring persistent effort and divine assistance.

5. Mercy and Grace: Acknowledging our weaknesses opens the door to experiencing God’s mercy, fostering a compassionate and humble approach towards ourselves and others.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Fr. Mark-Mary Ames (00:41):
  "Icons are written and not painted as they are viewed more as visual theology than just like artistic creation."

• Fr. Mark-Mary Ames (03:20):
  "The goal of an icon is to lead us into contemplation and communion with the thrice Holy God."

• Fr. Mark-Mary Ames (08:03):
  "We truly do carry this treasure in earthen vessels... sincerely believing does not automatically mean faithfully doing."

• Fr. Mark-Mary Ames (10:20):
  "May our recognition of our frail humanity not be a source of discouragement, but may it lead us to an ever total abandonment to divine grace and commitment to remaining in the radical closeness to Jesus that we call union with God."

• Fr. Mark-Mary Ames (10:30):
  "In following Jesus, right, we are signing up for a lifelong journey... transformation in Christ doesn't just happen in a moment on a mountain, but it takes a lifetime."

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This episode of The Rosary in a Year skillfully intertwines art, scripture, and personal introspection, offering listeners both intellectual and spiritual nourishment. Fr. Mark-Mary Ames’ insights encourage a deeper appreciation of the Rosary and its mysteries, fostering a more intimate and resilient faith journey.

Transcript

[Mark Mary]

Foreign Mark Mary with Franciscan Friars of 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. The Rosary in a Year is brought to you by Ascension. This is day 177. 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.

[Franciscan Friar]

Full rosary with myself and other friars.

[Mark Mary]

I encourage you to pick up a copy of the Rosary in the 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 will be reflecting on Today we will be meditating upon and praying with the fourth luminous mystery, the Transfiguration, with help from an icon entitled the Savior's Transfiguration, written by Theophanes the Greek. Okay now, brief introduction to our artist and the icon. Today we have a Byzantine style icon that has traditionally been attributed to Theophanes the Greek, and it exemplifies late 14th to early 15th century Russian iconography blending spiritual intensity with dramatic composition. So Theophanes the Greek was a Byzantine master who reshaped Russian medieval art and he was one of the most influential iconographers of the 14th century. He was born in Constantinople. While at one point this icon was confidently attributed to Theophanes, there is some debate now due to some stylistic inconsistencies with his other works. So the timeline of the writing of this icon, right in the 14th to 15th century, was a time of a final flowering of Byzantine art before the fall of Constantinople. This particular icon was written around the year 1403 and now a description of our icon. So this icon style depiction of the Transfiguration is rendered on a flat vertical plane. At the top Christ stands radiant in.

[Unknown Friar 1]

Pure white with a textured golden halo.

[Mark Mary]

Behind him his glory is revealed with layered geometric shapes in concentric circles and pale blues intersected by sharp white rays that convey his divine radiance. On either side of Christ stand the prophets Moses and Elijah, each positioned on their own red mountain peak. On either side is a small scene of Jesus leading three disciples up and then down the mountain, their posture demonstrating the experience changed them. In the top, left and right corners, small blue angels hover. Below. Three disciples are shown recoiling down the mountain in fear. Two turn their faces away, shielding their eyes, while one looks directly at Jesus. Their dark robes are struck by beams of pale blue light emanating from Jesus, highlighting the moment of divine revelation as it physically and spiritually touches them. All right, so before diving into some of the specifics of our icon today, let's just have a quick general introduction to icons and spirituality of icons, with a little caveat that these are a deep part of many people's spiritualities, particularly within Eastern Christianity, such as Byzantine Catholics, which I didn't grow up in. So I am speaking into it as a bit of an outsider and I think that's just an important note. So the key theological like, foundation for icons is the Incarnation, right? That the invisible God was incarnate in the womb of the Virgin Mary and took flesh like became visible. The invisible God became visible in Jesus in the Incarnation. And icons give witness to the fact that spiritual realities can be communicated and even made present through the material world. So icons are not simply seen as art, but as windows to heaven, an expression that I'm taking from the Orthodox Bishop Callistos Ware. And their end isn't just simply like admiration of beauty. They are intended to lead us into contemplation and communion with the thrice Holy One, the thrice Holy God. So for example, the flatness or having the perspective reversed or intentionally distorted is. It's all intentional and its intention is to draw the viewer in and keep the focus on spiritual realities rather than like earthly realism, to draw us to prayer rather than just saying, oh, that's so pretty. Right. Lastly, we say that icons are written and not painted as they are viewed more as visual theology than just like artistic creation. And the iconographer, he writes the icon generally while praying and fasting and following strict theological guidelines. And I'll say this, if anyone's interest by this brief introduction has been peaked, I'd really encourage you to do some more like, reading on the subject as I. I do believe that like some formation and knowing what's happening with icons, like, really can open up a whole new avenue and space of prayer. It was important to me that we included at least one icon for our rosary in a year pilgrimage that we're on here. And I do think, though that it is quite appropriate that the mystery we have for our icon is the transfiguration, right? As it is the mystery where the invisible glory of Jesus is momentarily manifest. And it even transfigures the material world, right? Not only his flesh, but even his garment becomes white as light. And we see in our icon Jesus on the mountain, and Moses and Elijah also on their mountains, right, Alluding to some of their own mountaintop experiences. But also this consistent theme of the mountain being the place of theophany, of divine revelation, manifestation. As we mentioned, a little callback to our description. We see kind of on the left and the right, Jesus leaning up and then down the mountain. Peter, James and John. And that's where I want us to, if you will, like, rest and to dig in. This communicates that there is this before and after in the lives, minds and hearts of Peter, James and John and their witnessing of Jesus being transfigured. This draws me particularly into a dialogue with Peter because obviously this is an unforgettable moment. And we do have Peter's own words attesting to this and to the transfiguration. In the second letter of Peter, and this is chapter one, he writes, for we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to the power and coming of our Lord Jesus, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was born to him by the majestic glory. This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. We heard this voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. Peter saw Jesus transfigured and he heard.

[Unknown Friar 1]

The voice of God, who he refers.

[Mark Mary]

To here as the majestic glory. And yet he still denied him three times during his Passion. And I'm just like Peter, how did this happen? And the answer that came to me at least, and that we see Peter honestly giving like a witness to through his life, is simply the fragility of man. We truly do carry this treasure in earthen vessels. And this is just true. Sincerely believing does not automatically mean faithfully doing. There's a difference between wanting to do the good and trying to do the good and actually doing the good. And this is true about you and me and everybody else. And hopefully this truth can move us to compassion towards ourselves and others when we do fail. This reminder as well that one of the three witnesses of the transfiguration still sinned against Jesus during His Passion. We really do carry this treasure in earthen vessels. But also, if we acknowledge our weakness, we need to be extra vigilant about keeping close to Jesus, about coming to Jesus in prayer and sacrament, because we need Him. And not just once, but every day because without his grace, we will quickly abandon him. Honestly, we have to kind of like aggressively avoid temptation if we recognize our weakness. Like, yeah, it can move us to compassion, but it also has to move us to stay close to Jesus every day. And my friends, in following Jesus, right, we are signing up for a lifelong journey. The transfiguration, it happened in a moment on a mountain, but transformation, like our transformation in Christ, it doesn't just happen in a moment on a mountain, but it takes a lifetime. And in that journey, yeah, there's going to be some mountain experiences, hopefully, but also there's going to be a whole lot of time spent in the shadows and valleys. And in closing here, it's good to note, like, what Peter did get. And I think in some ways maybe the most important lesson that we can take away from Peter is that he knew, right, that even after sinning, he could still throw himself into Jesus mercy with abandon, like, receive forgiveness and begin again. So today we contemplate the glory of Jesus in the transfiguration. And may a holy desire to share in this glory be inflamed in our hearts and our minds. And may our recognition of our frail humanity not be a source of discouragement, but may it lead us to an ever total abandonment to divine grace and commitment to remaining in the radical closeness to Jesus that we call union with God. Asking for this grace with Mary, let us now pray in the name of the Father and of the Son and.

[Unknown Friar 2]

Of the Holy Spirit.

[Unknown Friar 3]

Amen.

[Mark Mary]

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

[Unknown Friar 4]

On earth as it is in heaven.

[Mark Mary]

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.

[Unknown Friar 5]

Deliver us from evil.

[Unknown Friar 3]

Amen.

[Unknown Friar 2]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord.

[Unknown Friar 1]

Is with the Blessed art thou among.

[Mark Mary]

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

[Unknown Friar 4]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Franciscan Friar]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Unknown Friar 3]

Amen.

[Unknown Friar 2]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Unknown Friar 1]

The Lord is with the Blessed art.

[Mark Mary]

Thou among women, and blessed is the.

[Unknown Friar 5]

Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Unknown Friar 4]

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for.

[Franciscan Friar]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Unknown Friar 3]

Amen.

[Unknown Friar 2]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Unknown Friar 1]

The Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the.

[Unknown Friar 5]

Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Unknown Friar 4]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Franciscan Friar]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Unknown Friar 3]

Amen.

[Unknown Friar 2]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord.

[Unknown Friar 1]

Is with the Blessed art thou among.

[Mark Mary]

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

[Unknown Friar 4]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Franciscan Friar]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Unknown Friar 3]

Amen.

[Unknown Friar 2]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Unknown Friar 1]

The Lord is with the Blessed art.

[Mark Mary]

Thou among women and blessed is the.

[Unknown Friar 5]

Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Unknown Friar 4]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Franciscan Friar]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Unknown Friar 3]

Amen.

[Unknown Friar 2]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Unknown Friar 1]

The Lord is with the blessed art.

[Mark Mary]

Thou among women and blessed is the.

[Unknown Friar 5]

Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Unknown Friar 4]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Franciscan Friar]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Unknown Friar 4]

Amen.

[Unknown Friar 2]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Unknown Friar 1]

The Lord is with the Blessed art.

[Mark Mary]

Thou among women, and blessed is the.

[Unknown Friar 5]

Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Unknown Friar 4]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Franciscan Friar]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Unknown Friar 3]

Amen.

[Unknown Friar 2]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Unknown Friar 1]

The Lord is with the Blessed art.

[Mark Mary]

Thou among women, and blessed is the.

[Unknown Friar 5]

Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Unknown Friar 4]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Franciscan Friar]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Unknown Friar 3]

Amen.

[Unknown Friar 2]

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

[Unknown Friar 1]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed.

[Unknown Friar 5]

Is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Unknown Friar 4]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Franciscan Friar]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Unknown Friar 3]

Amen.

[Unknown Friar 2]

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

[Unknown Friar 1]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed.

[Unknown Friar 5]

Is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Unknown Friar 4]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Franciscan Friar]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Unknown Friar 3]

Amen.

[Unknown Friar 2]

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

[Mark Mary]

Now and ever shall be, world without end.

[Unknown Friar 3]

Amen.

[Franciscan Friar]

In the name of the Father and.

[Mark Mary]

Of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Unknown Friar 3]

Amen.

[Mark Mary]

All right, friends, thanks for joining me.

[Franciscan Friar]

And praying with me today. And I look forward to continuing this journey with you again tomorrow. Poco.

[Mark Mary]

Poco. Friends, God bless you all.