Day 218: Walking With Mary

Summary

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

Episode: Day 218 – Walking With Mary

Date: August 6, 2026

Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR

Podcast by: Ascension

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Episode Overview

Theme:
Day 218 of “The Rosary in a Year” podcast focuses on experiencing prayer with Mary—especially by inviting her to accompany listeners in their everyday lives. Fr. Mark-Mary Ames guides the audience through the 4th and 5th Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary (the Assumption and the Coronation of Mary), emphasizing a personal and accessible relationship with Mary as spiritual mother, companion, and advocate.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Entering the Final Focus on Praying with Mary

• Fr. Mark-Mary notes this is the last session focused on "practicing, on being aware of... who we are praying to or who we are praying with" (01:15).
• The day’s prompt: Imagine Mary present with you—right where you are—so prayer can become an encounter and a relationship, not just a recitation.

2. Imagining Mary’s Presence in the Everyday

• Fr. Mark-Mary encourages listeners to picture Mary sitting or kneeling beside them––in a favorite chapel, in the car, during daily chores (02:17).
• He stresses Mary's delight in being present, her loving attention, and her desire to help:
  • "Just know that she’s there with you, delighting in being there with you, loving you, attentive to you..." (02:34)

3. How to Respond to Mary’s Presence

• He prompts listeners to:
  • Love and honor Mary.
  • Share openly their hearts, needs, and struggles.
  • Invite her to shelter, fight for, and protect them—especially during moments of temptation or frustration (02:42).
• "Invite her to help you with whatever's going on. Ask her to shelter you, to fight for you, to cover you, protect you..." (02:42)

4. The Mysteries Prayed

• The Fourth Glorious Mystery: The Assumption of Mary (03:05–07:03)
  • The full decade of the Rosary is prayed, inviting meditation on Mary’s Assumption alongside her loving presence.
• Refocusing on Mary’s Comfort
  • Before the Coronation decade, Fr. Mark-Mary invites listeners to refocus:
    • "How she’s with us, loving us, looking upon us, responding to us, comforting us, encouraging us." (07:21)
• The Fifth Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth (07:33–11:18)
  • The Rosary is completed with this last glorious decade.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mary in Our Daily Lives:

  • "Imagine her being with you as you drive in your car, as you’re home doing laundry or cooking… just know that she’s there with you, delighting in being there with you, loving you, attentive to you..."
    — Fr. Mark-Mary (02:20–02:37)

• On Inviting Mary’s Help:

  • "Invite her to help you with whatever's going on... Ask her to shelter you, to fight for you, to cover you, protect you, especially during times of temptation or frustration."
    — Fr. Mark-Mary (02:42–02:51)

• On Re-Rooting in Mary's Presence:

  • "How she’s with us, loving us, looking upon us, responding to us, comforting us, encouraging us."
    — Fr. Mark-Mary (07:21–07:25)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:04 – Introduction to the episode’s theme and daily focus.
• 01:15 – Last episode specifically on praying with awareness of who we’re with.
• 02:04 – Prompt to imagine Mary’s present companionship in daily life.
• 02:42 – Practical invitation: Love, honor, and ask for Mary’s help.
• 03:05–07:03 – The Assumption: Fourth Glorious Mystery decade prayed.
• 07:21 – Encouragement to refocus on Mary’s comforting presence.
• 07:33–11:18 – The Coronation: Fifth Glorious Mystery decade prayed.
• 11:39 – Closing gratitude and invitation to return the next day.

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Episode Flow & Tone

Fr. Mark-Mary speaks gently and pastorally, using inviting and warm language. The tone is personal and meditative, with a focus on real-world application—bringing Mary into the ordinary moments of life. The prayerful segments are interspersed with encouraging instructions on how to remain attentive to Mary as a living spiritual presence, not just a distant model.

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Summary for New Listeners

This episode offers practical encouragement for anyone seeking a closer relationship with Mary through the Rosary. Fr. Mark-Mary emphasizes that praying with Mary can happen anywhere—in chapels, cars, kitchens—and turns ordinary life into a space for grace. The episode closes the series’ focus on praying with intentional awareness of Mary’s presence, culminating in meditative recitation of the final two Glorious Mysteries.

Whether you’re a seasoned Rosary pray-er or new to Marian devotion, this episode gives a simple but profound reminder: Mary walks with us, hears us, and loves to pray alongside us, wherever we are.

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Transcript

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Foreign.

[Host/Announcer]

Mark Mary with Franciscan Friars, the 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.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

This is day 218.

[Host/Announcer]

To download the prayer plan for Rosary in a year, visit ascensionpress.comrosaryinayear 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 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. On behalf of myself and the whole team here at Ascension, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who's helped support this podcast financially. Your generosity is so appreciated and helps us to reach as many people as possible. And if you haven't already, please consider supporting [e-mail] support

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

today we'll be praying

with the 4th and the 5th glorious mysteries, the Assumption of Our lady and her coronation as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

So today is going to be the

last of our episodes, really specifically focusing

on practicing, on being aware of either

who we are praying to or or

who we are praying with. And today we'll be praying with Our lady. And as always, you're free to go

and to pray and to be with

her however you desire.

In the past we've gone to the little house where St. John would have taken Our lady in and really experienced being there with her as a mother who we can show affection to, who we can love, but who also we can share our hearts with and who

also wants to love us and speak

to us and help us.

Today I'm gonna the prompt I'm gonna

encourage is a little bit like what I encourage for praying with Mary the

second time around of being open to

and imagining her being with you in your current time place setting so she

can be with you in your favorite chapel where you go and pray and

imagine her sitting or kneeling right next to you. Imagine her being with you as you drive in your car, as you're home

doing laundry or cooking.

Just know that she's there with you,

delighting in being there with you, loving

you, attentive to you,

love her, honor

her, share with her your heart, your needs. Invite her to help you with whatever's going on, Ask her to shelter you,

to fight for you, to cover you,

protect you, especially during times of temptation or frustration. And now let's pray.

In the name of the Father and

of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

The fourth glorious mystery is the Assumption.

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.

Amen.

[Congregation/Chorus]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The Lord is with the blessed art

thou among women and blessed is the

[Congregation/Chorus]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

[Congregation/Chorus]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The Lord is with the blessed art

thou among women, and blessed is the

[Congregation/Chorus]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

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

[Congregation/Chorus]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

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. Amen.

[Congregation/Chorus]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The Lord is with the blessed art

thou among women, and blessed is the

[Congregation/Chorus]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

[Congregation/Chorus]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The Lord is with the blessed art

thou among women and blessed is the

[Congregation/Chorus]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

[Congregation/Chorus]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The Lord is with the blessed art

thou among women, and blessed is the

[Congregation/Chorus]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

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

[Congregation/Chorus]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The Lord is with the blessed art

thou among women, and blessed is the

[Congregation/Chorus]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

[Congregation/Chorus]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The Lord is with the blessed art

thou among women, and blessed is the

[Congregation/Chorus]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

[Congregation/Chorus]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The Lord is with the blessed art

thou among women, and blessed is the

[Congregation/Chorus]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

[Congregation/Chorus]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

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.

Amen. 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. Amen.

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. Okay, we'll go ahead and just refocus

again on Our Lady.

How she's with us, loving us,

looking

upon us, responding to us, comforting us, encouraging us.

[Congregation/Chorus]

So we pray.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The fifth glorious mystery is the coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

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.

Amen.

[Congregation/Chorus]

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

Holy.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed

[Congregation/Chorus]

is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

[Congregation/Chorus]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The Lord is with the Blessed art

thou among women, and blessed is the

[Congregation/Chorus]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

[Congregation/Chorus]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The Lord is with the Blessed art

thou among women, and blessed is the

[Congregation/Chorus]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

[Congregation/Chorus]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The Lord is with the Blessed art

thou among women, and blessed is the

[Congregation/Chorus]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

[Congregation/Chorus]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The Lord is with the Blessed art

thou among women, and blessed is the

[Congregation/Chorus]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

[Congregation/Chorus]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The Lord is with the Blessed art

thou among women, and blessed is the

[Congregation/Chorus]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

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

[Congregation/Chorus]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The Lord is with the Blessed art

thou among women, and blessed is the

[Congregation/Chorus]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

[Congregation/Chorus]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The Lord is with the blessed art

thou among women, and blessed is the

[Congregation/Chorus]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

[Congregation/Chorus]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The Lord is with the blessed art

thou among women and blessed is the

[Congregation/Chorus]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

[Congregation/Chorus]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The Lord is with the blessed art

thou among women, and blessed is the

[Congregation/Chorus]

fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for

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

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. Amen. In the name of the Father and

of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

All right, friends, thanks so much for

joining me and praying with me again today. I look forward to continuing this journey

with you again tomorrow.

Poco.

[Congregation/Chorus]

Poco.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

All right.

[Host/Announcer]

God bless y'. All.