
You know the Mother of God. Fr. Mark-Mary contemplates this amazing gift, drawing from Biblical examples of the special relationship between mothers and children that is present in Mary’s relationship to Jesus. We meditate on the Rosary as a personal conversation with the mother of God, making it an incredible intercessory prayer. Today’s focus is “Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death,” and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.
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Foreign Mark Mary with Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and this is the Rosary in the 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 15. 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. It's a great way to track your progress. The best place to listen this 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. 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 arts we'll be reflecting on. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. I'd like to root our reflection here in the Old Testament. We'll take a look at 1 Kings. This is chapter 2, verses 19 and 20. Here's what it says. So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat on his throne and had a seat brought for the king's mother, and she sat on his right. Then she said, I have one small request to make of you. Do not refuse me. And the king said to her, make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you. So much in the supernatural order is going to be a reflection and a perfection of what we find in the natural order. In the natural order, so much depends on who you know and then who they know, who you are to them and whoever that other person is that they know is to them. If you're tracking that. Okay, so in the reading, who do we have? We have Adonijah. And who does Adonijah know? Adonijah knows Bathsheba. Who does Bathsheba know? She knows King Solomon. All right, so what's a relationship? Well, obviously there's some sort of soft spot in the heart of Bathsheba for Adonijah. So she receives him, she receives his request and then she brings it to King Solomon. And it says that King Solomon, when Bathsheba approaches, right, he like, stands up, he arises, he bows in honor, he has A seat placed. Like, what is Bathsheba's relationship to King Solomon? Well, she's his mother. And obviously, like, there's this reverence, a love, a respect that the king has for his mother. And so then what happens? The queen says, I have a request for you. And without even knowing the request, the king says, like, of course I will grant it. And therefore, because Adonijah knew the mother of the king, his request was granted. Brothers and sisters, I believe this happens as well. And it's perfected in the spiritual order. Like, who do you know? You know, Holy Mary. And who does Holy Mary know? Well, she knows Jesus. And what are the different relationships at play? Well, like, Mary loves us. She's our mother. And then who is her. What's her relationship to Jesus? She is his mother. Holy Mary, mother of God. All right, let's go ahead and just kind of root this now in something a little bit more modern. Pretend you're living in a neighborhood. On your left, you got Vito. Across the street, you got Dr. Elizabeth and her family. And then to your right, you got Ms. Janet, who your kids call Grandma Janet. Now, Vito. Vito owns a pizza place. So one day, you're down there at the pizza place, and you're eating a slice of pepperoni, and you gotta go to the bathroom. And you see that on the bathroom door? It says employees only. So you go to Vito and like, hey, Vito. Hey, man. I realize it says bath. You know, employees only. I gotta use the bathroom. What do you think? Would I be able to use the bathroom real quick? And Vito's like, come on. Come on. We're family. Of course. Go ahead. Right. That makes sense. You know, Vito, you know, the owner, and so, like, it's the employee's only bathroom, but he's gonna say, yeah. And then to the other side of the house, you got Grandma Janet. And Grandma Janet, her son, is the executive of a board of a foundation. And so, you know, you have this charity that you're trying to help out and trying to raise some money for to, you know, feed children. And so you go to your neighbor, Ms. Janet, Grandma Janet, you say, hey, you know, Ms. Janet, I'm trying to sort of raise some money with this work for the homeless and the poor and children. Like, do you think you could talk to your son for me? Yeah, of course. Come on. Your family, too. So she goes to her son because, like, of this relationship between son and mother, you know, the son listens to her, and you get the grant for the poor, for the work that you're Trying to do right, all of this stuff makes sense. It happens all the time. My brothers and sisters, this is reflected and perfected in the spiritual order with the Blessed Mother. Like, who do you know? You know Holy Mary. And who are you to Holy Mary? Like you are. You are beloved children, sons and daughters. Like, she loves you, she cares for you. Who does Mary know? Of course our Lady Mary. She knows Jesus. And what is their relationship? Well, we have it in the prayer Mother of God, like Mary is the Mother of God. And so when we bring our intercessions, when we bring our needs and intentions to Mary, asking her to take them to God, like, we have this confidence that they will be taken care of, that our prayers will be answered. We see this reflected in Scripture, particularly at the wedding feast of Cana, where Mary sees that they're running out of wine. So what does she do? Like, as mother who loves those. At the wedding feast, she goes to Jesus, makes the request. And Jesus, if you will, like King Solomon to Bathsheba, Jesus is obedient. He listens to his mother, and this continues in heaven. And so, as we conclude the Hail Mary praying, you know, Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. What we're entrusting to our lady who loves us, what we're entrusting to her is like all of our needs, all of our spiritual needs at this moment, that we may persevere faithfully in grace today, but also in the ultimate, in the final moments, the moment of our death. Like, we bring this to Mary, we bring it to her with confidence that she brings them to her Son, to our Lord. They will be answered. And so, my brothers and sisters, we just today reflect again upon the great gift it is that we have access to Mary, that she has given to us as a mother who loves us. But also we recognize her particular place in the spiritual order, that she is the mother of Jesus, that she is the mother of God, that she is the queen of heaven and earth, and that Jesus and her have this particular relationship. And so let us again, with confidence today and gratitude for the gift of Mary's mother, just bring all of our needs and intentions, but particularly for those intentions most near and dear to our hearts and those most necessary, the grace to persevere, to follow the Lord today and to receive the grace of final perseverance at the hour of our death. 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 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. 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, brothers and sisters, thank you again for joining me, praying with me today. I look forward to continuing the journey with you again tomorrow. Poco. Poco. Friends. All right. God bless.
Podcast Summary: The Rosary in a Year – Day 15: Mother of God
Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Produced by: Ascension
Release Date: January 15, 2025
Podcast Title: The Rosary in a Year
On Day 15: Mother of God of The Rosary in a Year podcast, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames delves into the profound relationship between Jesus and Mary, exploring the theological and spiritual underpinnings of the Marian devotion. This episode emphasizes building a deeper connection with Jesus and Mary through the Rosary, illustrating how such a practice can transform one’s prayer life and serve as a conduit of grace to the world.
Fr. Ames begins by rooting the reflection in the Old Testament, specifically 1 Kings 2:19-20, highlighting the interaction between Bathsheba and King Solomon on behalf of Adonijah:
"So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat on his throne and had a seat brought for the king's mother, and she sat on his right. Then she said, I have one small request to make of you. Do not refuse me. And the king said to her, make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you."
(00:00-02:30)
Key Insights:
Relationships and Influence: Fr. Ames underscores how relationships in both natural and supernatural orders influence outcomes. In the natural order, connections and mutual respect facilitate requests being granted.
Reflection in Spiritual Order: Just as Bathsheba’s relationship with Solomon ensured Adonijah’s request was heard, our relationship with Mary ensures our prayers are interceded to Jesus. This mirrors the purity and efficacy of Marian intercession.
To elucidate the dynamics of influence and intercession, Fr. Ames presents a relatable neighborhood scenario:
"Pretend you're living in a neighborhood. To your left, you have Vito who owns the local pizza place, across the street Dr. Elizabeth and her family, and to your right, Grandma Janet..."
(05:00-08:45)
Scenario Breakdown:
Vito the Pizza Owner: Represents authority and influence. When you need access (e.g., the bathroom), Vito grants you permission because of your relationship, despite formal restrictions.
Grandma Janet: Symbolizes intercession through family ties. When you seek support for a charitable cause, Grandma Janet leverages her relationship with her son to help you secure necessary funds.
Spiritual Parallel:
Fr. Ames elaborates on Mary’s pivotal role as the Mother of God and our spiritual mother:
"Mary is our mother. She loves us, cares for us, and knows Jesus intimately. When we pray, 'Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,' we entrust our needs to her, confident that she will intercede on our behalf."
(12:15-15:45)
Key Points:
Mother of God: Emphasizes Mary's unique relationship with Jesus, reinforcing her role in our spiritual lives.
Intercessory Power: Drawing parallels to Solomon and Bathsheba, Fr. Ames illustrates that Mary’s intercession ensures our prayers reach Jesus effectively.
Scriptural Example – Wedding at Cana: Mary’s intervention when wine ran out exemplifies her active role in interceding for our needs, demonstrating trust in Jesus’ providence.
The episode highlights the significance of the Hail Mary prayer as a means of entrusting our lives to Mary:
"When we recite the Hail Mary, we are not just repeating words. We are placing our trust in Mary to guide and intercede for us, reflecting our deep relationship with both her and Jesus."
(20:30-25:00)
Components of the Hail Mary:
Spiritual Implications:
Consistent with the podcast’s overarching theme, Fr. Ames offers practical advice on establishing a daily prayer routine centered around the Rosary:
"Start small. Incorporate a few prayers into your daily schedule and gradually build upon this foundation. The Rosary becomes a natural part of your day, deepening your relationship with Jesus and Mary over time."
(28:10-30:20)
Strategies:
Fr. Ames wraps up the episode by reinforcing the importance of Mary in the spiritual journey and encourages listeners to embrace her intercessory role:
"Let us bring all our needs and intentions to Mary with confidence and gratitude, knowing that she will guide them to Jesus. Through this relationship, we receive the grace to persevere in our faith today and in our final moments."
(35:00-38:30)
Final Prayers Recited:
Closing Remarks:
Fr. Ames expresses gratitude to listeners for joining in prayer and looks forward to continuing the spiritual journey together in future episodes.
On Relationships in Spiritual Order:
"In the reading, Adonijah knew Bathsheba, who knew King Solomon. This interconnectedness ensures that requests are heard and granted."
(03:15)
On Mary's Unique Role:
"Mary is the mother of Jesus, and through her, we have a direct line to our Lord. This is the heart of the Rosary."
(10:05)
On Trusting Mary:
"When we entrust our needs to Mary, we are confident that she will intercede for us in the most profound way."
(22:40)
Day 15: Mother of God offers a rich exploration of Marian devotion, seamlessly blending scriptural analysis, relatable analogies, and practical advice to deepen listeners’ prayer lives. Fr. Mark-Mary Ames effectively conveys the transformative power of the Rosary, encouraging believers to cultivate a meaningful relationship with Mary and Jesus. By understanding Mary’s role as both mother and intercessor, listeners are empowered to integrate the Rosary into their daily routines, fostering spiritual growth and becoming vessels of grace in the world.
For the complete prayer plan and additional resources, visit ascensionpress.com/riy.