Podcast Summary: The Rosary in a Year – Day 2: The King Knows You

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)
• Host/Author: Ascension
• Episode: Day 2: The King Knows You
• Release Date: January 2, 2025

Introduction

In the second episode of Ascension’s The Rosary in a Year podcast, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, delves deeper into the transformative power of the Rosary as a means to cultivate a profound relationship with Jesus and Mary. Titled "The King Knows You," this episode emphasizes recognizing Jesus as the King who intimately knows each individual, encouraging listeners to foster a personal and attentive prayer life.

Encountering Jesus as King

Fr. Mark-Mary Ames begins the episode by outlining the focus for the current and upcoming days: practicing the presence of God in prayer. He explains that the first two days are dedicated to encountering Jesus, while the following two will concentrate on praying with Mary.

"Today and for the following three days, we're going to be practicing encountering another in prayer. This aspect of prayer fits under the larger umbrella of what is classically referred to as practicing the presence of God." [00:44]

The episode introduces the Litany of the Sacred Heart as a tool to enrich and guide this prayer journey. Fr. Mark-Mary shares his initial reservations about litanies, citing a struggle with understanding their poetic titles:

"I've been a litany guy. The reason I've historically struggled with this form of prayer is that there's this recitation of all of these titles of Our Lord or Our Lady, et cetera. And to be honest, I just don't really know what most of them mean." [01:32]

However, through dedicated study and reflection, Fr. Mark-Mary experiences a transformation in his appreciation for litanies, finding them deeply enriching and beautiful.

Understanding the Litany of the Sacred Heart

Fr. Mark-Mary provides a brief explanation of the litany, highlighting its role in vocal prayer and its focus on specific aspects of Jesus’ character. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the meanings behind the titles to fully appreciate the litany's depth.

"A litany is a type of vocal prayer, and each of the litanies is going to have a particular emphasis, like the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The litany then has a series of invocations that mention other titles of the mystery being prayed with and about the characteristics of whatever the subject is." [02:18]

He introduces the day's invocation: “Heart of Jesus, King and center of All Hearts,” setting the stage for a meditation on Jesus' kingship and His intimate knowledge of each individual.

Visualization and Personal Connection

Fr. Mark-Mary guides listeners through a visualization exercise, encouraging them to imagine Jesus seated majestically on His throne, surrounded by angels and holding the world in His hands.

"Jesus is the King who sits upon the throne. Now, Scripture tells us that he is surrounded by a host of angels, he's clothed in majesty, and he holds the whole world in his hand." [03:37]

He shares a personal anecdote to illustrate Jesus' personal knowledge of each person:

"I heard Father Mike on one of his videos mention something along the lines of Father Mark Mary is going to be coming on for a live Q and A. I was kind of embarrassed to say it, but the fact that he knew my name meant a lot to me. But 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." [04:22]

This story underscores the central theme: Jesus, as the King of the universe, intimately knows and cares for each individual.

Choosing the Better Part in Prayer

Fr. Mark-Mary challenges listeners to focus their attention solely on Jesus during prayer, avoiding distractions that can lead to anxiety and worry. He references the biblical story of Martha to illustrate the importance of prioritizing prayer over worldly concerns.

"Mary has chosen the better part. So, my friends, as we've gone about this world, and sometimes even our prayer, like so, fixated and focused on so many things that are not him, causing us to experience anxiety and worry about so many things, let us now at this moment, choose the better part." [07:07]

Listeners are encouraged to create a mental image of approaching Jesus in His throne room, making Him the focal point of their prayer:

"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. You can sit or kneel before him. Now, look Jesus in the eyes. ... Make him the center and the focus of your attention." [07:46]

Deepening the Relationship with the King

Fr. Mark-Mary emphasizes that Jesus desires a personal relationship with each listener. He invites them to hear Jesus call their name and respond with love, needs, and desires:

"Recognize that He recognizes you. He sees you. He knows you. Now hear him say your name. Pay attention to the movement in your heart and respond to Him. Share with him your love, your needs, your desires. The King, Jesus. He knows you and he loves to hear your voice." [08:57]

Closing the Episode with Prayer

The episode concludes with a structured prayer session, integrating the principles discussed. Fr. Mark-Mary and his co-host lead listeners through the Our Father, three Hail Marys, and a Glory Be, maintaining focus on Jesus as the central figure:

"Continue to look at him while we are saying these prayers. Continue to keep him before you. Keep him at the center of your heart, your attention, your very, very life as we pray in this moment. Remember, 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]

Conclusion

Day 2 of The Rosary in a Year podcast effectively guides listeners to deepen their prayer life by recognizing and embracing Jesus as their personal King who knows and loves them intimately. Through scripture, personal anecdotes, and practical prayer exercises, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames invites believers to cultivate a more attentive and heartfelt relationship with Jesus and Mary, fostering a transformative spiritual journey.

Notable Quotes:

• "I've been a litany guy. The reason I've historically struggled with this form of prayer is that there's this recitation of all of these titles of Our Lord or Our Lady, et cetera. And to be honest, I just don't really know what most of them mean." – Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [01:32]

• "Jesus, the eternal King, he knows my name, and he's always known my name." – Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [04:22]

• "Mary has chosen the better part. So, my friends, ... let us now at this moment, choose the better part." – Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [07:07]

• "Recognize that He recognizes you. He sees you. He knows you. Now hear him say your name." – Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [08:57]

Resources:

For the complete prayer plan and additional resources, listeners can visit Ascension Press - Rosary in a Year or text RIY to 33777.