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

Episode: Day 3: Heart of Jesus
Date: January 3, 2026
Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames
Podcast by: Ascension

Overview

In this episode, "Heart of Jesus," Fr. Mark-Mary Ames continues guiding listeners through building a habit of prayer and relationship with Jesus. The episode invites listeners into a meditative journey, using the image of working alongside Jesus in Joseph’s woodshop to reflect on the patience, mercy, and gentle companionship that Jesus offers. Fr. Mark-Mary illustrates how learning to pray—especially the Rosary—doesn’t require perfection, but a willingness to be present with Christ.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Prayer as Relationship, Not Ritual

• Theme: Prayer is communicating with the living God, not reciting to an inanimate entity.
• Insight:
  • “I’m not just talking to myself or a statue, right, that doesn’t see me or hear me or most importantly, love me. That’s just not prayer. Prayer is an encounter with the living God.” (01:10)
• Fr. Mark-Mary reminds listeners that prayer, including the Rosary, should always start from the awareness that Jesus listens, sees, and loves us.

2. Meditation as a Quest

• Guidance: Quoting the Catechism’s view of meditation as a quest to know Jesus personally.
• Invitation to Listeners:
  • Ask deeper questions about Jesus’ identity and His heart:
    “Jesus, who are you? Jesus, what is your heart like? And Jesus, what is your heart like for me?” (02:05)
• The episode emphasizes ongoing contemplation of Jesus’ face as a way to build relationship.

3. Entering the Woodshop – Imaginative Prayer

• Visio Divina: Listeners are prompted to picture themselves in Joseph’s workshop with Jesus.
• Sensory Details:
  • Sunlight and breeze through open windows, tools scattered, aroma of wood shavings. (03:00–04:00)
• Invitation:
  • Jesus invites listeners to make candlesticks for Mary, personalizing the meditation scene.
  • "Jesus invited you to join him to make some wood candlesticks for Mary. Said, do you want to make some candlesticks for mom? Yeah, let’s do it." (04:08)

4. Lessons from Jesus’ Patience and Mercy

• Modeling Learning: Fr. Mark-Mary invites listeners to imagine their own awkwardness and Jesus’ masterful confidence working side-by-side.
• Reflection:
  • “Do you feel pressure to get it right? Is there stress there, a need, like, to keep pace with Jesus? … Is your heart experiencing anxiety, stress, or… peace and freedom?” (06:40)
• Message: The heart of Jesus is “patient and full of mercy,” not critical or rushed.

5. Encountering Our Feelings in Jesus’ Presence

• Fr. Mark-Mary shares personal experiences of anxiety about making mistakes around others and how that differs from Jesus’ gentle approach.
• Quote:
  • “He knows this is new to me. He doesn’t expect me to figure it out right away. I’m not his first student either.” (08:45)
• Notable Moment: If a listener breaks the piece of wood, Jesus gently gets a new piece for both and simply starts over—no frustration, just companionship. (09:20–10:00)
• "Can I let you in on a little secret?" — Jesus says:
  • “Mom wants us to spend time together more than she wants these new candlesticks. In fact, us just spending time together is the greatest gift that we can give to her as well.” (10:24)

6. Prayer, Progress, and the Rosary

• Encouragement:
  • “Our prayer in general and our praying of the rosary, it’s just not something that we need to execute with perfect form and concentration. We don’t just have to get it right.” (12:10)
• Permission to be Beginners: Jesus is patient and full of mercy—okay to be distracted, to make mistakes, even to struggle or fall asleep sometimes.
• Key Message:
  • “But it’s not okay just to give up, right? It’s not okay just to stop praying. We need to remain with Him.” (13:00)
• The focus should be on relationship, not on achieving perfect technique.

7. Bringing the Meditation into Daily Prayer

• Fr. Mark-Mary urges listeners to carry this feeling of Jesus’ patient presence into their daily prayer, especially when praying the Rosary.
• Noteworthy Guidance:
  • “He sees us, but he looks upon us, and he looks upon our prayer and receives it with a Heart that is patient and a heart full of mercy.” (13:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “Prayer is an encounter with the living God.” – Fr. Mark-Mary (01:10)
• "Jesus, what is your heart like for me?" (02:05)
• “You’re in Jesus’ presence. Do you feel pressure to get it right? … Or do you experience peace and freedom?” (06:40)
• “He knows this is new to me. … I’m not his first student either.” (08:45)
• “I love spending time with you, and I love that you’re spending time with me.” – Fr. Mark-Mary, channeling Jesus (10:12)
• “Us just spending time together is the greatest gift that we can give to her [Mary] as well.” (10:24)
• “Our prayer … it’s just not something that we need to execute with perfect form and concentration.” (12:10)
• “We have permission to be beginners. We have time to learn. Jesus is patient. It’s okay if we make mistakes.” (12:40)
• “But it’s not okay just to give up, right? It’s not okay just to stop praying. We need to remain with Him.” (13:00)

Important Timestamps for Segments

• 00:00–01:35 – Introduction, theme of prayer as relationship.
• 02:00–03:50 – Meditation as a quest; introducing the woodshop scene.
• 03:50–06:30 – Guided imaginative prayer: working alongside Jesus.
• 06:30–07:35 – Reflection on feelings during the meditation scene.
• 07:35–10:50 – Exploring Jesus’s patience, anecdotes about mistakes, Jesus' gentle teaching, and his priorities.
• 10:50–13:45 – Applying this spirit to prayer, especially the Rosary; emphasis on relationship over perfection.
• 13:46–End – Closing prayer (Our Father, Hail Marys, Glory Be), takeaway message.

Episode Takeaways

• The heart of Jesus is patient and merciful—more concerned with relationship than results.
• When you pray, especially the Rosary, bring a beginner’s heart; focus on being in Jesus’ presence, not achieving perfect recitation.
• Let the meditation of the woodshop remind you that simply being with Jesus is of greater value than producing spiritual “results.”
• If you struggle or feel anxious in prayer, acknowledge those feelings with honesty—Jesus’s gaze is always full of understanding.
• Remain in prayer, trusting in Jesus’ gentle companionship on the journey, regardless of your performance.

Fr. Mark-Mary’s tone throughout is gentle, inviting, and pastorally encouraging, using imaginative scenes and personal honesty to draw listeners deeper into the heart of Jesus and the daily habit of prayer.