Witnessing Christ crowned with thorns reveals a striking contrast between worldly might and divine strength and humility. Through the lens of Anthony van Dyck’s dramatic painting and the words of scripture and Pope John Paul II, Fr. Mark-Mary’s meditation unveils the redemptive power found in suffering. We are invited to see our own suffering as a means to draw nearer to Christ and receive His transforming grace. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Crowning with Thorns and we will be praying one...
Jun 30, 2025•14 min
Fr. Mark-Mary draws us in to an overwhelming realization while meditating on The Flagellation of Our Lord Jesus Christ by William-Adolphe Bouguereau: our God is a God who bleeds. We observe Jesus in his pain and suffering, reflecting on the incredible amount of love he has to pursue our souls regardless of his suffering. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Scourging at the Pillar 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 R...
Jun 29, 2025•16 min
Today’s painting, The Arrest of Christ by Giotto di Bondone can be somewhat unsettling. Giotto di Bondone captures the moment of Judas' betrayal with intense emotion, reminding Fr. Mark-Mary that any of us could be in Judas’ place. Supplemented by a quote from St. Augustine, we meditate on the realization that all of us have the capacity to be great sinners or great saints. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Agony in the Garden and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. All of the Sacred ...
Jun 28, 2025•18 min
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 medita...
Jun 27, 2025•14 min
Fr. Mark-Mary introduces us to the spiritual background of icons as we pray with an icon of the Transfiguration. We consider how our transformation in Christ takes a lifetime, revealed through Peter’s journey from the mountain, through shadows and valleys, and back to Jesus’ mercy and love. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Transfiguration 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 ...
Jun 26, 2025•15 min
Mark chapter 5 doesn’t shrink back from the danger of the storm. The apostles’ boat is filling with water and they are in immediate danger. Rembrandt’s painting, Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee, shows us how real this threat is. And yet, Jesus’ response is to urge the apostles to have faith in him. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Proclamation of the Gospel and Call to Conversion and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. All of the Sacred Art we’ll be meditating with can be f...
Jun 25, 2025•14 min
Fr. Mark-Mary draws unique comparisons when meditating on Paolo Veronese’s The Wedding at Cana. The depiction of Christ’s quiet centrality amid worldly distraction mirrors how people often overlook Jesus, just as museumgoers miss this massive artwork while focused on the Mona Lisa. As well as the parallel between the statue of Atlas outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the image of Christ at Mass, contrasting the burden of self-reliance with the peace found in surrendering to God. Through this re...
Jun 24, 2025•15 min
Through Alexander Ivanov’s painting, The Appearance of Christ Before the People, Fr. Mark-Mary contemplates the baptism of Jesus and the profound humility of John the Baptist, who recognizes Christ and directs his followers to Him. The artwork and Gospel text together highlight John’s deep spiritual freedom and his role in preparing the way for the Messiah. We are encouraged to live out our own baptismal calling by pointing others to Jesus through humble witness, love, and trust in God’s will. T...
Jun 23, 2025•16 min
Fr. Mark-Mary contemplates the courage required of 12-year-old Jesus speaking in the temple, as depicted in William Holman Hunt’s vivid painting, The Finding of the Saviour in the Temple. He contrasts this with his own childhood experiences of shyness and public speaking, drawing insight into how true meekness flows from knowing one’s identity. We are empowered to speak and live truthfully even in intimidating situations by cultivating spiritual confidence rooted in God’s love. Today’s focus is ...
Jun 22, 2025•17 min
Meditating on Mary’s presence in the Presentation scene, painted by Aert de Gelder, reveals a woman who prays not only with words, but with her entire being. In the glow of the Christ Child, she models how to receive mystery, pain, and promise with unwavering faith. Her example reminds us that holiness begins not with full understanding, but with trustful reception of all things in and through Christ. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Presentation in the Temple and we will be praying one decad...
Jun 21, 2025•12 min
Caravaggio’s Nativity with Saint Francis and Saint Lawrence offers a tender and grounded depiction of Christ’s birth, surrounded not only by the Holy Family but also by saints known for their deep love of poverty. Fr. Mark-Mary uses this scene to lead into the Praises of God by St. Francis, lifting our gaze from the humble manger to the majesty of the One who was born there. We’re invited into deeper awe, love, and surrender by recognizing the greatness of God who chose such lowliness. Today’s f...
Jun 20, 2025•12 min
Mary’s journey to visit Elizabeth is brought to life through Antonio Barluzzi’s mosaic, where Mary travels by donkey through rugged hills, accompanied by angels who walk beside her rather than carry her. This powerful detail highlights Mary’s strength and humility. She is a model of self-giving love, reminding us that holiness often unfolds through perseverance and sacrifice. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Visitation and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. All of the Sacred Art we’...
Jun 19, 2025•12 min
What does it mean to say “yes” to God with complete trust? Reflecting on Jan van Eyck’s painting of the Annunciation, Fr. Mark-Mary explores how Mary’s faithful response marks the fulfillment of the Old Testament and invites us to a similar surrender. We are called to recognize God’s presence in all circumstances and to keep our focus and trust rooted in Him. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Annunciation and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. All of the Sacred Art we’ll be meditatin...
Jun 18, 2025•14 min
The Coronation of Mary is portrayed in Giuseppe Mattia Borgnis’s fresco, where the Trinity crowns her Queen of Heaven as saints, angels, and loved ones gaze on with joy. The presence of St. Joseph, St. Anne, and St. John the Baptist emphasizes that those who suffer with Christ also share in His glory. We are reminded that while the road of discipleship includes pain, it ultimately leads to the fulfillment of God’s promises of eternal victory and our shared inheritance in Christ. Today’s focus is...
Jun 17, 2025•16 min
Fr. Mark-Mary reflects on the Assumption of Mary through Cesare Mariani’s 1863 fresco, which depicts Our Lady rising in glory, surrounded by angels, saints, and the faithful. This meditation reminds us that in Christ, the victory is already won—and all who remain faithful will share in that eternal triumph with Him and Our Lady. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Assumption 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...
Jun 16, 2025•14 min
Titian’s Renaissance painting, Pentecost, focuses on St. Peter kneeling beside Mary with the keys of the Kingdom in hand. Fr. Mark-Mark contemplates Peter’s transformation from a flawed man to the first pope to highlight the power of the Holy Spirit working through ordinary people. We are reminded that despite our limitations, each of us carries a mission and is invited to entrust it to the Holy Spirit. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Descent of the Holy Spirit and we will be praying one dec...
Jun 15, 2025•15 min
Exploring the mystery of the Ascension, Fr. Mark-Mary meditates on Jesus’ enduring presence through the symbol of His footprints, as depicted in Bernardino Gandino’s Baroque painting. This image becomes a powerful reminder of Christ’s continued presence and an invitation to follow Him not just in spirit, but step by step, through Scripture, the sacraments, and the life of the Church. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Ascension and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. All of the Sacred ...
Jun 14, 2025•14 min
Fr. Mark-Mary reflects on St. Thomas not as doubting and resistant, but as someone honestly expressing his need to see and believe because he is aware that if the Resurrection is true, everything must change. Caravaggio’s The Incredulity of St. Thomas captures this moment of intimate encounter, as the risen Jesus gently leads Thomas to touch His side, revealing a love that welcomes doubt and transforms it into belief. We are encouraged to acknowledge our own need for grace and trust that Christ ...
Jun 13, 2025•14 min
What did Jesus see when He looked down from the cross? And what does He see in us now? Fr. Mark-Mary contemplates James Tissot’s painting, What Our Lord Saw from the Cross, which invites reflection on what Jesus might have seen and felt as He gave His life. Fr. Mark-Mary contrasts the indifference and mockery of some in the crowd with the sorrowful devotion of Mary, St. John, and Mary Magdalene. We are invited to place ourselves at Calvary and examine how we respond to Christ's sacrifice. Today’...
Jun 12, 2025•14 min
Orazio Gentileschi’s painting, Christ Carrying the Cross, captures the profound strength and inner peace of Jesus’ suffering—His body straining beneath the weight of the cross, yet His face is calm. Fr. Mark-Mary contrasts the visible burden of the cross with Jesus’ promise of a “light burden”. He invites us to consider that what lightens the load is not its removal, but the strength that comes from perfect trust in the Father. We are encouraged to seek not just relief, but faith that rests in G...
Jun 11, 2025•16 min
Christ is depicted in Caravaggio’s Ecce Homo with quiet dignity amid humiliation, as He is crowned with thorns and presented to the crowd. Fr. Mark-Mary encourages a prayerful examination of conscience, recognizing our personal role in Christ’s Passion while holding fast to the light and hope that remains even in darkness. Through repentance and faith, we are called not only to witness His suffering but to share in His rising and ultimate victory. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Crowning wit...
Jun 10, 2025•12 min
We are in a war with darkness, and we must choose to take up the side as sons and daughters of God. Fr. Mark-Mary describes Caravaggio’s painting, The Flagellation of Christ, relating each of Jesus’ assailants to a personification of sin. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Scourging at the Pillar 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...
Jun 09, 2025•14 min
As we meditate with the painting entitled Prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane Garden by Alessandro Maganza, Fr. Mark-Mary notices that all of the movement, lines, and action in the painting points towards Jesus. Sharing a story about one of his fellow friars, Fr. Mark-Mary explains how we can direct ourselves to Jesus and surrender our fears, worries, and pain. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Agony in the Garden and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. All of the Sacred Art we’ll be medita...
Jun 08, 2025•12 min
Jesus gives himself totally to us in the Eucharist, body, blood, soul, and divinity. Today’s art, The Last Supper, by Juan de Juanes (Vicente Juan Masip) includes the bowl and urn used for the washing of feet, reminding us of Peter’s request that Jesus wash him entirely. This is the attitude, Fr. Mark-Mary says, that we should bring as we receive the Eucharist. 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 ...
Jun 07, 2025•12 min
Fr. Mark-Mary notices that The Transfiguration, painted by Raphael, contains a very interesting Biblical reference. Raphael has chosen to depict the beginning of Jesus’ exorcism of a demon in Matthew 17 alongside the Transfiguration. This parallel reveals the truth that Jesus can give us all spiritual authority to resist temptation, through our faith in him. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Transfiguration and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. All of the Sacred Art we’ll be meditat...
Jun 06, 2025•14 min
In Lorenzo Lotto’s painting, The Adulterous Woman, we are presented with an unforgettable moment from the Gospels. A group of accusers try to trap Jesus by asking for his judgement of a woman caught in sin. However, Fr. Mark-Mary explains, Jesus’ incredible response to the accusers and the woman is a response to all of us. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Proclamation of the Gospel and Call to Conversion and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. All of the Sacred Art we’ll be meditatin...
Jun 05, 2025•15 min
Jesus is a divine multitasker, intentionally and perfectly. Fr. Mark-Mary explains that while we might struggle to multitask, God works on multiple levels at all times. As Jesus turns water into wine in Gérard David’s painting, The Wedding at Cana, he is both continuing the joy of the celebration and revealing himself as the divine bridegroom. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Wedding Feast at Cana and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. All of the Sacred Art we’ll be meditating with ...
Jun 04, 2025•12 min
When Jesus approaches John to be baptized, John initially resists, insisting that he is not worthy. John is troubled, explains Fr. Mark-Mary, and yet, when Jesus reassures him, he obeys with confidence and trust. Andrea del Verrocchio and Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, The Baptism of Christ guides our meditation on humility. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Baptism in the Jordan 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 ...
Jun 03, 2025•11 min
Concluding our focus on St. Joseph, we reflect on the quiet but powerful transition of Mary’s care from St. Joseph to Jesus in the Holy Family. God's constant provision for Mary is evident as we see how Jesus steps into his role as protector and provider for his mother. The reflection is anchored in a 17th-century painting of The Finding in the Temple, located at St. Nicholas Church in Brussels. Fr. Mark-Mary reminds us that even when God's plan requires letting go, His attentive love never leav...
Jun 02, 2025•13 min
We continue our series focusing on St. Joseph’s presence with the Presentation in the Temple. In today’s art, we see Joseph offering the turtle doves, artistically representing what also is happening interiorly, Fr. Mark-Mary says. St. Joseph’s heart was surely sorrowful when Simeon prophesied that a sword would pierce Mary’s heart, and yet he said yes to the Father alongside her. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Presentation in the Temple and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. All ...
Jun 01, 2025•13 min
