Day 105: Love Draws Us Up

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Day 105: Love Draws Us Up"

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)
• Host/Author: Ascension
• Episode: Day 105: Love Draws Us Up
• Release Date: April 15, 2025

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Introduction

In Day 105 of The Rosary in a Year podcast titled "Love Draws Us Up," Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR delves deep into the second Glorious Mystery of the Rosary—the Ascension of Jesus Christ. This episode emphasizes how love and charity elevate our spiritual lives, fostering a profound connection with Jesus and Mary, and ultimately drawing us closer to heaven.

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Exploring the Ascension

Fr. Mark-Mary begins by introducing the Ascension as a pivotal Glorious Mystery that extends beyond theological understanding into the realm of lived spirituality.

"The Ascension is a theological truth, but it needs to be more to us than just theological truths. They are theological truths, but can they be more than that?"
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [02:00]

He references St. Thomas Aquinas to illuminate how the Ascension signifies Jesus' exalted presence with the Father, granting believers unprecedented access to Him through the Holy Spirit—whom Aquinas describes as love drawing us toward heavenly aspirations.

"The Holy Spirit is love drawing us up to heavenly things... When Christ withdrew in body, not only the Holy Spirit, but both Father and Son were present with them spiritually."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [04:21]

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The Power of Love in Spiritual Elevation

A significant portion of the discussion centers on how love acts as a catalyst for our spiritual ascent. Fr. Mark-Mary articulates that true charity redirects our desires from earthly anxieties to heavenly pursuits.

"When we love Jesus... it bears fruit in our lives with a longing for heaven. And naturally, a healthy detachment from the things of this world and its anxieties."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [04:24]

He shares poignant anecdotes illustrating this transformation. For instance, a grandmother mourning the loss of her husband finds renewed zeal for heaven, not in haste to leave her earthly family, but in the deep yearning to reunite with her lost spouse.

"She deeply desires to be united again with the husband she lost. It gave this love and the belief and the hope of her lost husband being with the Lord in heaven, it gave an increased focus or zeal for heaven."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [05:43]

Similarly, parents who tragically lose a child find their faith sustained by the hope of divine reunion, reinforcing their commitment to spiritual life even amid profound despair.

"...the desire to be with their Child again in heaven. It kept them going in life and it kept them in the faith."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [05:36]

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Theological and Practical Insights

Fr. Mark-Mary emphasizes that the Glorious Mysteries are not mere abstract doctrines but are meant to inspire profound charity and deep love for Jesus and Mary. This love propels believers towards a sincere longing for heaven, fostering a spiritual detachment that aligns priorities with divine will.

"May heaven be more than just a theological reality for us. May Jesus’ ascension into heaven be more than a theological reality for us. But may it be a truth that we come to with profound love."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [07:08]

He underscores the importance of integrating theological truths with personal love and devotion, ensuring that concepts like the Ascension are lived and felt deeply within one's spiritual journey.

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Prayer and Reflection

The latter part of the episode transitions into a guided Rosary prayer, focusing on the Ascension mystery. Fr. Mark-Mary leads listeners through the prayers—Our Father, multiple Hail Marys, and Glory Be—encouraging a meditative and heartfelt participation.

During the prayer, he reinforces the episode's central theme:

"May the Holy Spirit increase our charity for heavenly things. May the Holy Spirit help us today to love Jesus even more."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [07:27]

This prayer segment serves as a practical application of the discussed themes, allowing listeners to internalize the lessons through sacred prayer.

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Conclusion

In "Love Draws Us Up," Fr. Mark-Mary Ames masterfully intertwines theological exposition with heartfelt narratives and guided prayer, illustrating how love and charity act as conduits for spiritual elevation. By meditating on the Ascension, listeners are encouraged to deepen their relationship with Jesus and Mary, fostering a sustained longing for heaven that transforms their daily lives into a continual journey of faith and grace.

"We rejoice in the ascension because the One we love has returned to the right hand of the Father and has prepared a place for us."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [07:18]

This episode not only elucidates the significance of the Ascension but also inspires believers to live out their faith with renewed passion and love, making the Rosary a powerful tool for spiritual growth and communion with the divine.

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For more resources and to follow the complete Rosary in a Year prayer plan, visit Ascension Press.

Transcript

[Unknown Speaker]

Foreign.

[Mark Mary]

Mark Mary with Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and this is the Rosary into youo 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 the Year is brought to you by Ascension.

[Unknown Speaker]

This is day 105.

[Mark Mary]

To download the prayer plan for Rosary in a year, visit ascensionpress.com rosary in a year or text RIY 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. I 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 we'll be reflecting on.

[Unknown Speaker]

Today we will be meditating upon and praying with the second glorious mystery, the Ascension, with help from a writing from St. Thomas Aquinas and now our reading from the great angelic Dr. St. Thomas Aquinas on the Ascension. Thirdly, in order to direct the fervor of our charity to heavenly things, hence the apostle says, seek the things that are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth. For as it is said, where thy treasure is, there thy heart also. And since the Holy Spirit is love drawing us up to heavenly things, therefore our Lord said to his disciples, it is expedient to you that I go. For if I go not, the Paracletes will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. On which words Augustine says, you cannot receive the Holy Spirit as long as you persist in knowing Christ according to the flesh. But when Christ withdrew in body, not only the Holy Spirit, but both Father and Son were present with them spiritually. The end of the reading thanks be to God. As we've discussed previously, the Ascension It's a theological truth. The Ascension means that Jesus is now present to us in an all new way which provides for an even greater access to him through the power of the Holy Spirit. I do believe that the Glorious Mysteries, they need to be more to us than just theological truths. They are theological truths. But can they be more than that? The Glorious Mysteries, they are particularly glorious, efficacious and moving when we ponder them, filled with Charity that is profound, like deep real love for Jesus and Mary. Yes, they are theological truths. Yes, Jesus risen from the dead means that death is conquered and heaven is opened. And as Pope Benedict 16th mentioned, all of creation experiences in quotes like the ontological leap, all of that is true. But also this Jesus, the one we love, was dead and is now alive. I think about the movement of the heart of a parent towards their child that they thought they were going to lose. But as the child, like, suddenly regains.

Its health, it regains its breath, it.

Regains its heartbeat, there's this surging of love and a heart wrenching joy.

The why? Because of love. The child they love is alive also.

Jesus, the one we love, he's returned.

To the right hand of the Father.

And while we in fact have access to him now and the possibility of profound intimacy with him here and now in this world, something far greater awaits us in heaven. Something that I has not seen, an.

Ear has not heard.

So when we love Jesus, when we are filled with fervor and charity towards heavenly things, as St. Thomas Aquinas talks about, but the heavenly thing par excellent being God, we seek heaven and the different foretastes of heaven possible in this life. Through prayer, scripture, sacrament, like with a greater zeal and totality, like when we love Jesus, it bears fruit in our lives with a longing for heaven. And naturally, like a healthy detachment from the things of this world and its anxieties. I think most priests who have just a couple of years of priesthood under their belt, they'll have experienced something like this. When walking with a person of faith who's lost a loved one, I just remember it so clearly. And on multiple occasions, you know, speaking to a grandmother who lost her husband, who she'd been married to for 60 plus years. And after the passing of her husband, like her zeal for heaven, it takes on a new depth. Yeah, she wants to go to heaven.

She wants to be with Jesus.

No, she's not in a great hurry to leave behind her remaining family on earth.

But in the midst of all this.

Like, she deeply desires to be united again with the husband she lost. It gave this love and the belief and the hope of her lost husband being with the Lord in heaven, it gave an increased focus or zeal for heaven. This increased zeal which she called like a fire, it comes from love or on multiple occasions I've walked with a parent who suffered the tragedy of losing a child. And when the temptation to despair and abandoning of faith was the strongest, the desire to be with their Child again in heaven. It kept them going in life and it kept them in the faith. So, as we pray today, we're going to ask the Holy Spirit, who St. Thomas Aquinas refers to as love, drawing us up to heavenly things, to increase here and now our longing for heaven by increasing our love for Jesus. May heaven be more than just a theological reality for us. May Jesus ascend into heaven be more than a theological reality for us. But may it be a truth that.

We come to with profound love. We desire to be with heaven because we love God who awaits us there.

We rejoice in the ascension because the.

One we love has returned to the.

Right hand of the Father and has prepared a place for us.

And we here now are on this.

Journey to him, to the fullest experience of union and communion with him, the One that we love above all other things. May the Holy Spirit increase our charity for heavenly things. May the Holy Spirit help us today to love Jesus even more. And now with Mary, let us 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 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.

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 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.

Amen.

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.

Amen.

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.

Amen.

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.

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 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.

Amen.

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.

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 in.

Amen.

In the name of the Father and.

Of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

All right.

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

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

Poco, Poco. All right.

God bless y'all.