Day 102: Carried with Love - The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)

Summary4 min read

Podcast Summary: The Rosary in a Year (Day 102: Carried with Love)

Title: The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)
Host: Ascension
Guest: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Episode: Day 102: Carried with Love
Release Date: April 12, 2025

Introduction

In the 102nd episode of “The Rosary in a Year” podcast, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames delves deep into the fourth Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary: the Carrying of the Cross. Through a blend of prayer, meditation, and insightful reflections, Fr. Mark-Mary guides listeners on a transformative journey to deepen their relationship with Jesus and Mary.

Overview of the Day's Meditation

Fr. Mark-Mary begins by introducing the day’s focus—the** Carried with Love** theme—enriched by reflections from St. Jose Maria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei. He emphasizes the universal call to holiness, highlighting that everyone, not just clergy, is called to saintliness.

Notable Quote:

"Do everything for love. Thus there will be no little things. Everything will be big. Perseverance in little things for Love is heroism."
(Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, 02:20)

Reflection on St. Jose Maria Escriva

Fr. Mark-Mary provides a brief biography of St. Jose Maria Escriva, noting his canonization in 2002 by Pope John Paul II and his influential role in promoting holiness within everyday life. He underscores Escriva’s message that ordinary duties and professions are platforms for living a holy life.

Key Points:

St. Jose Maria Escriva’s founding of Opus Dei.
The universal call to holiness.
The significance of love in carrying the cross.

The Three Crosses at Calvary

A significant portion of the episode explores the three crosses that Jesus carried to Calvary. Fr. Mark-Mary contrasts the crosses carried by condemned criminals with Jesus' cross, highlighting the profound difference rooted in love.

Notable Quote:

"The cross carried by the King of Love... became the throne from which he reigns."
(Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, 06:08)

Key Comparisons:

Criminal Crosses:
- Carried by guilty men.
- Symbols of condemnation and burden.
Jesus' Cross:
- Carried by an innocent victim.
- Embraced with love and mercy.
- Transformed into a symbol of salvation and glory.

Embracing Our Own Crosses with Love

Fr. Mark-Mary challenges listeners to carry their own crosses not out of obligation or resentment but with the same love and acceptance that Jesus did. This perspective transforms personal suffering into a path of grace and spiritual reign with Christ.

Notable Quote:

"Can we ask for the grace to not just carry our own daily crosses begrudgingly, but can we ask for the grace to carry them with love, confident that our crosses, if they are carried with Jesus, can become a means to reign with him forever?"
(Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, 07:37)

Discussion Points:

The significance of embracing struggles willingly.
Turning personal burdens into sources of spiritual strength.
The transformative power of love in suffering.

Prayer and Meditation

The episode transitions into a guided prayer session, incorporating the Rosary and reflections based on St. Jose Maria Escriva’s writings. Fr. Mark-Mary emphasizes the importance of meditating on sacred texts and art to deepen one's spiritual practice.

Notable Quote from St. Jose Maria Escriva:

"Offering no resistance, Jesus gives himself up to the execution of the sentence... Through love, the cross is to become the throne from which he reigns."
(Mark Mary Ames, 02:56)

Practical Applications

Fr. Mark-Mary provides practical advice on building a daily habit of prayer, fostering a relationship with Jesus and Mary, and utilizing sacred art and scripture for meditation.

Key Takeaways:

Daily Prayer Habits: Start small and gradually build a consistent prayer routine.
Relationship Building: Engage deeply with Jesus and Mary through regular meditation and reflection.
Biblical Foundations: Understand the scriptural basis of the Rosary to enhance its spiritual significance.
Meditative Practices: Incorporate visio divina and lectio divina to enrich prayer life.

Conclusion

Fr. Mark-Mary wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to view their crosses through the lens of love, transforming their struggles into avenues for divine grace and eternal reign with Christ. He invites listeners to continue this journey of faith with dedication and an open heart.

Closing Prayer:
The episode concludes with a communal recitation of the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, reinforcing the themes of love, acceptance, and divine grace discussed throughout the meditation.

Final Thoughts

Day 102 of "The Rosary in a Year" offers a profound exploration of carrying one’s cross with love, inspired by St. Jose Maria Escriva’s teachings. Fr. Mark-Mary Ames masterfully intertwines scriptural reflections, practical advice, and heartfelt prayer to guide listeners toward a deeper, more loving relationship with Jesus and Mary. This episode serves as a powerful reminder that through love and perseverance, our daily struggles can become sources of immense spiritual grace and transformation.

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

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Transcript100 lines

[00:00]
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 102. To download the prayer plan for Rosary in a year, visit ascensionpress.com for rosary in a year or text RIY to 33777. You'll get an outline of how we're gonna pray each month and it's a great way to track your progress. The best place to listen to the Podcast 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. Also, I'd love to encourage you to pick up a copy of the Rosary in a 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 full page images of the sacred art will be reflecting on Today we'll be meditating upon.
[01:00]
Franciscan Friar
And praying with the fourth Sorrowful Mystery.
[01:02]
Mark Mary
The carrying of the Cross enriched by meditation from St. Jose Maria Escriva and his writing Second Station Jesus takes up his cross in his work, the Way of the Cross. The specific point of our reflection is going to be through love. Through the Cross becomes a throne. So quick background on Our author today, St. Jose Maria Escriva is our most modern author up to this point. He was born in the year 1902, he died in the year 1975 and he was canonized in the year 2002 by Pope John Paul II. He is known very well for founding the movement Opus DEI in Obus DEI AIDS and encourages its members to live faithful and holy Christian lives in the midst of their chosen professions and ordinary duties. By the time of his passing there was more than 60,000 members in 80 countries. Personally, my own reflection on St Jose Maria Escriva, his work, his focus, the timing. I think he's a really modern champion of both modeling and promoting the universal call to holiness that everyone, not just priests and nuns, are called to be saints. Right?
[02:19]
Franciscan Friar
All of us, all of us who.
[02:20]
Mark Mary
Are listening here are called to holiness. It's a universal call. And one of my favorite quotes of his is do everything for love. Thus there will be no little things. Everything will be big. Perseverance in little things for Love is heroicism. St. Jose Maria Escria is not currently a Doctor of the Church. Not yet anyway. Maybe he will be one day of the universal call to holiness. But time will tell.
[02:49]
St. Jose Maria Escriva
And now an excerpt from the writing by St. Jose Maria.
[02:56]
Mark Mary
Offering no resistance, Jesus gives himself up to the execution of the sentence. He is to be spared nothing. And upon his shoulders falls the weight of the ignominious cross. But through love, the cross is to become the throne from which he reigns. The end of the reading. Thanks be to God. Praying with this reading from St. Jose Maria Escriva just reminds me that the same day that Jesus carries his cross to Calvary, where he's crucified, it wasn't the only cross carried, right? There's actually three crosses carried that same day to the same place, in many ways towards the same end. But there's only one cross that we ever look at, that we ever think about, that we honor. There's only one, you know, in quotes, carrying of the cross that we pray as a form of devotion. So what is it that makes this cross the cross that we choose, the cross that we focus on, what makes this cross unique? Well, let's take a moment to look at the other two crosses, right? The other two crosses, they were carried by criminals. They were being carried by condemned men, who, as far as we know, are in fact 100% guilty of. Of a crime. The crosses that they were carried were, from end to end, were forced upon them, they were heavy, and they were begrudgingly dragged up the hill to their final resting place.
[04:45]
St. Jose Maria Escriva
Just looking at it a little bit.
[04:46]
Mark Mary
Like there's nothing immediately particularly redeeming, glorious, beautiful, triumphant at all about those two crosses. The third cross, however, like the foundation of our meditation today, of course, was not carried by a guilty man, but an innocent victim. This victim is the innocent Lamb of God. And what happens with the cross of Jesus is that it's not just carried begrudgingly, with nothing but the bitter tastes of justice, wrath, but rather it is carried freely, embraced with love and sweetened with mercy's ultimate victory.
[05:47]
Another Friar
It is the love by which this.
[05:49]
Mark Mary
Cross is carried and the lover who.
[05:54]
Another Friar
Carries it.
[05:57]
Mark Mary
That makes this particular cross our only boast. As Saint Jose Maria Escrivazi writes, through.
[06:05]
Another Friar
Love, it's through love that the cross.
[06:08]
Mark Mary
Has become the throne from which he reigns. There's only one cross that would become a throne, and it was the cross carried by the King of Love. Again, three crosses were carried this day. One would become a cause of condemnation. One would in fact, lead to a thief's salvation. And the third, transformed by love, became a throne, the throne of the King of Love. As we pray today, let's go ahead and reflect on how these crosses carried were like, physically, technically, like the same. But the one carried with love and.
[07:13]
Franciscan Friar
The one carried by Jesus.
[07:16]
Mark Mary
In obedience to the Father's will becomes a cause of glory and salvation. Can we ask for the grace, you and I? Can we ask for the grace to not just carry our own daily crosses begrudgingly, but can we ask for the.
[07:37]
Franciscan Friar
Grace to embrace them freely.
[07:42]
Mark Mary
To carry them with love, confident that our crosses, our own crosses, if they are carried.
[07:52]
Franciscan Friar
With love and they are carried with.
[07:53]
Mark Mary
Jesus, can become a means not only.
[07:56]
Franciscan Friar
For us to suffer with him and.
[07:58]
Mark Mary
To die with him, but in fact, to reign with him forever? So now as we pray with Mary, let us ask for the grace of freedom to accept the cross. Can we ask for the love of.
[08:20]
Franciscan Friar
Jesus to live in us, that we may carry the cross with his same.
[08:23]
Mark Mary
Love and the hope that these crosses carried with love will become for us a means to reign with Him?
[08:38]
St. Jose Maria Escriva
And now with Mary, let us pray in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
[08:43]
Mary
Amen.
[08:44]
Mark Mary
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.
[08:49]
St. Jose Maria Escriva
On earth as it is in heaven.
[08:51]
Another Friar
Give us this day our daily bread.
[08:54]
Mark Mary
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but.
[09:01]
Franciscan Friar
Deliver us from evil.
[09:02]
Mary
Amen.
[09:03]
Another Participant
Hail Mary, full of grace.
[09:05]
Another Friar
The Lord is with the blessed art.
[09:07]
Franciscan Friar
Thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
[09:11]
Mark Mary
Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.
[09:14]
St. Jose Maria Escriva
Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[09:17]
Mary
Amen.
[09:18]
Another Participant
Hail Mary, full of grace.
[09:20]
Another Friar
The Lord is with the blessed art.
[09:22]
Franciscan Friar
Thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
[09:26]
Mark Mary
Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.
[09:29]
St. Jose Maria Escriva
Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[09:32]
Mary
Amen.
[09:33]
Another Participant
Hail Mary, full of grace.
[09:35]
Another Friar
The Lord is with the blessed art.
[09:37]
Franciscan Friar
Thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
[09:41]
Mark Mary
Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.
[09:44]
St. Jose Maria Escriva
Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[09:46]
Mary
Amen.
[09:48]
Another Participant
Hail Mary, full of grace.
[09:49]
Another Friar
The Lord is with the blessed art.
[09:52]
Franciscan Friar
Thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
[09:56]
Mark Mary
Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.
[09:59]
St. Jose Maria Escriva
Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[10:02]
Mary
Amen.
[10:03]
Another Participant
Hail Mary, full of grace.
[10:05]
Another Friar
The Lord is with the blessed art.
[10:08]
Franciscan Friar
Thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
[10:12]
Mark Mary
Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.
[10:14]
St. Jose Maria Escriva
Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[10:17]
Mary
Amen.
[10:19]
Another Participant
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord.
[10:21]
Another Friar
Is with the blessed art thou among.
[10:23]
Franciscan Friar
Women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
[10:27]
Mark Mary
Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.
[10:29]
St. Jose Maria Escriva
Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[10:32]
Mary
Amen.
[10:34]
Another Participant
Hail Mary, full of grace.
[10:36]
Another Friar
The Lord is with the Blessed art.
[10:38]
Franciscan Friar
Thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
[10:42]
Mark Mary
Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.
[10:45]
St. Jose Maria Escriva
Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[10:48]
Mary
Amen.
[10:49]
Another Participant
Hail Mary, full of grace.
[10:51]
Another Friar
The Lord is with the Blessed art.
[10:53]
Franciscan Friar
Thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
[10:57]
Mark Mary
Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.
[11:00]
St. Jose Maria Escriva
Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[11:02]
Mary
Amen.
[11:03]
Another Participant
Hail Mary, full of grace.
[11:05]
Another Friar
The Lord is with the Blessed art.
[11:07]
Franciscan Friar
Thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
[11:11]
Mark Mary
Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.
[11:14]
St. Jose Maria Escriva
Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[11:17]
Mary
Amen.
[11:18]
Another Participant
Hail Mary, full of grace, The Lord.
[11:20]
Another Friar
Is with the Blessed art thou among.
[11:22]
Franciscan Friar
Women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
[11:26]
Mark Mary
Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.
[11:29]
St. Jose Maria Escriva
Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[11:32]
Mary
Amen.
[11:33]
Franciscan Friar
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is.
[11:39]
Mark Mary
Now and ever shall be, world without end.
[11:42]
Mary
Amen.
[11:44]
Mark Mary
In the name of the Father and.
[11:46]
St. Jose Maria Escriva
Of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
[11:49]
Mary
Amen. All right.
[11:50]
Mark Mary
Thanks so much for joining me and praying with me today. I look forward to continuing this journey with you again tomorrow. All right. Poco poco. Friends, God bless y'all.