Day 71: Behold God

Summary

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

Episode: Day 71: Behold God
Date: March 12, 2026
Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Production: Ascension

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Overview

Theme:
Day 71 centers on meditating on the third Joyful Mystery of the Rosary—the Nativity (the birth of Jesus)—with a focus on “Behold the heart of God.” This episode emphasizes encountering God’s humility and vulnerability in the manger, and deepening trust and intimacy with Him through imaginative prayer (Lectio Divina).

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Introduction to the Third Joyful Mystery – The Nativity

• The hosts introduce Luke 2:1–20, drawing listeners into the biblical moment.
• Focus: Moving beyond the historical events to the core: encountering the heart of God in Jesus’ humility.

2. Details in the Nativity Narrative (04:00–04:55)

• The passage is set in a specific historical context (Caesar Augustus, Quirinius), emphasizing God’s sovereignty over “worldly rulers,” as highlighted by Pope Benedict.
• Quote:
  “These worldly rulers who think they're in charge, but God is revealing that ultimately he is the one who is the Lord and Master of world events.” — Fr. Mark Mary (04:11)
• Angels announce Christ’s birth not to the powerful, but “to lowly shepherds”—a sign of God’s reversal of expectations.

3. Imaginative Meditation – Entering the Manger Scene (05:40–07:00)

• Listeners are invited to use their imaginations:
  • Picture the setting: What do Mary and Joseph wear? Is it hot or cold? What animals are present?
  • Tune into the feelings of the shepherds and their response—wonder, awe, possible joyful adoration.
  • Step deeply into Mary’s shoes, “pondering all these things in her heart” (05:04).
• Quote:
  “I’m going to ask you to imagine Mary holding the baby Jesus and see his little eyelids close to shut tight as he naps, hear his breathing. Notice the movement of his chest as he inhales and exhales. See his little hand wrapped around one of Mary's fingers. Notice how small, fragile, innocent and beautiful he is, and behold our Savior. Behold the heart of God.” — Matt Fradd (06:43)
• Experience the peace and quiet of the Nativity, recognizing that “you can always return here.”

4. Lectio Divina Movements — Receive, Respond, Request, Rejoice (07:30–12:00)

Receive

• Recognize what God is revealing:
  • Jesus’ birth reveals God’s humility and the loving invitation to draw close without fear.
• Quote:
  “Jesus reveals to us like the heart of God. Jesus reveals to us the true nature of our Father. Look at the humility of God, the innocence of God, the heart of God who becomes so little and so fragile so that we will not be afraid to come close.” — Matt Fradd (09:00)

Respond

• Respond with praise, adoration, and bringing your own fears or resistance to God.
• Quote:
  “Lord, we just adore you for your heart, for your goodness, for your humility, for becoming so small and so humble, so that we may not be afraid to draw close. We bring to you now, Lord, our hearts as we feel this invitation to come close to you, to place our trust in you.” — Matt Fradd (09:15)

Request

• Ask for the grace of increased trust and to be freed from any fear that might block intimacy with God.
• Pray for healing from misconceptions of God as a harsh or distant figure.
• Quote: “Lord, we ask that your nativity, that you Jesus in the manger may heal us from any experiences or ideas of God our Father as being a tyrant or a dictator, one who comes to hurt or to punish us... May we find hope and healing in your humility, in your vulnerability.” — Matt Fradd (11:28)

Rejoice

• Thank God for the gift of the Nativity and the recurring invitation to return to this moment in prayer for peace.
• Quote:
  “We rejoice, Lord, in revealing yourself in such a way. We rejoice, Lord, in the gift of your nativity.” — Matt Fradd (12:06)

5. Contemplatio – Remaining with the Heart of God (12:10–12:50)

• Listeners are encouraged to “look deeply at the humility of God” and to let the Lord’s words resonate: “Do not be afraid.”
• The prayer transitions into the Our Father and the Hail Mary, drawing the episode’s meditation into the recitation of the Rosary.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Behold the Heart of God:
  “Notice yourself. Experience peace here. Can you feel from the Lord an invitation to know that you can always return here, you can always experience the peace of this moment.” — Matt Fradd (07:04)

• Invitation Not to Fear:
  “Do not be afraid, do not be afraid. Come close and receive the peace you find in this moment. Receive it deeply.” — Matt Fradd (09:45)

• God’s Humility as a Source of Safety:
  “Look at the humility of God, the innocence of God, the heart of God who becomes so little and so fragile so that we will not be afraid to come close.” — Matt Fradd (09:06)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:00] – Discussion on Luke’s historical details and God’s sovereignty
• [05:40] – Imaginative meditation: Entering the manger scene
• [06:43] – Guided visualization of the Nativity: feelings, peace, God’s heart
• [09:00 – 10:30] – Receive & respond to God’s invitation; address fears and resistance
• [11:26 – 12:06] – Prayer for trust and healing; rejoicing in God’s vulnerability
• [12:12 – 12:50] – Contemplatio: “Do not be afraid”; transition to prayer

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Tone and Language

The episode’s tone is warm, gentle, and meditative. The presenters speak with reverence and encouragement, inviting listeners to bring their hearts honestly and vulnerably to God. Language is accessible, sensitive, and centered on drawing listeners into a lived, personal encounter with the mystery of Christ’s birth.

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Summary

Day 71 of The Rosary in a Year guides listeners to the heart of the Nativity story—not just as a historical event, but as an invitation to behold God’s humility, to overcome fear, and to draw close in trust and love. Through imaginative meditation, prayer, and reflective guidance, the episode creates space for peace, healing, and deepened devotion, reminding listeners that the manger is a place of ongoing spiritual refuge and encounter with the love of God.

Transcript

[Matt Fradd]

Foreign.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Mark Mary with Franciscan Friars the Renewal

[Fr. Mark Mary]

and this is the Rosary in your

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

podcast where through prayer and meditation, the Rosary brings us deeper into relationship with Jesus and Mary and becomes a source

[Fr. Mark Mary]

of grace for the whole world.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The Rosary in a Year is brought to you by Ascension.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

This is day 71.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

To download the prayer plan for Rosary in a year, visit ascensionpress.com rosary in a year or text RIY to 33777. You'll get an outline of how we're going to pray each month and it's a great way to track your progress. The best place to listen the podcast

[Fr. Francis]

in the Ascension app.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

There's special features built just for this podcast and also recordings of the full rosary with myself and other friars. On behalf of myself and the whole team here at Ascension, we want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who's helped support this podcast financially. Your support is so appreciated and helps us to reach as many people as possible. And if you haven't already, please consider supporting [e-mail] forward slash support.

[Fr. Francis]

Today we'll be doing Lectio Divina with a third joyful mystery, the Nativity. Luke chapter 2, verses 1 through 20,

[Fr. Mark Mary]

and our emphasis will be Behold, the heart of God.

[Prayer Leader]

In those days a decree went out

[Fr. Mark Mary]

from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment when Quirinius was governor of Syria, and all went to be enrolled each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee from the city of Nazareth to Judea, the city of David, which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there the time came for her to be delivered, and she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn and in that region. There were shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their flock by night, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, be not afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people. For to you is born this day in the city of David a savior who is Christ the Lord, and this will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace among men with whom he is pleased. When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us. And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at

[Fr. Francis]

what the shepherds told them.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them in our lectio.

[Fr. Francis]

Let's go ahead and highlight some of

[Fr. Mark Mary]

the details which stand out.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

As we previously discussed, it's very noteworthy,

[Fr. Mark Mary]

all of these details about Caesar Augustus,

[Fr. Francis]

quirinius, the enrollment, etc. As Pope Benedict pointed out, and we

[Fr. Mark Mary]

discussed these worldly rulers who think they're in charge, but God is revealing that ultimately he is the one who is

[Fr. Francis]

the Lord and Master of world events. We have this great event, this manifestation

[Fr. Mark Mary]

of the angels singing Glory to God in the highest while speaking to like lowly shepherds.

[Fr. Francis]

And what is it the angel says?

[Prayer Leader]

Be not afraid.

[Fr. Francis]

Then the.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

The host of angels appears, praising God,

[Fr. Francis]

saying, glory to God in the highest. The shepherds that go to Bethlehem, they go with haste.

[Prayer Leader]

And what do they find?

[Fr. Francis]

Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger. And then we have this beautiful insight

[Matt Fradd]

into the heart of Mary.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.

[Fr. Francis]

Our emphasis here will be going with

[Matt Fradd]

the shepherds to Bethlehem and what do

[Fr. Francis]

they see and what do they experience? This is verse 16, which will be our second reading here in our time of Lexio.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger.

[Matt Fradd]

As part of our meditation or meditation,

[Fr. Mark Mary]

I'm going to really ask you to

[Fr. Francis]

engage this with your imagination.

[Matt Fradd]

Like, what is this scene? Feel free to paint sort of your

[Fr. Francis]

own picture as appropriate here.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Like, what is.

[Matt Fradd]

What do you imagine Joseph wearing?

[Fr. Francis]

What do you imagine Mary wearing?

[Matt Fradd]

What's the manger look like?

[Fr. Francis]

Are there other animals? Is it hot? Is it cold? And then as the shepherds arise, like,

[Matt Fradd]

what do they feel?

[Fr. Francis]

It looks like a somewhat ordinary scene.

[Matt Fradd]

Are there?

[Fr. Francis]

Are their hearts moved? Do they embrace? Did they sing? Do they fall down in adoration?

[Matt Fradd]

What would you feel? And one last time with lectio here. And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph

[Fr. Francis]

and the baby lying in a manger.

[Matt Fradd]

Again, I'm going to ask you to be still, to go there, to be quiet in the manger with Joseph and Mary. I'm going to ask you to imagine Mary holding the baby Jesus and see his little eyelids close to shut tight as he naps, hear his breathing. Notice the movement of his chest as he inhales and exhales. See his little hand wrapped around one of Mary's fingers. Notice how small, fragile, innocent and beautiful he is, and behold our Savior. Behold the heart of God. And notice how your heart is moved, filled with affection and love. Notice the love, the joy, the awe, the tenderness on Joseph and Mary's face. Notice yourself. Experience peace here. Can you feel from the Lord an invitation to know that you can always return here, you can always experience the peace of this moment. You know, My brothers and sisters, let us transition to our time of Orazio. Receive, respond, request, rejoice, receive the good news. Receive what God is revealing about himself. We know that Jesus reveals to us like the heart of God. Jesus reveals to us the true nature of our Father. Look at the humility of God, the innocence of God, the heart of God who becomes so little and so fragile so that we will not be afraid to come close. Receive these words spoken through the incarnation, the Nativity. Do not be afraid, do not be afraid. Come close and receive the peace you find in this moment. Receive it deeply. And let us respond by again, beginning with praise and adoration. Lord, we just adore you for your heart, for your goodness, for your humility, for becoming so small and so humble, so that we may not be afraid to draw close. We bring to you now, Lord, our hearts as we feel this invitation to come close to you, to place our trust in you. Notice in your heart any resistance, any fear you may have of God, any reason you may not want to open up parts of your heart to him, any reason you may not want to draw close because of fear. Notice in your heart any experiences of ways in which you felt confused or hurt by your attempt to follow God and the ways in which that has made you maybe question his goodness, his trustworthiness. Bring it to him who says, come to me. Now let us request, Lord, we ask for the grace of an increase in trust. We ask, Lord, to be freed from

[Fr. Francis]

any fear we have in our hearts,

[Matt Fradd]

fear of what our yes to you might mean. Lord, we ask that your nativity, that you Jesus in the manger may heal us from any experiences or ideas of God our Father as being a tyrant Or a dictator, One who comes to hurt or to punish us. One who is not concerned about our good. May we find hope and healing in your humility, in your vulnerability. And now, lastly, rejoice, Lord. We rejoice, Lord, in revealing yourself in such a way. We rejoice, Lord, in the gift of your nativity.

[Fr. Francis]

We rejoice, Lord, that in prayer we can come to this place again and again and again to be reminded of

[Matt Fradd]

who you are and to receive your peace. Now we'll go into the closing of our. Of our episode, our contemplatio. Going to encourage you to really be whole, to look. To look deeply at the humility of God. And to receive, to hear, like deeply into the core of your heart and your soul, these words spoken by the newborn king, like. Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

[Fr. Francis]

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

[Matt Fradd]

Amen.

[Fr. Francis]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Leader]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Fr. Francis]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Prayer Leader]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord

[Fr. Francis]

is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Leader]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Fr. Francis]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Matt Fradd]

Amen.

[Fr. Francis]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Leader]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Fr. Francis]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Prayer Leader]

Amen.

[Fr. Francis]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Leader]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Fr. Francis]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Prayer Leader]

Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Fr. Francis]

The Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Leader]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Fr. Francis]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Prayer Leader]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord

[Fr. Francis]

is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Leader]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Fr. Francis]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Matt Fradd]

Amen.

[Fr. Francis]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with the. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Leader]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Fr. Francis]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Leader]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Fr. Francis]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Prayer Leader]

Amen.

[Fr. Francis]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Leader]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Fr. Francis]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Prayer Leader]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Fr. Francis]

us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

[Prayer Leader]

In the name of the Father and

[Fr. Francis]

of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Prayer Leader]

Amen.

[Fr. Francis]

All right, friends, thanks for joining me and praying with me today. I look forward to continuing this journey

[Matt Fradd]

with you again tomorrow.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

Poco. Poco. All right. God bless y'.

[Matt Fradd]

All.