Day 95: Moms are Special

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Day 95: Moms are Special" – The Rosary in a Year with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames

Introduction

On Day 95: Moms are Special of The Rosary in a Year podcast, hosted by Fr. Mark-Mary Ames of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and produced by Ascension, listeners are guided through a profound meditation on the unique role of mothers, particularly focusing on Mary, the Mother of Jesus. This episode delves into the theological foundations of the Rosary, the special relationship between Jesus and Mary, and the powerful intercessory role Mary plays in the lives of believers.

Reading from Saint Alphonsus Liguori (01:13)

Fr. Mark-Mary begins the episode with an insightful reading from Saint Alphonsus Liguori's The Glories of Mary. He emphasizes a key excerpt that explores the divine decree ensuring that nothing Mary asks of God is denied. He reads:

"From eternity God had established by another general decree that nothing the Divine Mother could ask should be denied her."
(01:30)

This passage underscores Mary's unique position and her profound ability to intercede effectively on behalf of believers.

Fr. Mark-Mary’s Reflections on the Reading (04:02 – 07:01)

Fr. Mark-Mary elaborates on the reading, highlighting the unwavering support Mary provides to her children. He shares a personal anecdote to illustrate this point:

"If I get one of these requests, like it comes from in an email or something like that, and the sender is my mom, right? It immediately gets moved to a whole different category of requests."
(04:30)

This story serves to humanize the theological concepts discussed, making them relatable to listeners who recognize the special bond between themselves and their mothers.

The Special Relationship Between Jesus and Mary (07:01 – 07:40)

The conversation shifts to the intimate relationship between Jesus and Mary. Fr. Mark-Mary explains how Jesus's life was profoundly influenced by his mother:

"When Jesus became incarnate, he found a home in her womb. She carried him for nine months. When he was born and cold, she held him and kept him warm."
(06:25)

This depiction reinforces Mary’s integral role in Jesus's earthly life and, by extension, her continued role in the spiritual lives of believers.

Theological Insights and Mary’s Intercession (07:40 – 08:08)

Fr. Mark-Mary and Fr. Josh Johnson delve deeper into the theological implications of Mary's intercession. Fr. Mark-Mary poses a reflective question:

"Why does Mary have such a special influence on Jesus?"
(06:57)

He answers by referencing divine decree and the personal relationship Jesus has with Mary, highlighting that her requests are granted out of love and duty:

"By divine decree... he [Jesus] loves to do it. [...] It’s what he loves to do and what the Heavenly Father has asked him to do by an eternal decree."
(07:40)

Encouraging Confidence in Mary’s Intercession (08:08 – 08:08)

Fr. Mark-Mary encourages listeners to deepen their trust in Mary’s intercessory power:

"As we pray today, let us meditate on the tenderest of loves and deepest of loyalties that Jesus has for his mother. And may this increase our confidence in her intercession whenever we come to her."
(07:37)

This serves as a spiritual prompt for believers to seek Mary’s assistance in their personal prayers and spiritual journeys.

Recitation of the Rosary (08:08 – 11:09)

The episode transitions into the recitation of the Rosary, a central practice in the podcast's focus on Marian devotion. The prayers include the Our Father, ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be, and concluding blessings, providing a meditative and structured prayer experience for listeners.

Conclusion and Blessing (11:09 – 11:21)

Fr. Mark-Mary closes the episode with heartfelt gratitude:

"Thanks so much for joining me and praying with me today. I look forward to continuing this journey with you again tomorrow."
(11:14)

He offers a blessing, reinforcing the sense of community and shared spiritual journey among listeners.

Key Takeaways

• Mary’s Unique Intercession: Mary holds a special place in the divine plan, with her requests always granted by God, as highlighted by Saint Alphonsus Liguori.
• Personal Connection: The relationship between Jesus and Mary serves as a model for the intimate and trusting relationship believers can cultivate with Mary.
• Spiritual Growth: Engaging in the Rosary fosters a deeper connection with Jesus and Mary, enhancing one's spiritual life and providing a source of grace.
• Practical Application: Listeners are encouraged to build a daily prayer habit, leveraging the Rosary to form a closer relationship with the divine.

Notable Quotes

• "From eternity God had established by another general decree that nothing the Divine Mother could ask should be denied her."
  — Fr. Mark-Mary Ames (01:30)

• "As we pray today, let us meditate on the tenderest of loves and deepest of loyalties that Jesus has for his mother."
  — Fr. Mark-Mary Ames (07:37)

Conclusion

"Day 95: Moms are Special" offers a rich exploration of Mary’s pivotal role in Christian spirituality. Through theological insights, personal anecdotes, and guided prayers, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames provides listeners with both understanding and practical steps to deepen their devotion through the Rosary. This episode serves as a testament to the enduring power of Marian devotion and its capacity to transform the spiritual lives of believers.

Transcript

[Fr. Mark Mary]

Foreign Mark Mary with Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and this is the Rosary.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

In a Year podcast, where through prayer.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

And meditation, the Rosary brings us deeper into relationship with Jesus and Mary and becomes a source of grace for the whole world. The Rosary in a Year is brought to you by Ascension. This is day 95. To download the prayer plan for Rosary in a year, visit ascensionpress.com forward/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 to the podcast is in the Ascension app. There are special features built just for this podcast and also recordings of the full rosary. On behalf of myself and the whole team here at Ascension, we wanted 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. Today we'll be meditating upon and praying with the second luminous mystery, which is the Wedding Feast at Cana, enriched by an excerpt from a reading from Saint.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Alphonsus Liguori from his work the Glories of Mary.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

So I've already had an opportunity to introduce you to our author today, Saint Alphonsus Liguri, Doctor of the Church. So we're going to get straight into the reading and it is. It's a slightly longer excerpt than normal, but I think it's worth it. I love it. All right, now we'll have our reading from St. Alphonsus Liguori, with a special emphasis on this God's other general decree. If the time appointed for miracles was the time of preaching, how could it be anticipated by the miracle of the wine, contrary to the Divine decree? Nothing, it may be answered, was done contrary to the divine decrees. For although generally speaking, the time for signs had not come yet from eternity, God had established by another general decree, that nothing the Divine Mother could ask should be denied her. And therefore Mary, well acquainted with her privilege, although her Son seemed to have then set aside her petition, said, notwithstanding, that the water pots should be filled, as though the favor were already granted. This St. John Chrysostom would express when commenting on the passage of John above mentioned, O woman, what is that to thee and to me? He says that although Jesus had answered thus, yet for the honor of his mother, he did not fail to comply with her demand. St. Thomas confirms the same when he observes that by these words, my hour has not yet come. Jesus Christ wished to show that he would have deferred the miracle if another had asked him to perform it. But because his mother asked it, he immediately performed it. St. Cyril and St. Jerome confirmed this, according to Barada. And Jansenius of Ghent says, commenting on the same passage of St. John, that he might honor his mother, he anticipated the timing of working miracles. The end of the reading. Thanks be to God. Saint Alphonse Liguri writes, from eternity God had established by another gentle decree that nothing the Divine Mother could ask should be denied her. To be honest, I get this, and I'd say I get this from within. But for going into it a little bit more, just a quick clarification, St. Alphonsus, he used the language referring to Mary as the Divine Mother. This does not mean that Mary is divine. It means that she is the mother of God, Jesus. I think a lot of priests are in this position, and I certainly am, just because of some of the public nature of my ministry, that I get invitations and requests all the time.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

All the time.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

I get new requests to come help out with a retreat or to come give a talk, to travel to some sort of event. But actually, like, I'm not. I'm not a traveling speaker. I just don't really feel super called to it as, like a normal thing I do. So these requests, they pretty much all just get a quick no from me. However, if I get one of these requests, like it comes from in an email or something like that, and the sender is my mom, right? It immediately gets moved to a whole different category of requests. In this little category, there's a table for two mom and dad. And I presume that that's relatable to a lot of folks listening. Requests from mom just are different. They just are different and they get treated differently. And that is right and just. And I presume that that's relatable to a lot of you who are listening. And I imagine, you know, there's some moms here driving their van with some kids in the car, like, hey, listen to this priest. He knows what he's talking about, right? One other little detail I love of this writing from St. Alphonsus is like.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

If we read the words of our.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

Saint here from the same perspective, that he and the saints understand themselves like the real son, sons by grace of Mary, who is really their mother too. You can see it's. If they're coming in to defend their mom because they feel like somebody is being disrespectful of her or doubting her, as St. Alphonsus, right. He puts his own words. And St. John Christendom said, and then St. Thomas said, and then St. Cyril says, and St. Jerome says, and Jansenius of Ghent said, I just kind of love all of the sons of the Church being, like, coming so quickly to honor and defend their mother. As is. As is right. And just. But just like, if we want to look at this not just, like, as a theological reality, but I want to look at, like, the specific nature of the relationship that Jesus has with Mary and why it just makes so much sense that he is committed to responding to her requests with a great fondness and joy in doing so. Why does Mary have such a special influence on Jesus? By divine decree, yes.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

But also right.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

Because when Jesus became incarnate, he found a home in her womb. She carried him for nine months. When he was born and cold, she held him and kept him warm. When Jesus spoke his first words or took his first step, she celebrated him.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

And as a young boy, if he fell and scraped his knee like, she.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

Comforted him and kissed him where it hurt and wiped his tears right when he was hungry, she made him his favorite food. To Jesus, the woman who makes this request of him at Cana.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

It's his mom. It's his mom.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

And this is the woman who continues to intercede on our behalf so that when she asks something of him, like, of course he does it, and he loves to do it. And I can hardly imagine anything that he loves to do more than to.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Say yes to his mother.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

It's what he loves to do and what the Heavenly Father has asked him to do by an eternal decree. As we pray today, let us meditate on the tenderest of loves and deepest of loyalties that Jesus has for his mother. And may this increase our confidence in her intercession whenever we come to her.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Now with Mary, let us pray. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Participant]

Amen.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 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.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

And lead us not into temptation, but.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Deliver us from evil.

[Participant]

Amen.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

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

[Participant]

Is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Participant]

Amen.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the blessed art thou among women and blessed is the.

[Participant]

Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Participant]

Amen.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

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

[Participant]

Is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Participant]

Amen.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the.

[Participant]

Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Participant]

Amen.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

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

[Participant]

Is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Participant]

Amen.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the blessed art thou among women and blessed is the.

[Participant]

Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Participant]

Amen.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the.

[Participant]

Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Participant]

Amen.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the.

[Participant]

Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Participant]

Amen.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the.

[Participant]

Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Participant]

Amen.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the.

[Participant]

Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Participant]

Amen.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

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.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

Amen.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

Thanks so much for joining me and.

[Fr. Josh Johnson]

Praying with me today. I look forward to continuing this journey with you again tomorrow.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

Poco. Poco. Friends, God bless y'all.