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

Day 57: Let’s Step Away (2026)

Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR (Franciscan Friars of the Renewal)
Podcast by: Ascension
Date: February 26, 2026

Overview

Main Theme:
Fr. Mark-Mary Ames guides listeners to reflect on the Fourth Luminous Mystery, the Transfiguration, focusing on the spiritual necessity of “stepping away” from the distractions of daily life to encounter the brilliance and awe of Christ more deeply. He uses the metaphor of seeing the stars in the wilderness versus the overpowering lights of Times Square to illustrate how “light pollution” from the world hinders our ability to perceive the brilliance of God's glory in prayer.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Mountaintop Experience: The Transfiguration

Scripture Reading:

• Fr. Mark-Mary reads Matthew 17:1-13, recounting Jesus leading Peter, James, and John up the mountain and being transfigured before them in glory.

“His face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light... This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (01:44)

Reflection:

• Fr. Mark-Mary compares the disciples' awe on the mountaintop to his first encounter with the stars as a child during an outdoor education trip.
• Being "set apart" from the comforts of home and the distractions of ordinary life allowed him to experience true wonder and beauty for the first time.

“I remember very well the experience of, like, awe. This is awesome. At the same time, I remember laying on the hard floor and being cold...away from many of my comforts...It is pedagogical, it is noteworthy. There's a lesson in the transfiguration happening up on a mountaintop.” (03:42 - 04:58)

The Need to Step Away

• The “mountaintop” is a place of vulnerability and discomfort, symbolizing stepping away from the world’s distractions.
• To see and appreciate the “stars” (the truths of faith and presence of Christ), we must be willing to leave behind our comfort zones and immerse ourselves in silence and solitude.

“The gospel itself says that Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain apart. And it is here that he was transfigured before them. And it is here that they experienced awe.” (05:00 - 05:20)

“To really be moved by [the stars] and to see them and to appreciate them, you need to go set apart. You need to step away.” (05:39 - 05:45)

The Contrast: The Lights of the World

• Fr. Mark-Mary compares the mountaintop experience to standing in Times Square in New York City:
  • Bright, flashing lights create an environment where it's impossible to see the real stars in the sky.
  • These “worldly lights” represent distractions such as media, streaming, and social media, which prevent us from experiencing true spiritual awe.

“If you're in the middle of Times Square and … look up into the sky trying to see the stars, what will you see? You will see nothing. It will simply be black because of all these worldly lights. All of the light pollution is going to actually block out the stars.” (06:32 - 06:44)

• He observes that in modern life, “Times Square is now in our hand”—our phones, streaming, and endless digital stimulation crowd out any real encounter with God.

“Many of us, because of the lives we live, particularly our relationship to entertainment, media, social media, streaming, the phone, we may not be physically in Times Square, but Times Square is now in our hand...all of this noise that we are consuming externally and that we have interiorized, which makes it so hard for us to really contemplate, ponder, and be moved with awe by the lights of faith.” (07:00 - 07:38)

The Invitation: Join Jesus on the Mountain

• The Lord continuously invites us to go “hiking” with Him—to be set apart, slow down, and create an environment conducive to encountering His brilliance.

“For years, in an ongoing pattern, the Lord has been, if you will, inviting me hiking. The Lord has been saying, ‘Hey, let's go up the mountain apart. Let's step away. Let's slow down. Let's create a culture and an environment more like the mountaintop so that you can see and be moved by the beauty of my brilliance.’” (07:52 - 08:12)

• As we pray and meditate on the Transfiguration, we are encouraged to discern what we need to “step away” from in order to see Christ more fully.

“Jesus is saying, hey, let's go hiking. Let's step away. Let's go apart. Let's cut out the noise. Why? So that you can see that which is most awesome and most brilliant and most beautiful and that which you are made for: the splendor of the goodness of God shining forth in the face of Jesus.” (08:11 - 08:50)

• The episode closes by suggesting a practical prayer: Ask Jesus to show you what is causing “light pollution” in your life.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Distraction:

  “How many of us, as we try and pray or as we try and contemplate the truth of God, like, we're just so distracted. It doesn't go anywhere. There's all of this… 'light pollution.'” (07:18 - 07:32)

• On the Need for Silence:

  “Show me what's causing this light pollution and making it hard for me to see your face. Asking for this grace and the courage that it takes.” (09:11 - 09:15)

• On Vocation to Awe:

  “So that you can see that which is most awesome and most brilliant and most beautiful and that which you are made for. The splendor of the goodness of God shining forth in the face of Jesus.” (08:45 - 08:50)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | | ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | 00:21 | Introductions and download info for Rosary plan | | 01:19 | Scripture: Matthew 17:1-13—The Transfiguration | | 03:29 | Personal story: Seeing the stars for the first time | | 05:19 | Reflection on why the mountaintop is needed for awe | | 05:45 | Contrasting mountaintop with Times Square—and modern spiritual “pollution”| | 07:00 | The pervasiveness of digital/media-based distraction | | 08:12 | The Lord’s ongoing invitation to “step away” | | 08:45 | The purpose (to experience God’s splendor) | | 09:11 | Practical prayer: asking Jesus to reveal personal “light pollution” |

Tone & Language

Fr. Mark-Mary speaks with gentle encouragement, honest vulnerability, and vivid metaphor, inviting listeners into self-examination and hope. His tone is relatable, earnest, and gently challenging, balancing personal anecdote with practical spirituality.

Takeaways

• To see the “brilliance” of Christ (the stars), one must detach from distracting worldly lights and intentionally create space for silence and awe.
• “Stepping away” is not just a recommendation but a spiritual necessity in our distraction-filled lives.
• Examine your daily life: What causes “light pollution,” and how is Jesus inviting you up the mountain to see Him more clearly?

For more resources, or to follow the full prayer plan, visit: ascensionpress.com/riy