Day 184: Beyond the Tomb - The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)

Summary3 min read

Podcast Summary: The Rosary in a Year (Day 184: Beyond the Tomb)
Release Date: July 3, 2025
Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Produced by: Ascension

Introduction

In Day 184 of Ascension’s Rosary in a Year podcast, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames delves deep into the first Glorious Mystery of the Rosary: The Resurrection. Through a thoughtful meditation inspired by both sacred art and theological insights, Fr. Ames invites listeners to deepen their relationship with Jesus and Mary, fostering a transformative prayer practice.

Meditating with Sacred Art

Fr. Ames begins the episode by introducing Annibale Karachi's masterpiece, "Holy Women at Christ's Tomb". Providing a rich historical context, he outlines Karachi's influence as an Italian Baroque painter and co-founder of the Bolognese School. Born in 1560 in Bologna, Karachi's work is celebrated for its blend of high Renaissance clarity and Baroque dynamism, emphasizing naturalism and expressive realism.

Notable Quote:
"Karachi’s style merges high Renaissance clarity with Baroque dynamism, rejecting Mannerist artifice to emphasize naturalism, vibrant color, and expressive gestures." (02:15)

He meticulously describes the painting, highlighting the vibrant cloaks of the three women against the muted dawn, the radiant angel, and the empty tomb—all elements that symbolize the awe and revelation of the Resurrection.

Notable Quote:
"In the pale light of dawn, three women stand in a tree-covered garden at the entrance of Christ's tomb, their vibrant cloaks glowing against the muted tones of the early morning." (04:50)

Biblical Foundations and Theological Reflection

Transitioning from art to scripture, Fr. Ames explores Mark 16:1-5, detailing the account of the women visiting Jesus' tomb and encountering the angel. He references Pope John Paul II's general audience from May 21, 1997, to shed light on the often-overlooked presence of Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the Resurrection narrative.

Notable Quote:
"John Paul II notes that while the gospels mention various appearances of the risen Christ, they conspicuously omit a meeting between Jesus and His mother." (06:20)

Fr. Ames emphasizes the Pope's contemplation that Mary's absence might suggest she was the first to witness the risen Christ, inviting listeners to imagine this profound and intimate moment.

Notable Quote:
"Imagine Mary, heartbroken yet hopeful, holding Jesus' lifeless body, only to have Him rise and embrace her, saying, 'He is risen.'" (07:33)

Through this reflection, Fr. Ames encourages listeners to ponder the deep love and connection between Jesus and Mary, framing it as a foundational element of Marian devotion.

Envisioning the Encounter

Using vivid imagery, Fr. Ames guides listeners through an imagined scene where the risen Christ appears to Mary. He paints a heartfelt picture of Mary's initial despair transforming into overwhelming joy and relief as Jesus comforts her.

Notable Quote:
"He envelops her with His arms as tears stream down her face, and for a moment, He simply holds her, embodying the promise to wipe away every tear." (08:57)

This visualization serves to deepen the emotional and spiritual connection listeners can cultivate through their Rosary prayers.

Prayer: The Rosary

Following the meditation, Fr. Ames leads the listeners through the Our Father, multiple Hail Marys, and the Glory Be, adhering to the traditional structure of the Rosary. The repetitive and meditative nature of these prayers reinforces the themes discussed and fosters a contemplative atmosphere.

While the transcript primarily captures the prayer recitations, it's evident that these prayers are interwoven with the meditation, allowing listeners to internalize the reflections on the Resurrection and Mary's pivotal role.

Conclusion

Fr. Ames concludes the episode by expressing gratitude to the listeners for joining in the prayer and meditation. He reiterates the transformative journey of the Rosary, encouraging continued participation in the daily prayers to further deepen their spiritual lives.

Notable Quote:
"He who promised to wipe away every tear begins with the tears of His mother." (08:58)

This final thought encapsulates the episode's essence, highlighting the intimate relationship between Jesus and Mary and the profound grace that the Rosary can bring into the lives of believers.

Additional Resources:
For the complete prayer plan used in this episode, listeners are encouraged to visit Ascension Press - Rosary in a Year.

Subscribe and Follow:
To stay engaged with the Rosary in a Year journey, subscribe to the podcast on the Ascension app or your preferred podcast platform, ensuring you receive daily notifications and access to exclusive features.

This episode of The Rosary in a Year offers a rich tapestry of art, scripture, and prayer, guiding listeners to a deeper love and understanding of the Rosary's power in their spiritual lives.

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Transcript52 lines

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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. The Rosary in a Year is brought to you by Ascension. This is day 184. To download the prayer plan for Rosary in a year, visit ascensionpress.com rosaryinayear or text R I Y 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 this 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. Today we will be meditating upon and praying with the first glorious mystery, the Resurrection, with help from a painting entitled the Holy Women at Christ's Tomb by the artist Annibale Karachi. And now a brief introduction to our artist and artwork. Anibale Karachi was born in the year 1560. He died in the year 1609 and he was a pivotal Italian Baroque painter and co founder of the Bolognese School. He was born in Bologna, where he trained alongside his brother and his cousin, and his art at that time was deeply grounded in Renaissance principles and direct observation of nature. His move to Rome in 1595 marked a shift towards monumental classicism. Karachi would die at a young age of 48, but his work would influence generations. His painting that we're looking at today, the Holy Women at Christ's Tomb, was done around the year 1600. We see here. Karachi style merges high Renaissance clarity with Baroque dynamism. Rejecting Mannerist artifice, he emphasized naturalism, vibrant color and expressive gestures. The Holy Women at Christ's Tomb showcases his signature traits, which include chiaroscuro, classical composition, emotive realism. Now a description of our painting. In the pale light of dawn, three women stand in a tree covered garden at the entrance of Christ's tomb, their vibrant cloaks glowing against the muted tones of the early morning. One of these women, draped in red, with flowing blonde hair, cradles a large jar of ointment brought to anoint Christ's body. Her gaze, like the others, is fixed on an angel before them, a radiant youthful figure with golden locks, feathered wings and a flowing white toga. The angel sits atop the edge of the tomb and gestures towards the large stone block at the Front edge of the scene, he each of the women leans forward on the balls of their feet, their postures shifting with surprise and awe. Their expressions are filled with a quiet reverence as the angel's message begins to dawn on them. The tomb is empty. He is risen. Today's painting of the women and angel at the tomb by Annabale, Karachi, seems to be an intentional depiction of Mark 16:1 and the following verses. There we read, and when the Sabbath was passed, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint him. Now we're going to jump two verses in the gospel there says. And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back, for it was very large. And entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe. And they were amazed. There is a lot that could be said about this gospel and this painting. But I'm going to take my prompting for today's meditation from Pope John Paul II and his general audience that was given on May 21, 1997. We're going to make a reflection not about who but is at the tomb, but rather who is not at the tomb and who is conspicuously never mentioned at any of the post resurrection appearances, namely Mary, the mother of Jesus. And I'll really encourage you to read the audience if you're interested in the topic. But here's a starter. John Paul ii, he writes the gospels mention various appearances of the risen Christian, but not a meeting between Jesus and his mother. This silence must not lead to the conclusion that after the resurrection Christ did not appear to Mary. Rather, it invites us to seek the reasons why the evangelists made such a choice. But then his audience changes directions and he writes, indeed, it is legitimate to think that the mother was probably the first person to whom the risen Jesus appeared. Could not Mary's absence from the group of women who went to the tomb at dawn see Mark, chapter 16, verse 1, Matthew 28:1, indicate that she had already met Jesus? And I love that he doesn't just say that Mary was possibly the first person to whom the risen Jesus appeared, but he says, probably John Paul ii, he's not saying this is a fact that this happened. But as a man who knew the heart of Jesus so intimately, and as a man who, who was personally a son who loved his earthly mother so much, and as a man who loved Mary with the deepest of loves, it's almost like John Paul II is saying, like he had to go see her first. How could he not and so that's where we're going to go today. I'm going to invite you to imagine and to really spend some time with this and ponder that moment. There's Mary, heartbroken but hopeful. Mary who just held his lifeless body. Mary, who may still have the stains of her son's blood on her clothes and skin. And as she's keeping vigil, he comes to her. He is risen. Hear the breath, like, immediately escape her.
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Lungs.
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And see her collapse to the.
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Floor, no longer.
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Needing to be strong. And he comes down to her.
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And.
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He envelops her with his arms.
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And he holds her as the tears stream.
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And for a while, he just holds her. Then one of them breaks the silence.
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Perhaps with a playful word.
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And the joy begins and the laughter. And slowly he helps her up and gently wipes her tears as he's looking at his mother.
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With a love that.
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I won't even try to describe.
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As.
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It'S better left for the pens of poets. He is risen. He who promised to wipe away every tear begins with the tears of his mother.
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In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
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Amen.
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Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
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Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.
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On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
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And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but.
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Deliver us from evil.
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Amen.
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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.
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Amen.
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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.
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Amen.
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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.
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Amen.
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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.
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Amen.
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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.
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Amen.
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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.
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Amen.
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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.
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Amen.
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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.
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Amen.
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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.
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Amen.
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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.
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Amen.
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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.
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Amen.
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In the name of the Father and of the Son and course of.
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Of the Holy Spirit.
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Amen.
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Well, thank you for joining me and praying with me again today. I look forward to continuing our journey tomorrow.
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Poco poco.
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Friends.
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God bless y' all.