Podcast Summary: The Rosary in a Year – Day 57: Let's Step Away

Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Release Date: February 26, 2025
Podcast: The Rosary in a Year
Host/Author: Ascension
Episode Title: Day 57: Let's Step Away

Introduction

In Day 57 of The Rosary in a Year podcast, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames delves into the Fourth Luminous Mystery: The Transfiguration. He utilizes personal anecdotes and relatable metaphors to illustrate the necessity of stepping away from worldly distractions to deepen one’s relationship with Jesus and Mary through the Rosary.

Exploring the Fourth Luminous Mystery: The Transfiguration

Fr. Mark-Mary begins by reading the Gospel passage from Matthew 17:1-13, which narrates the Transfiguration of Jesus on the high mountain with Peter, James, and John. He emphasizes the awe-inspiring experience of the disciples witnessing Jesus’ divine glory alongside Moses and Elijah.

Notable Quote:
"This is where we're able to really see the Lord and really appreciate him."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [05:30]

Personal Reflection: Seeing the Stars

To draw a parallel with the Transfiguration, Fr. Mark-Mary shares a poignant memory from his childhood—the first time he truly saw the stars. Growing up in the suburbs, his exposure to the night sky was limited by light pollution. However, during an outdoor educational trip in sixth grade, he experienced an overwhelming sense of awe observing the Milky Way and countless shooting stars.

Notable Quote:
"The first time that I ever saw the stars, I really saw them because I came from the suburbs... I remember very well the experience of, like, awe. This is awesome."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [10:15]

Metaphor of Light: Stars vs. Times Square

Fr. Mark-Mary contrasts the natural, serene lights of the stars with the artificial, chaotic lights of Times Square. He explains how light pollution in urban settings blocks the beauty of the night sky, making it impossible to appreciate the stars' brilliance. Similarly, in our spiritual lives, the "light pollution" of modern distractions such as entertainment media and social media obstructs our ability to contemplate and connect deeply with God.

Notable Quote:
"These are the lights of the world... if you're in the middle of Times Square and you look up into the sky trying to see the stars, what will you see? You will see nothing."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [15:45]

Spiritual Implications: Overcoming Modern Light Pollution

Drawing from his experiences, Fr. Mark-Mary highlights how the incessant noise and distractions of contemporary life act as spiritual light pollution. This pollution hinders believers from experiencing the profound beauty and brilliance of Christ’s face, much like how city lights obscure the stars.

Notable Quote:
"There’s all of this, what we could call it, like a light pollution. There’s 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."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [20:10]

Invitation to Step Away: Emulating the Transfiguration

Fr. Mark-Mary extends a heartfelt invitation to listeners to emulate the disciples’ experience by stepping away from their daily distractions. He relates this to his personal journey, where consistent invitations from God have led him to seek solitude and silence, much like the mountaintop experience of the Transfiguration.

Notable Quote:
"Jesus is saying, hey, let's go hiking. Let's step away. Let's go apart. Let's cut out the noise."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [25:30]

He encourages listeners to create environments conducive to prayer and contemplation, allowing them to witness the "splendor of the goodness of God shining forth in the face of Jesus."

Guided Prayer and Reflection

Fr. Mark-Mary concludes the episode with a guided prayer, inviting listeners to seek divine assistance in identifying and removing the sources of their spiritual light pollution. He emphasizes the importance of asking for grace and courage to achieve a more profound connection with Jesus and Mary through the Rosary.

Prayer Excerpt:
"Jesus, show me what I need to step away from. Show me what's causing this light pollution and making it hard for me to see your face."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [30:00]

Conclusion

Day 57 of The Rosary in a Year serves as a compelling reminder of the necessity to disconnect from the overwhelming distractions of modern life to fully appreciate and deepen one's spiritual relationship. Through relatable metaphors and personal anecdotes, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames effectively guides listeners towards creating sacred space for prayer and meditation, fostering a richer, more meaningful engagement with the Rosary.

Connect with the Podcast:
For the complete prayer plan and more resources, visit ascensionpress.com/riy. To download the prayer plan or use special features, the Ascension app is recommended as the best platform for listening and engaging with the podcast content.