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

Episode: Day 10 – Blessed Are You

Date: January 10, 2026
Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Podcast by: Ascension

Main Theme & Purpose

In Day 10 of "The Rosary in a Year," Fr. Mark-Mary Ames reflects on the powerful spiritual and intercessory role of Mary, the Mother of God, drawing explicit biblical parallels and everyday life analogies. He encourages listeners to appreciate the gift of Mary’s maternal intercession in their relationship with Jesus, highlighting how knowing Mary and entrusting prayers to her can bring about grace and transformation, especially through the Rosary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Biblical Foundation for Marian Intercession

• Rooting in 1 Kings 2:19-20:
  Fr. Mark-Mary grounds the episode's meditation in the relationship between King Solomon and Bathsheba:

  "So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah... The king said to her, ‘Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you.’" (02:00)

• Parallels with Spiritual Life:
  The natural order of favor and intercession among relationships, especially familial, is perfected in the spiritual order through Mary.

  “So much in the supernatural order is going to be a reflection and a perfection of what we find in the natural order.” (03:54)

2. Understanding Intercessory Relationships

• Who You Know Matters:
  Fr. Mark-Mary unpacks the Old Testament reading by clarifying the chain of favor: Adonijah needs something from Solomon, but he approaches through Bathsheba. Similarly, we approach Jesus through His mother, Mary.

• Modern Analogies:
  Using everyday neighborhood stories, he illustrates intercession:

  • Vito & the Pizza Place:
    “It’s the employees only bathroom, but he’s gonna say, ‘Yeah,’ because you know Vito, the owner.” (07:13)
  • Grandma Janet & the Charity Grant:
    “She goes to her son because of this relationship between son and mother…the son listens to her, and you get the grant for the poor.” (09:08)

  These relationships illuminate how Mary intercedes for us due to her special relationship with Jesus.

3. Mary’s Role: Our Mother and Queen

• Scriptural Example – The Wedding at Cana:
  Mary’s intercession at Cana is cited as a biblical precedent for her ongoing spiritual intercession.

  “We see this reflected in Scripture, particularly at the wedding feast of Cana, where Mary sees that they’re running out of wine…Jesus, if you will, like King Solomon to Bathsheba, Jesus is obedient. He listens to his mother, and this continues in heaven.” (11:30)

• Relationship of Trust and Confidence:
  Fr. Mark-Mary encourages listeners to approach Mary with confidence:

  “When we bring our intercessions…to Mary…we have this confidence that they will be taken care of, that our prayers will be answered.” (10:28)

4. Why We Pray “Holy Mary, Mother of God…”

• Entrusting Our Needs:
  The phrase "pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death" embodies the trust we place in Mary to bring our needs before her Son.

  “What we’re entrusting to Our Lady who loves us…is all of our needs, all of our spiritual needs at this moment, that we may persevere faithfully in grace today, but also in the ultimate, in the final moments, the moment of our death.” (12:30)

• Final Encouragement:
  Fr. Mark-Mary urges listeners to spend the day grateful for Mary’s unique place in God’s plan and to bring all intentions to her care.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Spiritual Favor:
  “Because Adonijah knew the mother of the king, his request was granted. Brothers and sisters, I believe this happens as well. And it’s perfected in the spiritual order.” (05:37)

• On Marian Confidence:
  “Who do you know? You know Holy Mary. And who are you to Holy Mary? Like you are…beloved children, sons and daughters. Like she loves you…she knows Jesus.” (09:50)

• On Prayer:
  “Let us again, with confidence today, in gratitude for the gift of Mary’s mother, just bring all of our needs and intentions, but particularly for those intentions most near and dear to our hearts and those most necessary—the grace to persevere, to follow the Lord today and to receive the grace of final perseverance at the hour of our death.” (13:28)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–01:28 – Opening prayer context and invitation to download prayer plan
• 02:00–04:00 – Reading of 1 Kings 2:19–20 and explanation
• 05:37–06:12 – Spiritual parallel between Bathsheba-Solomon and Mary-Jesus
• 07:00–10:15 – Everyday analogies to illustrate intercession
• 11:30–12:35 – Scriptural example: Wedding at Cana and Mary’s intercessory power
• 13:28–14:10 – Final encouragement to entrust intentions to Mary

Concluding Prayers

Fr. Mark-Mary leads three Hail Marys and a Glory Be (14:17–15:39), inviting listeners to entrust their intentions for perseverance and final grace through Mary’s intercession.

Summary Takeaway

This episode underscores the depth of Mary's intercession by weaving biblical examples, everyday stories, and personal encouragement into a profound reminder: in approaching Mary, we confidently entrust our prayers to the Queen Mother who always intercedes for us before her Son, Jesus.

For the full prayer plan and continued journey: Visit Ascension’s Rosary in a Year page.