Day 224: Intentions to the Father

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Rosary in a Year (Day 224: Intentions to the Father)
Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Released on: August 12, 2025

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Introduction

In Day 224 of Ascension’s "The Rosary in a Year" podcast, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, a member of the Franciscan Friars, delves into the profound practice of offering specific intentions during the Rosary. This episode, titled "Intentions to the Father," guides listeners through a focused prayer journey aimed at deepening their relationship with God the Father and His divine providence.

Building a Habit of Intentional Prayer

Fr. Mark-Mary begins by emphasizing the transformative power of integrating personal intentions into daily Rosary prayers. He encourages listeners to "build a daily habit of prayer" by gradually incorporating this practice, ensuring it becomes a meaningful part of their spiritual lives.

"What I'd like us to do is just kind of have a moment to explore this with the Lord... for our own prayer, our own hope, and for those we're praying for."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [02:33]

Praying with Intentions: A Structured Approach

The core of the episode revolves around praying with intentions—bringing specific people or situations before God during each decade of the Rosary. Fr. Mark-Mary outlines a structured approach:

1. Assigning Intentions to Each Decade:
   Listeners are guided to dedicate each decade of the Rosary to a different intention, allowing for focused and personalized prayer.

2. Visualizing God’s Presence:
   Fr. Mark-Mary encourages believers to envision themselves as parental figures presenting their loved ones before a compassionate doctor, symbolizing God’s attentive and loving nature.

   "The image I have is a little bit of like a parent taking a child to the doctor, where the parent like presents the child fully aware of the doctor, fully aware of the child being offered and their heart is invested in it."
   — Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [02:06]

3. Deepening Trust in the Father:
   Emphasizing the attributes of God the Father, Fr. Mark-Mary reassures listeners of God's omnipresence and unwavering support.

   "The Father God...who hears us, who always hears us, who sees us...he's already at work for the good in whatever the situation is."
   — Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [02:37]

Engaging with the Sorrowful Mysteries

The episode centers on the first two Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary:

1. The Agony in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar

For each mystery, the traditional prayers are recited, allowing listeners to meditate on the suffering of Jesus and the intercession of Mary.

The Agony in the Garden

During this segment, Fr. Mark-Mary leads the prayer, encouraging listeners to present their intentions to God the Father while reflecting on Jesus' anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane.

"Bring it to our Heavenly Father. Know that he hears you. He always hears you... he is a good father. That he is an all-powerful father."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [07:49]

The Scourging at the Pillar

Similarly, as the second sorrowful mystery unfolds, listeners are invited to continue offering their prayers and intentions, trusting in God’s benevolent intervention.

"The second sorrowful mystery is the scourging at the pillar."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [07:53]

Incorporating Scripture and Sacred Art

Beyond the structured prayers, Fr. Mark-Mary highlights the importance of meditating with sacred art, saint writings, and Scripture (lectio divina). This multifaceted approach enriches the prayer experience, making it a comprehensive encounter with the divine.

The Power of Mary’s Influence

Mary, as a central figure in the Rosary, serves as an intercessor and a model of faith. By integrating Mary’s prayers and reflections, listeners are drawn closer to both Jesus and Mary, fostering a deeper spiritual connection.

Conclusion and Continuing the Journey

Fr. Mark-Mary wraps up the episode by thanking listeners for their participation and encouraging them to continue this prayerful journey. He reiterates the significance of offering prayers with heartfelt intentions, trusting in God's active presence in every aspect of life.

"Thanks so much for joining me and praying with me today. I look forward to continuing this journey with you again tomorrow."
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [12:05]

Key Takeaways

• Structured Intentions: Assign specific intentions to each decade of the Rosary to personalize and deepen your prayer experience.

• Trust in the Father: Embrace the understanding that God the Father is always listening and actively working for the good in every situation.

• Engage with the Mysteries: Use the Sorrowful Mysteries to meditate on the profound sufferings of Jesus, enhancing your spiritual reflection.

• Enrich Prayer with Scripture and Art: Incorporate readings and visual aids to elevate your meditation and connection with the divine.

• Mary as an Intercessor: Leverage Mary’s role to strengthen your relationship with both her and Jesus, making your prayers more impactful.

Resources

For those interested in following the complete prayer plan, visit Ascension Press - Rosary in a Year. Additionally, the Ascension app offers exclusive features and full Rosary recordings with Fr. Mark-Mary and other friars.

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By integrating specific intentions into each Rosary decade, listeners can cultivate a more intimate and effective prayer life, drawing ever closer to God the Father and His infinite grace through the intercession of Mary.

Transcript

[Unknown Speaker]

Foreign.

[Mark Mary]

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.

[Unknown Speaker]

The Rosary in a Year is brought.

[Mark Mary]

To you by Ascension.

[Unknown Speaker]

This is day 224.

[Mark Mary]

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.

[Unknown Speaker]

Today we'll be praying.

With the first two sorrowful mysteries, the.

Agony in the Garden and the Scourging at the Pillar. For this next set of focused prayer another five days, what we'll practice is praying with intentions. It's a common form of prayer, is.

[Mark Mary]

That people come to the rosary and.

[Unknown Speaker]

They bring particular intentions.

They may offer up their rosary for.

[Mark Mary]

One intention or different decades for different intentions.

[Unknown Speaker]

And so let's just go ahead.

What I'd like us to do is.

Just kind of have a moment to.

Kind of explore this with the Lord.

In a way which can be hopefully most efficacious and fruitful for our own.

Prayer, our own hope, and for those we're praying for.

And so what we're going to do is we're going to kind of go back to praying with the different persons, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, or the Most Holy Trinity, the Trinity itself, and then.

Praying with Our Lady.

What we're going to do is we're going to bring to each of the decades a different situation or person apart from us, so separate from us.

[Mark Mary]

And kind of the image I have.

[Unknown Speaker]

Is a little bit of like a parent taking a child to the doctor, where the parent like presents the child.

Fully aware of the doctor, fully aware.

Of, of the child being offered and their kind of heart is invested in it. And so for example, today we'll be.

Praying with the Father.

And when you have these intentions, these people in your life, these situations, what I want you to really experience is.

The Father God The Father seen this.

Person and to bring this to the.

Truth of what we know of the.

Father, of a good Father, of a loving Father, all powerful Father, a Father.

Who hears us, who always hears us, who sees us.

And so to bring the situation or this person to God the Father, experience him, seen this person or situation, and hopefully as well, in this exchange, the communication of hope and confidence that the Father is already responding, he's already at work for the good in whatever the situation is. And so I'll ask you to go ahead and take a moment to call to mind your intention and then to.

Bring it to our heavenly fathers. We pray in the name of the.

Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

The first sorrowful mystery is the agony in the garden.

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.

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.

Amen.

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.

Amen.

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.

Amen.

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.

Amen.

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.

Amen.

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.

Amen.

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.

Amen.

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.

Amen.

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.

Amen.

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.

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. So we can go ahead and think of another intention. Bring it to our Heavenly Father. Know that he hears you.

He always hears you.

And that he is a good father.

That he is an all powerful father.

And that he's already at work for the good. The second sorrowful mystery is the scourging at the pillar.

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.

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.

Amen.

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.

Amen.

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.

Amen.

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.

Amen.

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.

Amen.

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.

Amen.

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.

Amen.

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.

Amen.

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.

Amen.

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.

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 who in most need of thy mercy.

In the name of the Father and.

Of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen. All right.

[Mark Mary]

Thanks so much for joining me and.

[Unknown Speaker]

Praying with me today.

[Mark Mary]

I look forward to continuing this journey.

[Unknown Speaker]

With you again tomorrow.

Poco. Poco.

Friends, God bless y'.

All.