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Day 123: She Magnifies Him

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

Sat May 03 2025

St. Bridget's Revelations tells us of the crucifixion through Mary’s eyes. Fr. Mark-Mary explains that by meditating through Mary, we see Our Lord’s passion magnified, expressing the true depth of the sorrow in this moment. However, not only is our sorrow magnified, but our gratitude too can be magnified as we see through Mary’s eyes. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Crucifixion and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Rosary in a Year (Day 123: She Magnifies Him)

Host: Ascension with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Episode Title: Day 123: She Magnifies Him
Release Date: May 3, 2025

Introduction

In Day 123 of Ascension’s "The Rosary in a Year" podcast, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames delves deep into the Marian devotion, focusing on how Mary's soul magnifies the Lord, especially through the lens of Jesus' crucifixion. This episode invites listeners to meditate on the fifth sorrowful Mystery, the Crucifixion, enhancing their prayer life and deepening their relationship with Jesus and Mary.

Meditation on the Crucifixion

Timestamp [00:57]:
Fr. Mark-Mary begins by introducing the day's focus: the fifth sorrowful Mystery, the Crucifixion of Jesus. He incorporates a reading from St. Brigid's Revelations, emphasizing that these divine insights continue to aid believers in their prayer and meditation practices.

Reading from St. Brigid’s Revelations:
The narrative vividly describes Jesus' journey to the place of His Passion, highlighting the physical and emotional torment He endured. The imagery paints a poignant picture of Mary witnessing her son's suffering:

"Now as my son was going to the place of his Passion, some smote him on the back, others struck him in the face, and so violently and rudely was he struck that though I did not see the person striking, I distinctly heard the sound of the blow."
— Fr. Mark-Mary [05:35]

Mary’s Magnification of the Lord

Timestamp [07:45]:
Fr. Mark-Mary addresses a common question, especially from non-Catholic Christians: “Why the devotion to Mary?” He articulates that loving and venerating Mary ultimately glorifies Jesus Himself. This relationship is not merely beneficial but enriches the understanding and glorification of Christ.

Key Quote:

“Jesus is himself even more glorified when we love Mary and come to Mary and have devotion to Mary and have a relationship with Mary and ask for her intercession because it's absolutely strictly necessary. Okay, technically, no. But because Jesus himself is actually even more glorified when we have a relationship with Mary and take her to be our mother.”
— Fr. Mark-Mary [07:15]

Fr. Mark-Mary references Mary's Magnificat, highlighting her proclamation of God's greatness:

Magnetantion from Mary:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
— Fr. Mark-Mary [07:55]

He explains that through Mary's perspective, the glory of God is magnified in a profound and beautiful manner. This magnification is particularly evident when reflecting on the Passion of Christ through Mary's eyes, intensifying both the sorrow and the gratitude believers feel.

Experiencing the Passion through Mary

Timestamp [08:49]:
Fr. Francis interjects briefly, allowing Fr. Mark-Mary to deepen the meditation. Fr. Mark-Mary encourages listeners to contemplate Jesus on the cross not just alone but alongside Mary, thereby experiencing His suffering through her maternal love.

Impact on Believers:
By viewing the Crucifixion through Mary's eyes, believers can:

Magnify Their Sorrow: Understanding the depth of Mary's anguish enhances personal empathy and sorrow for Jesus' sacrifice.
Magnify Their Gratitude: Recognizing Mary's unwavering support amplifies the gratitude felt towards Christ's redemptive act.
Magnify Their Contrition: Witnessing Mary's pain fosters a deeper sense of repentance and a desire to align more closely with God.

Concluding Prayer:
Fr. Mark-Mary leads a heartfelt prayer, urging listeners to seek the grace that magnifies their contrition, trust, and love for Jesus, all through the intercession and example of Mary.

The Rosary Prayer

The episode includes the complete recitation of the Rosary, emphasizing the act of meditating on the Mysteries while praying:

Our Father
Hail Mary (repeated multiple times)
Glory Be
Closing Prayer

Each prayer segment is accompanied by silent reflection, allowing listeners to internalize the meditation on the Crucifixion and Mary's role in magnifying the Lord.

Conclusion and Further Resources

Timestamp [13:45]:
Fr. Mark-Mary wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to continue their journey with the Rosary in a Year. He introduces his new book, "Eight Promises of God: Discovering Hope through the Beatitudes," which explores the Beatitudes and their application in deepening trust in God's promises.

Call to Action:
Listeners are invited to visit Ascension Press for the complete prayer plan and to engage further with the Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide, which complements the podcast with daily Scripture readings, Saint reflections, and sacred art.

Key Takeaways

Mary’s Role in Prayer: Mary's unique perspective as the mother of Jesus offers a deeper, more intimate understanding of Christ's passion.
Magnification of the Lord: Through devotion to Mary, believers experience an enhanced glorification of Jesus, deepening their spiritual lives.
Prayer as Relationship: Building a daily habit of prayer through the Rosary fosters a stronger relationship with both Jesus and Mary, serving as a source of grace.

Notable Quotes

On Mary's Magnification of the Lord:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord... My soul magnifies the greatness of the Lord.”
— Fr. Mark-Mary [07:55]
On the Importance of Devotion to Mary:

“Jesus himself is actually even more glorified when we have a relationship with Mary and take her to be our mother.”
— Fr. Mark-Mary [07:15]
On Experiencing Christ’s Passion through Mary:

“If you will, it enhances, it magnifies my own sorrow as I come and look at our crucified Lord through the eyes of Mary and with Mary.”
— Fr. Mark-Mary [08:52]

Final Thoughts

Day 123 of "The Rosary in a Year" offers a profound exploration of Marian devotion, particularly how viewing Jesus' crucifixion through Mary's perspective enriches one's prayer life and spiritual understanding. Fr. Mark-Mary Ames successfully intertwines Scripture, Saintly revelations, and heartfelt reflections to guide listeners toward a more intimate and grateful relationship with Jesus and Mary.

For those seeking to deepen their prayer practice, this episode serves as an invaluable guide, illustrating the transformative power of the Rosary and the enduring influence of Mary in magnifying the Lord.

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Transcript

Fr. Mark Mary (0:00)

Foreign Mark Mary with Franciscan Friars of.

Fr. Mike Schmitz (0:06)

The Renewal and this is the Rosary in the Year podcast where through prayer 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.

Fr. Mark Mary (0:18)

This is day123.

Fr. Mike Schmitz (0:21)

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 to the podcast is in the Ascension app. There are special features built just for this podcast and also recordings of the full Rosary with myself and other friars. I encourage you to pick up a copy of the Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide, a book published by Ascension that was designed to complement this podcast. You'll find all the daily readings from Scripture, Saint reflections, and beautiful full page images of the sacred art we'll be reflecting on.

Fr. Mark Mary (0:57)

Today we will be meditating upon and praying with the fifth sorrowful Mystery, the Crucifixion of our Lord, with help from a reading from St Brigid's Revelations and the focus of our meditation is going to be Mary's soul always magnifies the Lord. All right, so today's reading is from St. Bridget and her work, the revelations reminder that St. Bridget received revelations locutions, vision from Jesus that the Church continues to offer to us as being helpful for our prayer and meditation. And this revelation is going to actually come through Mary's eyes and Mary's experience of our Lord's crucifixion. And now our reading. Now as my son was led away like a robber, he wiped away the blood from his eyes, and when he was condemned, they gave him his cross to bear. When he had carried it a short way, one came up and assumed it. Meanwhile, as my son was going to the place of his Passion, some smote him on the back, others struck him in the face, and so violently and rudely was he struck that though I did not see the person striking, I distinctly heard the sound of the blow. And when I came with him to the place of the Passion, I there beheld all the instruments prepared for his death. And my son himself coming thither, divested himself of his clothes. The attendants saying to each other, these vestments are ours, nor can he have them again that is condemned to death. Now while my son stood as naked as when he was born, one running up handed him A cloth with which exultingly, inwardly, he covered him. Then his cruel executioners seized him and stretched him on the cross. First they fixed his right hand to the beam which was pierced for nails, and they transfixed his hand in the part where the bone was firmest. Then, drawing his other hand with a rope, they fixed it in like manner to the cross. Then they crucified his right foot and over it the left with two nails, so that all the nerves and veins were extended and broken. The end of the reading. Thanks be to God. Again, the focus of our meditation is going to be that Mary's soul always magnifies the Lord. When speaking about Our lady and the Catholic's relationship with Mary, especially to non Catholic Christians, the question they kind of often ask, or always ask really is like, why? Like, what's the point? And there's a variety of answers that are given, often harking back to Jesus words from the cross in the Gospel of John. Son, behold your mother. Mother, behold your son. And there's many reasons why Catholics have the devotion to Mary that we do and ask her intercession the way we do and honor her the way we do. More and more I'm convinced of this. If we boil it all down, like why Mary? And why does Jesus want us to have relationship with his mother the way that we do? I think what it all comes down to is, is Jesus is himself even more glorified when we love Mary and come to Mary and have devotion to Mary and have relationship with Mary and ask for her intercession because it's absolutely strictly necessary. Okay, technically, no. But because Jesus himself is actually even more glorified when we have a relationship with Mary and take her to be our mother. In Mary's Magnificat, right, she opens with these beautiful words. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior. One of the other translations, often for my soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord is. My soul magnifies the greatness of the Lord. And I think here we see this like, there's a certain way in which the glory of God, it becomes magnified in a new way in an even more beautiful way by Mary and through Mary. And I do believe that in our prayer today, you know, again taken from St Bridget's revelations, we see this happening. We see a way in which, like Mary is magnifying the Lord and our Lord's passion in this context is actually magnified, if you will, enhanced when we come to it through the eyes of his mother. There's a way in which the sorrow, the pain, the sadness is accentuated, right when we look at it through the experience of Mary. And I think that as you paid attention to the reading into the experience of Mary, right, Like how are our hearts not moved, our hearts broken again? One of the refrains that stands out to me is Mary referring to Jesus again and again as like my son, My son was led away like a robber, as my son was going to the place of his passion. And my son himself coming hither to divested himself of his clothes. And for me, where it hits its high point is now while my son stood as naked as when he was born. I know I don't have the internal experience of this, but my understanding is this is like for a mother, her son always remains like her little boy. And Mary is looking at Jesus, her son, you know, as a 33 year old man here, but also when she sees him in a real way, she sees her baby, the babe born in Bethlehem. And how quickly she sees him here stripped naked. And what comes to mind is how he came into the world and how she first saw him and first held him in the manger. And how even more painful is it for the heart of Mary to witness all of these things, to see her son crucified. There's this other detail from St. Bridget, right? And so violently and rudely was he struck that though I did not see the person striking, I distinctly heard the sound of the blow. How painful was this to the heart of Mary? With what grief was she filled seeing her son mocked?