Day 351: The Glorious Mysteries

Wed Dec 17 2025

For today’s Rosary, Fr. Mark-Mary reflects on the hidden beauty of the Resurrection, the longing for heaven stirred within us by the Ascension, and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit revealed at Pentecost. He invites us to contemplate Mary’s Assumption as a sign of the glory prepared for those who trust in the Lord and her Coronation as the fruit of a life lived in humility. Today’s focus is the Glorious Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.

Transcript

Prayer Leader (0:00)

Foreign.

Mark Mary (Franciscan Friar of the Renewal) (0:04)

Mark Mary with Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and this is the Rosary in a 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 351. 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.

Congregation Member 1 (0:43)

I encourage you to pick up a.

Mark Mary (Franciscan Friar of the Renewal) (0:45)

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 images of the sacred art will be reflecting on. Today we will be praying the Glorious Mysteries. Let's begin. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Congregation Member 1 (1:06)

Amen. I believe in God, the Father Almighty.

Mark Mary (Franciscan Friar of the Renewal) (1:09)

Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to hell. On the third day he rose again from the dead and he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right.

Congregation Member 1 (1:28)

Hand of God, the Father Almighty.

Mark Mary (Franciscan Friar of the Renewal) (1:31)

From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and a life everlasting.

Congregation Member 1 (1:43)

Amen.

Mark Mary (Franciscan Friar of the Renewal) (1:45)

For our Holy Father's health and intentions. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Holy 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. For an increase in the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity.

Summary

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

Episode: Day 351: The Glorious Mysteries
Date: December 17, 2025
Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Podcast by: Ascension

Overview

In this episode of The Rosary in a Year, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames leads listeners through the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary. He intertwines the prayers with scriptural meditation, theological reflection, and profound encouragement, inviting participants to deepen their relationship with Jesus and Mary. The episode’s tone is both meditative and approachable, aiming to nurture a daily prayer habit and interior transformation through the mysteries of the Rosary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction & Setting the Intentions

The episode starts with Fr. Mark-Mary inviting listeners to collect prayer resources and prepare for prayer (00:04).
He encourages use of the Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide to help meditate on scripture, sacred art, and saints’ reflections.

2. The Glorious Mysteries: Scriptural Reflections & Meditations

First Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection

Theme: The intimacy and hiddenness of God’s action.
Fr. Mark-Mary references Matthew 6 (Sermon on the Mount), highlighting Jesus' emphasis on private prayer:

“Our Heavenly Father wants to have like a special, privileged, private, what we call sacred, set apart relationship with us that’s just him and us. And Jesus has this.” (04:00)
The moment of the Resurrection itself remains hidden, inviting believers into a deep, secret relationship with God.
Invitation: Renew the “deep interior life that's just for us and our Heavenly Father.” (04:48–05:33)

Second Glorious Mystery: The Ascension

Theme: Longing for Heaven and detachment from the world.
Draws from St. Thomas Aquinas and scripture, encouraging listeners to “seek the things that are above” (10:00).

“The hope…is that (the Ascension) inspires in us a longing for heaven…that this bears fruit in our lives by our own desire to be with Jesus, to be in heaven.” (09:05)
Invitation: Ask for the grace of “a deeper longing for heaven and…detachment and concern about the things of this world.” (09:41)

Third Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost)

Theme: Transformation by the Holy Spirit.
Meditation on Titian’s painting of Pentecost and the transformation of Simon Peter:

“Simon—he became Peter, right, through the power of the Holy Spirit, through the work of God, of grace.” (14:20) “We are called to bring the entirety of our lives and our stories, even our failures, to the Lord…and to be transformed by the grace of God.” (14:51)
Invitation: Bring “our needs, responsibilities, gifts, and roles” to God, asking for the Holy Spirit to “anoint, to fill with grace the entirety of our lives.” (15:26)

Fourth Glorious Mystery: The Assumption of Mary

Theme: The call to sainthood and eternal beauty.
Shares a memorable quote from René Girard:

“Few people want to be saints these days, but everyone is trying to lose weight.” (19:06)
Reflects humorously and profoundly on society’s longing for youth and beauty, but contrasts this with the true “eternal…youthfulness” given by God.

“There’s even a youthfulness that is eternal, that is given to us by the Lord. And how do we receive that? Like Mary, we continue to prioritize and to seek holiness here and now that we may become saints.” (20:35)
Invitation: Prioritize holiness now, trusting in the promise of resurrection and eternal life. (20:49)

Fifth Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth

Theme: The royal road of humility.
Mary’s Queenship is rooted in her continual “yes” to God and unwavering humility:

“How did Mary become the Queen of Heaven? By the road of humility…She remained humble and docile and dependent and receptive, but all rooted in her confidence in the Lord, her knowing the Lord and his goodness.” (24:14)
Invitation: Imitate Mary by walking “the royal road” of trust, patience, obedience, and humility to share in the glory of heaven. (24:48)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Intimacy with God:

"The Lord wants something so private and hidden and intimate.” — Fr. Mark-Mary (04:45)
On Longing for Heaven:

"May we ask for the grace, for a deeper longing for heaven and a deeper detachment and concern about the things of this world.” — Fr. Mark-Mary (09:41)
On Transformation:

"Simon…became Peter, right, through the power of the Holy Spirit, through the work of God, of grace." — Fr. Mark-Mary (14:20)
René Girard Quip:

“Few people want to be saints these days, but everyone is trying to lose weight.” — Quoted by Fr. Mark-Mary (19:06)
On Holiness and Eternal Beauty:

“There’s…a youthfulness that is eternal, that is given to us by the Lord.” — Fr. Mark-Mary (20:35)
On Humility and Queenship:

“How did Mary become the Queen of Heaven? By the road of humility…She remained humble and docile and dependent and receptive.” — Fr. Mark-Mary (24:14)

Important Timestamps

[00:04] – Episode introduction, prayer guide info.
[03:19] – First Glorious Mystery: Resurrection, reflection on intimacy and hiddenness.
[08:24] – Transition to Second Glorious Mystery: The Ascension, reflection on longing for heaven.
[13:17] – Third Glorious Mystery: Pentecost, transformation by the Spirit.
[18:37] – Fourth Glorious Mystery: Assumption of Mary, quote from Girard, reflection on eternal youth.
[24:06] – Fifth Glorious Mystery: Coronation of Mary, meditation on humility as the royal road to glory.
[29:26] – Concluding prayers and blessing.

Style, Tone, and Experience

The episode is prayerful, conversational, and spiritually enriching. Fr. Mark-Mary’s tone is gentle, humbly authoritative, and inviting—encouraging listeners to deepen their interior lives, cultivate a longing for heaven, and model the humility of Christ and Mary. The incorporation of sacred art, scripture, and saintly wisdom makes the meditations vivid and personal.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode offers a prayerfully guided experience through the Glorious Mysteries, with thoughtful scriptural and artistic insights for each decade of the Rosary. Fr. Mark-Mary encourages listeners to cultivate a private relationship with God, a longing for heaven, receptivity to the Holy Spirit, and humility modeled on Mary. Memorable quotes and spiritual invitations punctuate each meditation, fostering both contemplation and practical growth in faith.

“The Lord wants something so private and hidden and intimate.” (04:45)
“How did Mary become the Queen of Heaven? By the road of humility.” (24:14)

Listeners are gently led not just to “say” the Rosary but to enter more deeply into its mysteries as a source of personal and communal grace.