In the Desert (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR)

February 22, 2022 Danielle Bean

Our guest this week is Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, director of communications for the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. Fr. Mark-Mary shares about a new devotional called Born of Fire written by him and his brother friars. We also discuss how to plan your Lent this year and what pitfalls you may face.

Snippet from the Show
This Lent, be renewed in your identity as a son or daughter of God.

Fr. Mark-Mary Ames and Born of Fire

Our guest this week is Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, director of communications for the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. Fr. Mark-Mary shares about a new Lenten devotional he and his brother friars have created called, Born of Fire. This devotional is written especially for men, and it walks readers through seven identities: son, brother, man, spouse, father, mystic, and “new man.”

You can go through the devotional on your own, form a group study, or follow along this Lent with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames and others on the Poco a Poco podcast. Also, be sure to check out Fr. Mark-Mary Ames each week on his Ascension Presents videos!

Planning for Lent

Danielle and Fr. Mark-Mary discuss preparing for Lent and the different ways to enter into it fully. They also discuss some of the common pitfalls that Catholics might encounter during Lent. Fr. Mark-Mary explains the importance of strengthening our ability to say "Yes" and to say "No" in our spiritual lives. We need to be willing to be generous and give of ourselves, but we also need to have the strength to deny ourselves and abstain. Through all of this, it is also important to nourish ourselves with prayer. Prayer is an essential piece of Lent and every day life.

Listener Question (31:26)

How can I overcome feelings of jealousy when it comes to my younger sister? She just seems to have such an easy life, an adoring husband and perfect kids. I struggle with everything and we have financial issues all the time which is never a problem for them. My sister loves me, I know, and I love her, but I find that jealousy gets in the way of our relationship all the time. I even resent it when good things happen for her and that seems to be all the time.
-Jenn

My new book, Whisper: Finding God in the Everyday, is available to order!