Day 211: Presence of the Holy Spirit - The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)

Summary5 min read

Podcast Summary: The Rosary in a Year (Day 211: Presence of the Holy Spirit)

Release Date: July 30, 2025
Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Produced by: Ascension

Introduction

In Day 211: Presence of the Holy Spirit, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames delves into the profound experience of praying in the presence of the Holy Spirit. This episode is part of Ascension’s comprehensive Rosary in a Year series, designed to guide listeners through a transformative journey of prayer and meditation, regardless of their current spiritual standing.

Exploring Relational Prayer with the Holy Spirit

Fr. Mark-Mary begins the episode by addressing a common challenge among believers: transitioning from viewing the Holy Spirit as an abstract concept to engaging in a personal, conversational prayer experience. He states:

"The images we have of the Holy Spirit, of a dove or fire are super helpful and they're revealed for us in Scripture. But also they can lead to a certain struggle of a depersonalization of the person of the Holy Spirit as an object or an image, substance, animal, as opposed to a divine person who can hear us, who can speak to us, who loves us, who's worthy of our adoration."
[00:45]

Fr. Mark-Mary emphasizes the importance of recognizing the Holy Spirit as a living, personal presence in one's life. He encourages listeners to shift their perception from symbolic representations to interacting with the Holy Spirit as a caring and loving companion.

Personalizing Prayer: Bringing Your Heart to the Holy Spirit

To facilitate a deeper connection, Fr. Mark-Mary shares his personal approach to praying with the Holy Spirit:

"There's a movement I experience to reveal something of my life, of my heart to the Holy Spirit. And I ask for him to come and to fill and to touch and to warm and to bless and to console that part of my life, that part of my heart."
[02:30]

He invites listeners to emulate this practice by identifying specific areas in their lives where they seek the Holy Spirit's guidance and comfort. Fr. Mark-Mary suggests focusing on the various titles of the Holy Spirit, such as the Comforter, Advocate, Paraclete, and the Spirit of Truth, to deepen the relational aspect of prayer.

Identifying Areas for the Holy Spirit’s Influence

The discussion shifts to practical applications of inviting the Holy Spirit into one's daily life. Fr. Mark-Mary poses reflective questions to help listeners pinpoint where they need the Holy Spirit's touch:

"Perhaps like some part of your life, mind, heart that needs truth spoken into it."
"Perhaps there's an area of fear which needs God's boldness, His courage as we saw manifest on the Day of Pentecost."
"Is there an area of your Life where you feel lukewarm, where you need it to be lit on fire?"
"Is it an area where you feel alone and you need consolation and comfort?"

[04:00]

These questions serve as a guide for listeners to bring their personal struggles and aspirations before the Holy Spirit, fostering a more intimate and effective prayer life.

Guided Rosary Prayer and Mysteries

Following the discussion, Fr. Mark-Mary leads listeners in praying the Rosary, focusing on:

Fifth Joyful Mystery: The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple
First Luminous Mystery: The Baptism of our Lord in the Jordan

He skillfully intertwines the act of praying the Rosary with meditations on the selected Mysteries, encouraging listeners to contemplate the presence of the Holy Spirit in each event. The recurring prayers, such as the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and O My Jesus, are recited with reflective pauses, allowing time for personal meditation and connection.

Notable moments during the Rosary include:

Invocation of the Holy Spirit:

"In some ways, for a lot of us, praying to having a conversation with the Holy Spirit may be a little bit new."
[01:00]
Transition Between Mysteries:

"The first luminous mystery is the baptism of our Lord in the Jordan."
[08:22]

Throughout the recitation, Fr. Mark-Mary reinforces the connection between the Mysteries and the Holy Spirit's role in guiding and shaping the believer's spiritual journey.

Biblical Foundations and Insights

While the transcript primarily includes prayers, Fr. Mark-Mary's introduction and instructional segments incorporate biblical references to elucidate the Holy Spirit's presence and influence. He references the Day of Pentecost to highlight the Holy Spirit's role in empowering believers with courage and boldness.

"As we saw manifest on the Day of Pentecost."
[04:00]

This grounding in Scripture provides listeners with a theological framework to understand and appreciate the Holy Spirit's active presence in their lives.

Practical Tools for Daily Prayer

Fr. Mark-Mary also offers practical advice on building a daily habit of prayer, forming a relationship with Jesus and Mary, and meditating using various spiritual disciplines such as visio divina (sacred art meditation) and lectio divina (scripture meditation).

He highlights resources available to listeners:

"For the complete prayer plan, visit ascensionpress.com/riy."

Listeners are encouraged to utilize the Ascension app for additional features, including recordings of the full Rosary and progress tracking tools.

Conclusion and Encouragement

As the episode draws to a close, Fr. Mark-Mary offers words of encouragement to continue the prayerful journey:

"Okay, thanks so much for joining me and praying with me again today. I look forward to continuing this journey with you again tomorrow. Poco. Poco. Friends, God bless y'all."
[13:18]

He underscores the importance of consistency in prayer and the transformative power of the Rosary in fostering a deeper relationship with Jesus, Mary, and the Holy Spirit.

Key Takeaways

Personal Relationship with the Holy Spirit: Transition from viewing the Holy Spirit as merely symbolic to engaging in a personal, conversational prayer experience.
Focused Prayer Areas: Identify specific aspects of life—truth, courage, consolation—where the Holy Spirit's influence is sought.
Integration of Mysteries: The Rosary serves as a meditative tool to reflect on the Holy Spirit's role in pivotal biblical events.
Practical Resources: Utilize provided resources and tools to build and maintain a daily prayer habit.
Continuous Journey: Encouragement to persist in prayer, fostering continual spiritual growth and deeper divine relationships.

Notable Quotes

"The images we have of the Holy Spirit... can lead to a certain struggle of a depersonalization of the person of the Holy Spirit..."
[00:45]
"There's a movement I experience to reveal something of my life, of my heart to the Holy Spirit."
[02:30]
"Is there an area of your Life where you feel lukewarm, where you need it to be lit on fire, is it an area where you feel alone and you need consolation and comfort?"
[04:00]

Resources Mentioned

Prayer Plan Download: Visit ascensionpress.com/riy or text R I Y to 33 777.
Ascension App: Access special features and full Rosary recordings tailored for the Rosary in a Year podcast.

Embark on this spiritual journey with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames and let the Rosary transform your prayer life, deepening your relationship with Jesus, Mary, and the Holy Spirit.

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Transcript55 lines

[00:00]
A
Foreign Mark Mary with Franciscan Friars with Renewal and this is the Rosary in 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. This is day 211. To download the prayer plan for Rosary in a year, visit ascensionpress.com rosary in a year or text R I Y to 33 777. 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 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. No matter what app you're listening in, remember to tap, follow or subscribe for your daily notifications. Hello and welcome back. Today we'll be praying the fifth joyful Mystery, the finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple, and the first luminous Mystery, the Baptism of our Lord in the Jordan. So we'll be continuing our first couple of days here in phase five, building up the mysteries, practicing relational prayer, namely today, praying in the presence of the Holy Spirit. And in some ways, for a lot of us, praying to having a conversation with the Holy Spirit may be a little bit new. The images we have of the Holy Spirit, of a dove or fire are super helpful and they're revealed for us in Scripture. But also they can lead to a certain struggle of a depersonalization of the person of the Holy Spirit as an object or an image, substance, animal, as opposed to a divine person who can hear us, who can speak to us, who loves us, who's worthy of our adoration. Personally, my own prayer with the Holy Spirit, which I will propose today, is there's a movement I experience to reveal something of my life, of my heart to the Holy Spirit. And I ask for him to come and to fill and to touch and to warm and to bless and to console that part of my life, that part of my heart. So I'll invite you yourself to perhaps call to mind one of the names of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, like our advocate, the Paraclete, promise of the Father, Bring to the Holy Spirit, perhaps like some part of your life, mind, heart that needs truth spoken into it. May the Spirit of truth speak God's Word there. Perhaps there's an area of fear which needs God's boldness, His courage as we saw manifest on the Day of Pentecost. Is there an area of your Life where you feel lukewarm, where you need it to be lit on fire, is it an area where you feel alone and you need consolation and comfort? So whatever it is, let's bring it to the Holy Spirit as we pray. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
[03:46]
B
Amen.
[03:48]
A
The fifth joyful mystery is the finding of the child Jesus in the temple. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
[04:23]
B
Amen.
[04:25]
A
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[04:46]
B
Amen.
[04:48]
A
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[05:07]
B
Amen.
[05:09]
A
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[05:29]
B
Amen.
[05:31]
A
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[05:52]
B
Amen.
[05:55]
A
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[06:17]
B
Amen.
[06:20]
A
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[06:41]
B
Amen.
[06:44]
A
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[07:04]
B
Amen.
[07:06]
A
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[07:25]
B
Amen.
[07:27]
A
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[07:46]
B
Amen.
[07:49]
A
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[08:07]
B
Amen.
[08:09]
A
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
[08:20]
B
Amen.
[08:23]
A
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy. The first luminous mystery is the baptism of our Lord in the Jordan.
[08:42]
B
All right.
[08:42]
A
And we'll just kind of, before going into our second decade, renew our recollection, our focus. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
[09:16]
B
Amen.
[09:18]
A
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[09:36]
B
Amen.
[09:39]
A
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[09:57]
B
Amen.
[09:59]
A
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[10:17]
B
Amen.
[10:19]
A
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[10:38]
B
Amen.
[10:40]
A
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[11:00]
B
Amen.
[11:02]
A
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[11:22]
B
Amen.
[11:24]
A
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[11:43]
B
Amen.
[11:45]
A
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[12:05]
B
Amen.
[12:07]
A
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[12:26]
B
Amen.
[12:28]
A
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
[12:48]
B
Amen.
[12:50]
A
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
[13:00]
B
Amen.
[13:01]
A
Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell and lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
[13:17]
B
Amen.
[13:19]
A
Okay, thanks so much for joining me and praying with me again today. I look forward to continuing this journey with you again tomorrow. Poco. Poco. Friends, God bless y'. All.