Podcast Summary: The Rosary in a Year (Phase 5 Bonus: Introduction to Phase Five: “Building Up the Decades”)

Episode Overview In this bonus episode of Ascension’s Rosary in a Year podcast, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, welcomes Dr. Edward Sri to introduce Phase Five: “Building Up the Decades.” This phase focuses on deepening the Rosary prayer practice by gradually increasing the number of decades prayed, thereby fostering a more profound and sustained spiritual discipline.

1. Introduction to Phase Five

Fr. Mark-Mary Ames (A) opens the episode by welcoming Dr. Edward Sri and setting the stage for Phase Five. This new phase, titled “Building Up the Decades,” aims to guide listeners in expanding their Rosary prayer from one decade to multiple, enhancing their prayer life and spiritual connection.

2. Dr. Edward Sri’s Background and Testimony

Dr. Sri shares his extensive experience with the Rosary, highlighting its profound impact on his spiritual journey.

• Personal Anecdote: Dr. Sri recounts his early introduction to the Rosary in a Catholic parish where a priest encouraged daily prayer of one decade. “As a little kid, I remember in seventh grade starting to pray one decade of the Rosary every night... It just kept me closer to God than I would have otherwise” (05:00).

• Influence of Pope John Paul II (JP2): A pivotal moment in Dr. Sri’s life was receiving JP2’s apostolic letter on the Rosary. This letter transformed his perception of the Rosary from a mere ritual to a deeply personal relationship with Jesus and Mary. “The rosary has just been a source of joy, of comfort, of strength” (01:01).

Notable Quote:

"The Hail Mary we're reciting is all from Scripture... it's like love letters from our Heavenly Father." – Dr. Edward Sri (03:00)

3. The Biblical and Christocentric Understanding of the Rosary

Dr. Sri emphasizes the Rosary’s foundation in Scripture and its focus on Jesus Christ.

• Scriptural Basis: He highlights that prayers like the Our Father and Hail Mary are rooted in biblical texts, making the Rosary inherently Christ-centered. “Even if we get distracted... we’re saying very holy words. They’re the words of God” (03:45).

• Transformation Through Devotion: Initially viewing the Rosary as a duty, Dr. Sri’s understanding evolved into seeing it as an enriching encounter with God, thanks to JP2’s teachings.

4. Building a Daily Prayer Habit Amid Distractions

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the challenges of maintaining focus in an age dominated by digital distractions.

• Technological Distractions: Dr. Sri points out how devices like smartphones are engineered to fragment our attention. “This device here just trains us to be so distracted all the time” (10:10).

• Practical Solutions: He suggests practical methods to combat these distractions, such as carrying Rosary beads instead of a phone or using quiet moments to pray. “Instead of grabbing the phone, maybe just in that moment, I can pull out the beads... or just use my ten fingers and just do a decade” (12:30).

• Developing Discipline: Emphasizing the importance of discipline, Dr. Sri encourages listeners to create pockets of time free from digital interruptions to facilitate meaningful prayer. “A little discipline in the midst of my day can help me grow and be able to sit with God in quiet” (13:15).

Notable Quote:

"Perhaps before you go to bed at night, unplug just to be a little bit, like, not praying... But if I can practice a little bit of finding some spaces without the constant noise and distraction, it'll be a little bit easier." – Dr. Edward Sri (12:45)

5. Overcoming Discouragement in Prayer

As listeners progress to praying multiple decades, feelings of discouragement may arise. Dr. Sri addresses this by drawing parallels with physical training.

• Analogies with Physical Exercise: Comparing the Rosary to a marathon or gym routine, he acknowledges that increasing the number of decades can be challenging but ultimately rewarding. “It's like the marathon of all Catholic devotions. It just keeps going on and on” (22:29).

• Dealing with Discouragement: Dr. Sri advises perseverance, noting that challenges are natural and should not deter one from continuing. “You have to persevere... just like in marriage, there are many times we have to work together side by side” (27:00).

• Encouragement from John Paul II: He reinforces that even when prayers feel like a chore, their intrinsic value remains. “God rejoices that you’re trying... he rejoices in that” (14:39).

Notable Quote:

"Saint Catherine of Siena makes the point that the devil often uses discouragement to get us to stop praying, to get us to think our prayer is not pleasing to God." – Dr. Edward Sri (23:30)

6. The Rosary’s Mysteries and Their Significance

Dr. Sri elaborates on the different sets of mysteries in the Rosary and their theological importance.

• Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries: Each set of mysteries encapsulates key events in the life of Christ and Mary, guiding believers through the narrative of salvation.

  • Joyful Mysteries: Focus on the birth and early life of Jesus, emphasizing God’s love and closeness to humanity.

  • Luminous Mysteries: Highlight Christ’s public ministry, showcasing His role as the light in darkness and His interactions with the marginalized.

  • Sorrowful Mysteries: Contemplate Christ’s passion and death, revealing His immense love and sacrifice.

  • Glorious Mysteries: Celebrate the resurrection, ascension, and Mary’s assumption, culminating in the ultimate triumph of God’s plan.

• Shaping Perception: Dr. Sri underscores how regularly meditating on these mysteries helps align one's values and desires with the story of salvation, countering the often neutral or negative influences of secular media. “If I keep putting before my mind the images of Hollywood and the secular age, I’m going to fall short. ... Whereas the rosary... shapes what we want to run after” (29:06).

Notable Quote:

"Regularly, different days of the week, putting before my mind the story that matters most... keeping and pondering these beautiful mysteries of our faith." – Dr. Edward Sri (30:15)

7. Encouragement and Conclusion

As the episode wraps up, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames and Dr. Sri offer heartfelt encouragement to listeners embarking on Phase Five.

• Affirmation of Effort: Acknowledging that prayer can be imperfect, they emphasize that genuine attempts are valued by God.

• Building Spiritual Resilience: By gradually increasing their commitment, listeners can cultivate a resilient and enriching prayer life.

• Community and Support: The importance of family and community support in maintaining and growing one's Rosary practice is highlighted, with Dr. Sri sharing his own family's experiences with the Rosary.

Notable Quote:

"I’m just going to step away from that and let the individuals themselves be doing sort of the heavy lifting... allowing God to meet you in the midst of that." – Dr. Edward Sri (20:23)

Final Thoughts: Fr. Ames concludes with a message of perseverance and gradual progress: “Poco, poco, friends. Poco, poco. Little by little, we're going to make it. All right. God bless y’ all.”

Key Takeaways

• Gradual Building: Start with one decade of the Rosary and progressively add more, allowing the prayer practice to become a sustained habit.

• Overcoming Distractions: Implement practical strategies to minimize digital distractions, fostering a more focused prayer environment.

• Perseverance Over Perfection: Embrace the journey of prayer with its ups and downs, understanding that consistent effort is more important than flawless execution.

• Deepening Understanding: Reflect on the mysteries of the Rosary to deepen theological understanding and align personal values with the narrative of salvation.

• Community Support: Engage family and community in the Rosary practice to enhance mutual support and collective spiritual growth.

Listeners are encouraged to visit Ascension’s Rosary in a Year for the complete prayer plan and to continue their spiritual journey with the guidance provided in this podcast series.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Introduction by Fr. Ames
• 01:01 – Dr. Sri shares his experiences with the Rosary
• 03:00 – Importance of Scripture in the Rosary
• 05:00 – Personal anecdotes from Dr. Sri
• 10:10 – Discussing modern distractions
• 12:30 – Practical solutions to minimize distractions
• 14:39 – Overcoming challenges in prayer
• 20:23 – Family and community in Rosary practice
• 22:29 – Persevering through prayer challenges
• 23:30 – Dealing with discouragement
• 27:00 – Building spiritual resilience
• 29:06 – Significance of the Rosary’s mysteries
• 30:15 – Shaping perception through prayer
• 33:42 – Encouragement and conclusion

Thank you for tuning into The Rosary in a Year. May this episode inspire you to deepen your Rosary practice and grow closer to God through persistent and heartfelt prayer.