Day 191: Unworthy Yet Welcomed

Summary

The Rosary in a Year: Day 191 - "Unworthy Yet Welcomed"

Episode Release Date: July 10, 2025
Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Produced by: Ascension Press

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Introduction

In Day 191: "Unworthy Yet Welcomed" of The Rosary in a Year podcast, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, leads listeners through a heartfelt meditation on the third joyful mystery of the Rosary: the Nativity. This episode invites both seasoned practitioners and newcomers to deepen their prayer life, fostering a more profound relationship with Jesus and Mary.

Day's Theme: Embracing the Gift of the Nativity

The central theme explores the paradoxical feeling of being "unworthy yet welcomed" in receiving the gift of Jesus Christ. This duality emphasizes the immense joy and the accompanying sense of responsibility and humility that come with embracing the Savior's birth.

Meditation and Reflections

1. The Story of Fitz: Overwhelm and Joy

[Timestamp: 01:00]

Fr. Ames recounts the poignant story of Fitz, a man who recently emerged from incarceration and attends a Christmas party at a homeless shelter. Overwhelmed by the outpouring of joy and generosity, Fitz finds himself in tears, exclaiming, “It’s just too much” ([04:05]). This narrative poignantly illustrates the human struggle with feeling unworthy of God's boundless love and the profound impact of divine generosity.

2. Insights from St. Leo the Great

[Timestamp: 05:03]

Drawing from the writings of St. Leo the Great, Fr. Ames highlights the transformative power of Christ's birth. He quotes, “There is no proper place for sadness when we keep the birthday of the life, which destroys the fear of mortality and brings us the joy of promised eternity” ([05:45]). This reflection underscores the Nativity as a pivotal moment that dispels fear and instills eternal hope.

3. Personal Invitation to Joy

[Timestamp: 07:00]

Fr. Ames extends an invitation to listeners to embrace a personal joy derived from understanding and accepting Jesus's mission. He emphasizes, “It is an invitation to a personal joy” ([07:00]), encouraging individuals to allow this joy to draw them closer to both Jesus and Mary, enriching their spiritual journey.

4. Reflecting on Pellegrini’s Nativity Artwork

[Timestamp: 09:50]

Analyzing Pellegrini’s depiction of the Nativity, Fr. Ames focuses on the expressions and interactions of Joseph and Mary as they gaze upon Jesus in the manger. He notes, “They see before them in the manger their God, their Savior, but also their son” ([10:10]). This observation highlights the dual aspects of worship and familial love, illustrating the intimate relationship between the holy figures and their divine son. Fr. Ames connects this to the believer's relationship with Jesus, emphasizing both reverence and personal affection in prayer.

Prayer Reflection Questions

[Timestamp: 07:57]

Fr. Ames encourages listeners to engage deeply with their prayer life by contemplating the following questions:

1. What truth of God is being revealed to you today?

   • "From what we've reviewed today, or anything from your own personal prayer, what is the truth of God, what of the heart of God is being revealed that you are being invited to receive?" ([07:57])

2. How is God calling you to respond?

   • "How is God calling you to respond?" ([08:25])

3. What grace do you need to request and rejoice for in this moment of prayer?

   • "What is the grace that you need to request and then rejoice? Give thanks for this moment of prayer, for the truth revealed and the grace communicated and the share in Jesus' own life that is offered." ([08:25])

These reflective questions aim to deepen the listener's personal connection with God and encourage a more intentional and heartfelt prayer practice.

Guided Rosary Prayer

[Timestamp: 09:20 – 14:38]

The episode features a guided recitation of the Rosary, allowing listeners to participate actively in the prayer. This segment includes:

• Our Father

  • "Our Father, who art in heaven..." ([09:20])

• Hail Marys

  • Repeated recitations of the Hail Mary, fostering meditative focus ([10:02] - [13:51])

• Glory Be

  • Concluding with the Glory Be prayer ([14:16])

This guided prayer serves as a practical application of the day's meditation, reinforcing the themes of joy, humility, and worship.

Conclusion

[Timestamp: 14:46]

Fr. Ames wraps up the episode with a heartfelt thank you to listeners, expressing anticipation for continuing the spiritual journey together in future episodes. He reinforces the community aspect of the podcast, fostering a sense of shared faith and mutual support.

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Notable Quotes

1. Fitz’s Overwhelm:

   • “It’s just too much. It's just too much.” ([04:05])

2. St. Leo the Great on Joy:

   • “There is no proper place for sadness when we keep the birthday of the life, which destroys the fear of mortality and brings us the joy of promised eternity.” ([05:45])

3. Invitation to Personal Joy:

   • “It is an invitation to a personal joy.” ([07:00])

4. Reflection on Adoration:

   • “They see before them in the manger their God, their Savior, but also their son.” ([10:10])

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Final Thoughts

The Rosary in a Year: Day 191 masterfully blends storytelling, theological reflection, and guided prayer to offer a comprehensive and enriching spiritual experience. By addressing the complexities of feeling unworthy yet profoundly welcomed, Fr. Ames provides listeners with both comfort and a deeper understanding of the Nativity's significance. This episode serves as a testament to the transformative power of the Rosary in fostering a closer relationship with Jesus and Mary.

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For the complete prayer plan and additional resources, visit Ascension Press - Rosary in a Year.

Transcript

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Foreign.

[B]

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.

[A]

This is day 191.

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To download the prayer plan for Rosary in a year, visit ascensionpress.com forward/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]

A great way to track your progress.

[B]

The best place to listen to podcasts is 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. On behalf of myself and the whole team here at Ascension, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who's helped support this podcast financially. Your support is so appreciated and helps us to reach as many people as possible. And if you haven't already, please consider supporting [e-mail] support.

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Today we will be meditating upon and praying with the third joyful mystery, the Nativity. So again today we will begin with a bit of review, calling to mind some of what we've covered up to this point. Now, if you recall one of our meditations, our early meditations on the Nativity, where we're looking at Luke, chapter 2, verses 1 through 20. I shared the story of the man named Fitz. Fitz, who had come to the homeless shelter just getting out of prison after a number of years. And it's the evening that we are having our Christmas party and he comes in that night and he joins us. And slowly but surely he kind of sees everything happening. And then it's his opportunity to go and to get a couple of gifts. And he comes back and the brothers work in the shelter. They find him with his head in his palms, like in tears. And as the brother goes up and says, hey, Fitz, are you okay? He says, it's just too much. It's just too much. And we saw our brother there, our brother Fitz, overwhelmed with joy, overwhelmed by the heaviness of the gift, so aware of his unworthiness, but experiencing so deeply the gift and how right this response is before the Nativity, where we encounter, where we receive the gift par excellence, the gift of Jesus, my brothers and sisters. It's a joyful gift, but it is a heavy gift. And I can't help but think that Fitz's response to what he received is right. And just for us. It is a fitting response before the gift of God, before our Savior Jesus, born in Bethlehem. And in some ways consistent with this theme is the writing specifically from St. Leo the Great, where he, our Savior, dearly beloved, was born today. Let us be glad, for there is no proper place for sadness when we keep the birthday of the life, which destroys the fear of mortality and brings us the joy of promised eternity. And I do believe there is this invitation to great joy. Joy on behalf of all of history, of all of humanity, but also joy for you and me. It is an invitation to a personal joy. And to each of us, St. Leo says these words. There's no proper place for sadness before the Nativity. But also we recognize we're all here on a journey, and that's the place, that's the invitation. That's where we're headed. Perhaps today we don't experience that joy, but can we receive the invitation to be drawn deeper and deeper into this joy of who Jesus is, of what he has come to do, and the joyful news of who he is, of what he has come to do, and that this is truly a cause and source of joy for all of us. And then, particularly with our artwork, we took a moment to kind of look at the eyes, to look at the people present. And we saw, for example, in the painting of the Nativity by the artist Pellegrini, we saw Joseph and Mary.

[C]

And.

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Their eyes on Jesus and the ways in which, for Joseph and Mary to Jesus, there is worship, there is adoration. They see before them in the manger their God, their Savior, but also their son, Joseph as foster father, Mary as mother, and then the Nativity, there's this beautiful union before worship and warmth, and that the one they worship, the one who is their God, as he grows, Jesus, he will receive their worship, but he will also offer them not just salvation, but also warmth, that he will deeply and dearly love them both, love their voices, love spending time with them. And that is Christians like here and now, particularly in prayer. We're offered the opportunity to enter into this place, the scene at the Nativity, to sit at the table in Nazareth to worship Jesus, to receive his salvation, but also to love God, to love Jesus with warmth and affection and to receive his love, his affection for us. Now we're going to slow down. We're going to take a moment resting here. And now I'll invite you to. First of all, from what we've reviewed today, or anything from your own personal prayer, like today, at this moment, what is the truth of God, what of the heart of God is being revealed that you are being invited to receive? How is God calling you to respond?

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Sam.

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What is the grace that you need to request and then rejoice? Give thanks for this moment of prayer, for the truth revealed and the grace communicated and the share in Jesus own life that is offered. And now with Mary, let us pray. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

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Amen.

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Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name and 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.

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Amen.

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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.

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Amen.

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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.

[C]

Amen.

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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.

[C]

Amen.

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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.

[C]

Amen.

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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.

[C]

Amen.

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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.

[C]

Amen.

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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.

[C]

Amen.

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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.

[C]

Amen.

[A]

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.

[C]

Amen.

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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.

[C]

Amen.

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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.

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Amen.

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In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

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Amen.

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Okay, so thanks so much for joining me and praying with me today. I look forward to continuing this journey with you again tomorrow. Poco. Poco. Friends, God bless y' all.