Day 185: Proclaiming Christ

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Rosary in a Year - Day 185: Proclaiming Christ

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)
• Host/Author: Ascension
• Episode: Day 185: Proclaiming Christ
• Release Date: July 4, 2025
• Description: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, guides listeners through a transformative journey of the Rosary, fostering a deeper relationship with Jesus and Mary. This episode focuses on the theme of proclaiming Christ, embedding listeners in the mission of evangelization as outlined in the Great Commission.

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Introduction to the Episode

The episode opens with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames welcoming listeners to Day 185 of "The Rosary in a Year" podcast. He emphasizes the podcast's mission to deepen the relationship between the individual and the divine through prayer and meditation, specifically using the Rosary as a focal point. He invites listeners to access the complete prayer plan at Ascension Press and highlights the benefits of the Ascension app for an enhanced listening experience.

Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [00:00]: “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.”

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Artistic Inspiration: Duccio’s "Appearance on the Mountain in Galilee"

Fr. Mark-Mary introduces the episode by delving into the artistic representation of the second Glorious Mystery—the Ascension—through Duccio di Buondelmonte’s painting, "Appearance on the Mountain in Galilee." He provides a concise biography of Duccio, highlighting his pivotal role in transitioning Italian art from Byzantine formalism to Gothic expressiveness.

Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [00:45]: “Duccio di Buondelmonte was the founder of the Sienna School and a pivotal figure transitioning Italian art from Byzantine formalism to Gothic expressiveness.”

He offers a vivid description of the painting, noting its blend of Byzantine iconography with Gothic elegance and early naturalism. The depiction of the risen Jesus interacting with the apostles serves as a visual metaphor for the episode's central theme of proclaiming Christ.

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Exploring the Great Commission

The core of the episode revolves around Fr. Mark-Mary’s exploration of the Great Commission as articulated in Matthew 28:18-20. He reads the scripture passage, setting the stage for a deep theological discussion on the mission entrusted to the apostles—and by extension, to all Christians.

Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [03:00]: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father... and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

He emphasizes that the Ascension signifies not an absence of Christ but a transformation in His presence. Fr. Mark-Mary underscores that Jesus’ departure marks the beginning of a new mode of engagement with the world through the Church.

Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [04:14]: “Jesus is about to ascend to the Father... His mission of proclaiming the kingdom of God and evangelizing the world is not brought to a conclusion, but it takes on a new form.”

Fr. Mark-Mary delineates the dual responsibilities of personal sanctification and evangelization. He argues against a self-centric approach to faith, advocating instead for an outward mission to spread the Gospel.

Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [05:45]: “We have a duty to nourish and foster our own relationship with Jesus, but we also have a duty to bring Jesus to the world and the world to Jesus.”

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Practical Applications: Living the Mission

To translate theological insights into daily practice, Fr. Mark-Mary poses two reflective questions to listeners:

1. Sharing the Faith:

   • “When was the last time that you mentioned Jesus to someone or took the opportunity to share something about your faith with another person, especially someone who may not be a practicing Christian?”

2. Trusting in Divine Assistance:

   • “Jesus, who do you want to send me to? Who do you want me to love with your love and to speak to with your truth?”

He encourages listeners to pray for courage and openness to seize opportunities for evangelization, emphasizing that God’s presence accompanies believers in their mission.

Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [07:30]: “Jesus wants to be proclaimed to the ends of the earth, but the Gospel, the good news, it will remain silent if we do not speak it.”

These practical steps aim to foster an active faith that actively engages with the world, fulfilling the mission of making disciples as mandated by Christ.

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Closing Prayers and Reflections

The episode transitions into a recitation of the Rosary, guided by Fr. Mark-Mary and a Franciscan Friar. The prayers serve as a contemplative capstone to the episode, reinforcing the themes of mission and divine companionship discussed earlier.

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Conclusion

Fr. Mark-Mary concludes the episode by expressing gratitude to listeners and reaffirming the shared journey of faith.

Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [13:07]: “Friends, God bless y’all.”

Listeners are left with a sense of purpose and encouragement to actively participate in the mission of proclaiming Christ, supported by prayer and the Rosary.

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Notable Quotes:

1. On Mission and Presence:

   Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [04:14]: “Jesus is about to ascend to the Father... His mission of proclaiming the kingdom of God and evangelizing the world is not brought to a conclusion, but it takes on a new form.”

2. On Evangelization:

   Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [05:45]: “We have a duty to nourish and foster our own relationship with Jesus, but we also have a duty to bring Jesus to the world and the world to Jesus.”

3. On Speaking the Gospel:

   Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [07:30]: “Jesus wants to be proclaimed to the ends of the earth, but the Gospel, the good news, it will remain silent if we do not speak it.”

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Final Thoughts:

Day 185 of "The Rosary in a Year" serves as a profound reminder of the dual call to personal sanctity and active mission. Through the lens of Duccio’s artwork and the scriptural foundation of the Great Commission, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames inspires listeners to embrace their role in proclaiming Christ, supported by the timeless practice of the Rosary.

For more resources and to follow the complete prayer plan, visit Ascension Press.

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. The Rosary in a Year is brought to you by Ascension. This is day 185. To download the prayer plan for Rosary in a year, visit ascensionpress.com forward/rosary Rosary in a Year 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 podcast is in the Ascension app. There's 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 support 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 today we will be meditating upon and praying with the second glorious mystery, the Ascension, with help from painting entitled Appearance on the Mountain in Galilee by the artist Duccio. Okay, now a brief introduction to our artist and our artwork. Duccio di Bu? Insa was born in the year 1255, and he died around the year 1318 or 1319. He was the founder of the Sienna School and a pivotal figure transitioning Italian art from Byzantine formalism to Gothic expressiveness. Active primarily in Siena, he blended Byzantine iconography with Gothic elegance and nascent naturalism. So our painting today, again entitled Appearance on the Mountain in Galilee, was done by Duccio between the years 1308 and about 1311, and some of the styles that we'll see of Duccio here are the Byzantine tradition. We see this, for example, with the gold backgrounds, Gothic refinement, the delicate drapery, rhythmic lines, and emotional nuance in faces and early spatial depth. Though less naturalistic than Giotto, Duccio experiments with rudimentary perspectives, as seen in, for example, the receding Mountain and now a description of our painting. Against a gleaming background of gold leaf, the risen Jesus gazes intently at his group of disciples. His hands are extended towards them, one palm facing upward, the other downward, in a gesture of both teaching and blessing. He stands upon a stylized mountain, his ledge slightly elevated above the gathered apostles. Christ is clothed in a deep crimson tunic beneath a flowing mantle of rich blue. Both garments are edged with delicate gold lines that catch the light. The 11 apostles cluster before him on the craggy earth toned mountain. Each disciple has a carefully rendered and distinct face. They are depicted in a range of ages, from youthful to elderly, and each in their own color of clothing. Together they express solemn reverence and wonder as they carefully absorb the words of Christ. All right, friends, you and I, we have a mission. We have a mission. We have a job to do and and an obligation to do it. In our painting today, we have Jesus after his resurrection, but before his ascension, meeting with the apostles on the mountain in Galilee where he gives them what is popularly known as the Great Commission. And this is Matthew chapter 28, starting at verse 18. And this is what the Gospel says. And Jesus came and said to them, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of.

[Franciscan Friar]

The Father and of the Son and.

[Mark Mary]

Of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always to the close of the age, like Jesus is about to ascend to the Father. And first there's the reminder that the ascension will not be a lack of him being present to us or being at work with us or through us, but a new way of being present to us, as we've previously discussed and is affirmed by the last words of St. Matthew's Gospel, behold, I am with you always to the close of the age. Also his mission of proclaiming the kingdom of God and evangelizing the world. It's not brought to a conclusion, but it takes on a new form. Here we see the risen Lord, like the divine King, gives to his apostles a share in his own authority and the mandate to proclaim Jesus throughout the world. And trusting this mission that Jesus lived during his earthly life to the church, he will continue to be at work establishing his kingdom and calling men and women to repentance. But it will be through the church, founded upon the apostles, but also including you and me, following Jesus and being a good Christian, it cannot be reduced to saying our prayers, to going to mass on Sunday, perhaps reading books or listening to podcasts for our own personal edification, donating to charity here and there, like all of this is important, that's true, but for something to be essential doesn't mean that it is exhaustive, right? Praying, going to Mass, growing in knowledge of the faith, tithing like, yeah, they're all necessary. But we can't reduce Christianity to something that is me centric, where it's just about me and my relationship with Jesus. Jesus called the disciples and he called them to be with him, and he formed them and he taught them, and he empowered them, but then he sends them out on a mission. It's like both, and both our relationship, but also mission. And of course, like, he first fished them, but he also sent them out to be fishers of men. We have a duty to nourish and foster our own relationship with Jesus, but we also have a duty to bring Jesus to the world and the world to Jesus, to tell people about Jesus and to introduce people to Jesus through our words, our witness, our hope, our. Our service and our prayers. And the form that this takes for each of us will be unique. But no one is excluded from this call. For some, it may be just through the offerings of sufferings and prayers, but still, like, no one is exempt. And for today, just two practicals I wanted just to think about. Like, when was the last time that you mentioned Jesus to someone or took the opportunity to share something about your faith with another person, especially someone who may not be a practicing Christian? Jesus wants to be proclaimed to the ends of the earth, but the Gospel, the good news, it will remain silent if we do not speak it. And secondly, like, let's trust God with this. Like, he is with us and we don't go forward alone. So this is what I'm gonna ask you to do. Like, I'm gonna encourage you in a moment of prayer and to really say this to Jesus. Jesus, who do you want to send me to? Who do you want me to love with your love and to speak to with your truth and wait on the Lord and see if any particular person comes to mind. Or you can also prayerfully, like, say this, hey, Jesus, like, if you open the door, if you open the door to a conversation about you, I'll enter it. But I'm going to need you to open the door, and I'm going to need your grace to give me the courage to actually enter it. Like, I want to be obedient to my mission, Jesus, but I can't do it without you. We bring this openness, the awareness of our mission. But part of the beauty of the Ascension is that when he sends us, he actually goes with us so we can find our confidence in Jesus being with us. But also just this openness to who he's bringing to our lives and any opportunities, any open doors and in which we can help to share his good news, proclaim his kingdom, so that we can be obedient to this great commission and making disciples of all nations, Baptizing them in the name of the Father.

[Franciscan Friar]

And of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Listener]

Amen.

[Mark Mary]

So, asking for courage, asking for the eyes to see, the open doors, the words to speak. Let us with Mary now pray in.

[Franciscan Friar]

The name of the Father and of the Son of and of the Holy Spirit.

[Listener]

Amen.

[Mark Mary]

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

[Franciscan Friar]

On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.

[Mark Mary]

And forgive us our trespasses as we.

[Franciscan Friar]

Forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

[Listener]

Amen.

[Franciscan Friar]

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.

[Listener]

Amen.

[Franciscan Friar]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Mark Mary]

The Lord is with the blessed art.

[Franciscan Friar]

Thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy, Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Listener]

Amen.

[Franciscan Friar]

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.

[Listener]

Amen.

[Franciscan Friar]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Mark Mary]

The Lord is with the blessed art.

[Franciscan Friar]

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.

[Listener]

Amen.

[Franciscan Friar]

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.

[Listener]

Amen.

[Franciscan Friar]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Mark Mary]

The Lord is with the blessed art.

[Franciscan Friar]

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.

[Listener]

Amen.

[Franciscan Friar]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Mark Mary]

The Lord is with the blessed art.

[Franciscan Friar]

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.

[Listener]

Amen.

[Franciscan Friar]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Mark Mary]

The Lord is with the blessed art.

[Franciscan Friar]

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.

[Listener]

Amen.

[Franciscan Friar]

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.

[Listener]

Amen.

[Franciscan Friar]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Mark Mary]

The Lord is with the.

[Franciscan Friar]

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.

[Listener]

Amen.

[Franciscan Friar]

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and and ever shall be, world without end.

[Listener]

Amen.

[Franciscan Friar]

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Listener]

Amen. All right.

[Mark Mary]

Thanks so much for joining me and praying with me today.

[Franciscan Friar]

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

[Mark Mary]

Poco. Poco. Friends, God bless y'.

[Listener]

All.