The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames) - Day 178: Open the Door

Episode Date: June 27, 2025

In Tanner’s painting, Christ and the Disciples Before the Last Supper, we see Jesus and a few disciples before they enter the upper room to eat the Passover. In moments, the institution of the Eucharist will occur. Fr. Mark-Mary invites us to experience the incredible love Jesus is inviting them into before they enter and share the Passover meal. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Institution of the Eucharist and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. All of the Sacred Art we’ll be meditating with can be found in the Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide, for free linked in the complete prayer plan, or in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.

I'm Father Mark Mary with Franciscan Friars with 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 178. To download the prayer plan for Rosary in a Year, visit ascensionpress.com forward slash 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 podcasts 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 fifth Luminous Mystery, the institution of the Most Holy Eucharist with help from a painting by the artist Henry Oswa Tanner

entitled Christ and the Disciples before the Last Supper. All right, we've had a painting by Tanner before, but again, just a brief introduction to our artist again and the artwork. Henry Oswa Tanner was born in the year 1859, died in the year 1937, and he was an American painter from Pittsburgh who spent most of his career in Philadelphia and Paris, and he was one of the first African-American painters to be recognized internationally. This particular painting was done in the year 1909. So today's painting,

Right, Christ and the Disciples Before the Last Supper, it is lesser known than some of his other works, like the Annunciation that we looked at, or one of his paintings that we're not gonna look at for obvious reasons entitled The Banjo Lesson. This particular painting we're looking at today, it does, it exemplifies his signature blend of spiritual depth, modernist technique,

and nuanced humanity. And now a description of our painting by Tanner. In an impressionistic depiction of a street, three men gather in front of a simple stone building at nighttime. Cast in shadows of blue, the building has two stories with a simple portal door at the center.

Jesus wears a white tunic and carries a staff. He has dignified stance and faces two disciples. One disciple in a black cloak folds his hands and shrugs his shoulder in a gesture of pleading. Another wearing red modestly stands at the door with his gaze downcast. Two other shaded figures are on the street, one passing down the road and another, hooded, sits leaning against the home. So today, like yesterday, we have a bit of a the theme of before and after. In Tanner's painting, we have Jesus with a couple of

disciples having a conversation right before entering the house where the Passover has been prepared in the upper room, where the last supper will take place in the institution of the Eucharist in just a few moments. In just a few moments, these men will receive the gift of God par excellence, what we call the source and summit of our faith, the most holy Eucharist. And they will eat the flesh and drink the blood of the new Passover Lamb, the Lamb of God, Jesus himself. But it won't be a transfiguration moment on a mountain where the glory of God is manifest through brilliant light.

No, there won't be transfiguration, but transubstantiation. But make no mistake, at the Last Supper, the glory of Jesus is revealed. But it is the glory of divine humility. The king who became a servant. The invisible God who was incarnate in the womb of a virgin, who was born into the poverty of a manger, who traveled with nowhere to lay his head and who gives himself to his apostles and through them and those who share in their priesthood to us, in the poor appearance of bread and wine."

And perhaps these apostles, talking with Jesus before entering that door, are asking him, that door asking him, why is this night different from all other nights? Perhaps they sense something is different. Perhaps they don't have any idea. But that door they will soon enter will lead them to a new encounter of Jesus. A new gift will be given to them and a new commandment. Do this in memory of me. And they will never be the same. Here outside this door in Tanner's painting, they remain in shadows. door and Tanner's painting, they remain in shadows. Jesus is there as well.

He knows what is about to happen. And as the gospel tells us, he earnestly desired to enter that door with them and to eat this Passover with them. As we see him here, standing, listening, talking, how his heart burns with knowing love and divine desire to give himself to them. And perhaps you have this experience or you can access it. Like think of how a mother or father

like may burn with a love for their child who is just going about life like innocently unaware that they are the subject of the most intense of loves. Just take a moment to contemplate that burning love, that love that blazes in the sacred heart of Jesus as he looks at these men before that closed door. Now place yourself in their stead and receive yourself as also being the subject of such love.

Often like a three-year-old child, unaware of the place he holds in the hearts of his parents, we go about ignorant of Jesus' ardent, passionate, blazing love for us. But you and I, we're not three-year-olds. We can actually receive this gift and live life aware of this reality. So my brothers and sisters here in this moment, again, receive Jesus' love for you. Know that he earnestly desires to give himself to you, to receive you and be received by you in the most holy Eucharist. Let us open the door of truth, move from the shadows of ignorance or perhaps in

gratitude for this burning love directed at us, and enter into the majestic light of our inheritance as beloveds of the divine bridegroom. As we pray today, remain here. Receive this gift, enter that door. Remain there if you can. If you can't, let's return here often, especially before mass. And remember, as we enter the doors of that church, like they enter the door going to the upper room,

know that Jesus greets you with a burning love. Know that Jesus is there with you. He greets you with a burning love as you faithfully respond to His commandment, the commandment given in that upper room at the Last Supper. Take and eat. This is my body given for you. Take and drink. This is my blood poured out for you. Receiving this gift, remaining in this love, with Mary, let us now 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 thee. 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 thee. 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 thee. 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 thee. 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 thee. 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 thee. 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 thee. 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 thee. 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 thee. 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 thee. 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 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, friends, 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. God bless y'all.