Day 210: Relationship With the Son

Summary

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

Episode: Day 210: Relationship With the Son
Date: July 29, 2026
Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR (with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal)
Podcast by: Ascension

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Overview of the Episode

Theme/Purpose:
This episode centers on intentionally deepening one's relationship with Jesus—the Son—through the practice of relational prayer as the Rosary is prayed. As part of the podcast’s broader journey to enrich Marian devotion and habitual prayer, today’s focus is on “being with Jesus” during meditation on the third and fourth Joyful Mysteries: the Nativity and the Presentation. The episode offers gentle guidance on how to personalize and make your prayer an encounter with the living Christ.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction to Phase 5 and Relational Prayer

• Phase Description: This is the second day of the fifth phase of the "Rosary in a Year" journey, where listeners are gradually building up to praying multiple decades daily.
• Today's Focus: Praying two decades (Third: Nativity, Fourth: Presentation) while being present to Jesus—as “relationship with the Son.”

Exploring Relational Prayer (01:00–04:00)

• Encouragement to Specificity:
  Fr. Mark-Mary urges listeners to engage with Jesus personally, considering specific details as they approach prayer.

  "Practice being specific…like how old is Jesus? What's the setting? Are you sitting? Are you standing? Is it day or night?" (01:40)

• Imaginative Prayer Prompts:
  The friars invite listeners to enter imaginatively into the Gospel scenes:

  • Observe the eyes, smile, and overall countenance of Jesus
  • Consider what his presence communicates—compassion, gratitude, love, joy
  • Listen for what words Jesus might speak to you (e.g., “I’m with you,” “I love you,” “I see you”)

  "Look at the eyes of Jesus as they look at you. Do his eyes say anything?... Are they compassionate?... Are they seeing? Are they rejoicing?" (02:28–03:01)

• Interior Response:
  Observing what stirs in your own heart during prayer:

  • Are you moved to adoration, praise, blessing, gratitude?
  • Or are you moved to share your own hurts, pains, contrition, or needs?

  "Pay attention to the movement of your heart… are you moved to adoration and praise, to blessing, to gratitude? Or are you invited to share… a hurt, a pain, contrition, need." (03:30–04:00)

Meditation on the Mysteries

Third Joyful Mystery: The Nativity (04:12–09:05)

• The friars lead the decade, encouraging continual awareness of Jesus’ presence as a living person.
• Interwoven prompts and gentle reminders to keep prayer relational.
• Each Hail Mary becomes an opportunity to "see" and "be with" Jesus.

Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation (09:05–13:37)

• Before beginning, listeners are gently refocused on the Person of Jesus:

  "As we go into our second mystery, we'll just refocus on Jesus. On his heart, on his eyes, on his attentiveness." (09:11–09:25)

• The Rosary prayers continue, inviting listeners to pray with Jesus present to them in mind and heart.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Inviting Imagination:

  "Praying with Jesus and to Jesus at different periods of his life—like what’s the setting? Are you sitting? Are you standing? Is it day or night?" (01:40)

• The Gaze of Jesus:

  "Look at the eyes of Jesus as they look at you. Do his eyes say anything? Are they compassionate? Are they grateful? Are they loving? Are they seeing? Are they rejoicing?" (02:28–03:01)

• Listening for Christ’s Voice:

  "Is there any word he's saying—‘I'm with you, I love you, I see you’?” (03:18–03:30)

• Heartfelt Reflection:

  "Are you moved to adoration and praise, to blessing, to gratitude? Or are you invited to share in the safety of his presence—something of your heart, a hurt, a pain, contrition, need?" (03:35–04:02)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Episode Content | |------------|--------------------------------------------------| | 00:57 | Introduction to phase and today's focus on the Son | | 01:40–02:22| Imaginative prayer invitation—specificity about Jesus | | 02:28–03:30| Guidance on observing Jesus’ gaze and presence | | 03:30–04:02| Invitation to notice movements in your heart | | 04:12 | Begin Third Joyful Mystery: Nativity | | 09:05 | Begin Fourth Joyful Mystery: Presentation | | 09:11–09:25| Refocus on Jesus before second decade | | 13:37 | Close of the mysteries, transition to sign-off |

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Episode Flow and Tone

The tone is gentle, inviting, and pastoral. Fr. Mark-Mary and the Friars speak softly, using specific and practical prompts to draw listeners into a living relationship with Jesus. The spiritual direction is practical and contemplative, always returning to the desire for authentic encounter over the mere repetition of prayers.

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Conclusion

This episode guides listeners in not just reciting prayers, but truly “being with” Jesus—making the Rosary a relational encounter with the Son. Through prompts, silence, and guided prayer, listeners are encouraged to see, hear, and respond to Christ during their meditations, fostering a more intimate and life-giving spirituality.

Memorable takeaway:
"Practice being specific… Praying with Jesus and to Jesus at different periods of his life." (01:40)

Next episode preview:
The journey continues tomorrow, deepening both the habit and intimacy of prayer.

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For full resources and prayer plans: ascensionpress.com/riy

Transcript

[Fr. Mike]

Foreign.

[Mark Mary]

Mark Mary with Franciscan Friars of Renewal and this is the Rosary in a Year podcast. We're 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.

[Lead Friar]

This is day210.

[Mark Mary]

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 with myself and other friars.

[Lead Friar]

I encourage you to pick up a

[Mark Mary]

copy of the Rosary in the 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 images of the sacred art will be reflecting on

[Lead Friar]

hello and welcome to our second day here of our fifth phase in which we are building up the decades. Today we are going to be praying two decades. Today we'll be praying the third and fourth joyful Mysteries, the Nativity and the presentation of our Lord in the temple. And we're going to be focusing on praying these two decades while in relationship with the Son, while in relationship with Jesus. And part of the hope of this is certainly that it may be fruitful for this time of prayer, but also as we practice this habit of relational prayer, hopefully this is something that we can access and return to while praying again in the future for many years to come. My encouragement today as we are placing ourself in the presence of Jesus, being aware of his presence is to practice being specific, to think of some details, for example, like how old is Jesus? And something that perhaps you can explore in your prayers. Praying with Jesus and to Jesus at different periods of his life like what's the setting? Are you sitting?

[Friar 1]

Are you standing?

[Friar 2]

Is it day or night?

[Lead Friar]

Look at the eyes of Jesus

[Friar 2]

as

[Lead Friar]

they look at you. Do his eyes say anything? Are they compassionate?

[Fr. Mike]

Are they grateful?

[Lead Friar]

Are they loving? Are they seeing?

[Friar 1]

Are they rejoicing?

[Lead Friar]

Does his overall countenance say anything?

[Friar 1]

His smile?

[Lead Friar]

Can you see him grateful to be with you.

[Fr. Mike]

When there's there any word he's saying,

[Friar 1]

I'm with you, I love you, I see you.

[Lead Friar]

And then pay attention to the unmovement of your heart?

[Friar 1]

Are you moved to adoration and praise,

[Lead Friar]

to blessing, to gratitude. Or are you invited to share in

[Fr. Mike]

the safety of his presence?

[Lead Friar]

Something of your heart?

[Friar 3]

A hurt?

[Friar 1]

A pain? Contrition? Need.

[Friar 2]

Now let us pray.

[Friar 1]

In the name of the Father and

[Fr. Mike]

of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Friar 1]

Amen.

[Lead Friar]

The third joyful mystery is the Nativity. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done

[Friar 1]

on earth as it is in heaven.

[Fr. Mike]

Give us this day our daily bread

[Lead Friar]

and forgive us our trespasses as we

[Fr. Mike]

forgive those who trespass against us.

[Lead Friar]

And lead us not into temptation, but

[Fr. Mike]

deliver us from evil.

[Friar 1]

Amen.

[Fr. Mike]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord

[Friar 1]

is with the

[Friar 2]

blessed art thou among

[Friar 1]

women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Friar 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Friar 1]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Fr. Mike]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

[Friar 2]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed

[Friar 4]

is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Friar 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Friar 1]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Fr. Mike]

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the blessed art

[Friar 2]

thou among women, and blessed is the

[Friar 4]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Friar 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Friar 1]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Fr. Mike]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Friar 1]

The Lord is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the

[Friar 4]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Friar 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Friar 1]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Fr. Mike]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord

[Friar 1]

is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Friar 3]

Holy Holy Mary, mother of God, pray

[Friar 1]

for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Fr. Mike]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord

[Friar 1]

is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Friar 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Friar 1]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Fr. Mike]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord

[Friar 1]

is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Friar 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Friar 1]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Fr. Mike]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

[Friar 2]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed

[Friar 4]

is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Friar 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Friar 1]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Fr. Mike]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

[Friar 2]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed

[Friar 4]

is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Friar 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Friar 1]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Friar 3]

Amen.

[Fr. Mike]

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.

[Friar 2]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed

[Friar 4]

is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Friar 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Friar 1]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Friar 3]

Glory be to the Father, and to

[Lead Friar]

the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

[Friar 1]

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

[Lead Friar]

Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins.

[Friar 2]

Save us from the fires of hell.

[Lead Friar]

Lead all souls to heaven, especially those

[Friar 1]

in most need of thy mercy.

[Lead Friar]

The fourth joyful mystery is the presentation

[Friar 1]

of Jesus in the temple.

[Friar 2]

Okay, as we go into our second

[Lead Friar]

mystery, we'll just refocus on Jesus.

[Friar 1]

On his heart, on his eyes,

[Friar 2]

on his attentiveness.

[Lead Friar]

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done

[Friar 1]

on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we

[Fr. Mike]

forgive those who trespass against us.

[Lead Friar]

And lead us not into temptation, but

[Friar 1]

deliver us from evil. Amen.

[Fr. Mike]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

[Friar 2]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed

[Friar 4]

is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Friar 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Friar 1]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Fr. Mike]

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the.

[Friar 2]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed

[Friar 4]

is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Friar 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Friar 1]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Fr. Mike]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

[Friar 2]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed

[Friar 4]

is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Friar 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Friar 1]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Fr. Mike]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with the.

[Friar 2]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed

[Friar 4]

is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Friar 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Friar 1]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Fr. Mike]

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the.

[Friar 2]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed

[Friar 4]

is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Friar 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Friar 1]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Fr. Mike]

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the.

[Friar 2]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed

[Friar 4]

is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Friar 3]

Holy, Holy Mary, mother of God, pray

[Friar 1]

for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Fr. Mike]

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the.

[Friar 2]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed

[Friar 4]

is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Friar 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Friar 1]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Fr. Mike]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with the.

[Friar 2]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed

[Friar 4]

is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Friar 3]

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for

[Friar 1]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Fr. Mike]

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the.

[Friar 2]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed

[Friar 4]

is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Friar 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Friar 1]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Fr. Mike]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

[Friar 2]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed

[Friar 4]

is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Friar 3]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

[Friar 1]

us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[Friar 2]

Glory be to the Father and to

[Fr. Mike]

the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

[Friar 2]

As it was in the beginning, is

[Friar 1]

now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. O my Jesus, forgive us our sins.

[Friar 2]

Save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those

[Friar 1]

in most need of thy mercy. In the name of the Father and

[Fr. Mike]

of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Friar 3]

Amen.

[Lead Friar]

Thank you so much for joining me and praying with me today. I look forward to continuing this journey

[Friar 1]

with you again tomorrow.

[Friar 2]

Poco poker Friends.

[Lead Friar]

God bless y'.

[Friar 4]

All.