The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)

Episode: Day 2: The King Knows You
Date: January 2, 2026
Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR

Episode Overview

In this episode, “The King Knows You,” Fr. Mark-Mary continues the journey of building a daily prayer habit with the Rosary by reflecting on the personal relationship each believer can have with Christ the King. He guides listeners through the concept of encountering Jesus personally in prayer, using the "Litany of the Sacred Heart" as inspiration, and invites his audience to a personal, imaginative meditation on Jesus as King—one who knows and loves each of us individually.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Encountering Another in Prayer (00:44–01:09)

• For four days, the podcast will focus on the practice of encountering another in prayer, starting with Jesus and then moving to Mary.
• This approach is rooted in the classical practice of “practicing the presence of God”—raising our minds and hearts to Him.

2. The Litany as a Gateway (01:09–03:15)

• Fr. Mark-Mary shares his personal struggle with “litanies,” explaining they once felt like “a repetition of empty phrases” because he didn’t understand the titles.
• After studying the titles (especially when preparing this series), he finds them “profoundly rich and beautiful” (01:34–01:55).
• He describes a litany as a vocal prayer form that focuses on invocations, drawing out aspects of a particular mystery (e.g., the Sacred Heart of Jesus).

3. Today’s Focus: Jesus, King and Center of All Hearts (03:15–06:18)

• The invocation "Heart of Jesus, King and center of all hearts" is highlighted as today’s point of prayer (03:15–03:41).
• Fr. Mark-Mary invites listeners to imagine Christ the King in a throne room—clothed in majesty, surrounded by angels, holding the world in His hand.
• He reminds listeners: “He is the Lawgiver, the Ruler, and the victorious one. And yet this king, he knows your name.” (04:07–04:22)

4. Personal Story: The Power of Being Known (04:22–06:18)

• Fr. Mark-Mary recounts an “embarrassing story” about feeling honored simply because Fr. Mike Schmitz (another Catholic media figure) mentioned his name in a video (04:22–05:47).
• He uses this story as a bridge: “But my friends, he [Fr. Mike] is not the king, like the literal King of the universe. … Even more important than Father Mike knowing my name… is that Jesus, the eternal King, he knows my name, and he’s always known my name…” (05:47–06:13)
• He emphasizes: “The King, Christ the King, he knows me. And the King, he knows you.” (06:15–06:18)

5. Invitation to Prayer and Reflection (06:18–09:39)

• The episode returns to the “throne room” in imagination—now as a place where the King (Jesus) is focused wholly on us.
• Fr. Mark-Mary observes: although Jesus eagerly welcomes us, we’re often distracted—by our own problems, by phones, or by what’s going on in the world (06:51–07:11).
• He draws a parallel with Scripture: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and anxious about so many things. One thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part.” (07:11–07:38)
• His invitation: “In prayer, I want you to go to imagine yourself approaching the King as he sits on his throne, this King of love, as he looks upon you and approach him, draw close to him…” (07:43–08:00)

6. Guided Contemplation (08:00–09:39)

• Listeners are led in a meditation: approach the King, sit or kneel before Him, look into His eyes, and allow Him to speak your name.
• Key encouragements:
  • “Make him the center and the focus of your attention. Raise your mind to him and recognize that He recognizes you.” (08:15–08:23)
  • “He knows you and he loves to hear your voice. Look at Him. Speak to him.” (09:14–09:24)

7. Closing Communal Prayers (09:39–12:27)

• Fr. Mark-Mary leads the “Our Father,” three “Hail Marys,” and a “Glory Be,” reiterating the direction: “Continue to keep him before you. Keep him at the center of your heart, your attention, your very, very life. … The King sees you. The King knows you. The King loves to hear your voice. And the King of the universe knows your name.” (09:39–10:09)
• The prayers are meant to be entered into with an intentional focus on Christ’s presence.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Relating to Prayer Forms:
  “To be honest, I just don’t really know what most of them mean. So it really does feel like this repetition of these empty phrases. … But as I’ve come to understand them, I’ve come to encounter them, experience them as profoundly rich and beautiful.” (01:34–01:55, Fr. Mark-Mary)
• On the Throne Room of Christ: “He is the King who sits upon the throne. … And yet this king, he knows your name.” (03:42–04:22, Fr. Mark-Mary)
• On Being Known: “More important than Fr. Mike knowing my name… is that Jesus, the eternal King, he knows my name, and he’s always known my name. He knit me together in my mother’s womb. He knows the numbers of hairs on my head.” (05:47–06:13)
• Invitation to Encounter: “Approach the King as he sits on his throne, this King of love, as he looks upon you and approach him, draw close to him… Now, look Jesus in the eyes. Behold your king in this moment… Recognize that He recognizes you. He sees you. He knows you.” (07:43–08:18)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:44–01:09] – Introduction to “encountering another in prayer”
• [01:09–03:15] – Litany and understanding its depth
• [03:39–04:22] – Imagination exercise: throne room and Christ the King
• [04:22–06:18] – Fr. Mark-Mary’s personal story of being known
• [06:18–07:38] – The challenge of distractions and scriptural insight
• [07:43–09:39] – Meditative guidance: encounter with Christ
• [09:39–12:27] – Communal prayer and contemplative focus

Tone

Fr. Mark-Mary’s tone is approachable, humble, honest, and pastoral—using his own experiences and struggles to invite listeners to deeper intimacy with Christ. His encouragements are gentle yet insistent: the King of the Universe knows you, loves you, and wants your undivided attention, especially in prayer.

Summary Takeaway

This episode offers a powerful meditation on being personally known and loved by Jesus, the King. Fr. Mark-Mary’s practical advice—imagine meeting the King who knows your name, and allow yourself to be seen, loved, and heard—transforms rote prayer into living relationship. The message is an invitation not just to pray, but to truly encounter Christ at the center of the heart.