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

Episode: Day 357 – The Sorrowful Mysteries

Host: Ascension
Lead Guide: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Date: December 23, 2025

Overview

This episode of “The Rosary in a Year” guides listeners through the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, emphasizing both the biblical roots and the power of meditative prayer. Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, accompanied by other Franciscan friars, offers deep reflections before each decade, encouraging listeners to enter into Jesus’ Passion, unite their sufferings with Christ, and experience the transforming love and compassion of Mary.

Key Discussion Points & Spiritual Insights

Opening and Intentions (00:00–03:17)

• The podcast is introduced as a daily walk with the Rosary designed to deepen one’s relationship with Jesus and Mary.
• Listeners are invited to follow along using the “Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide.”
• Prayer intentions: For the health and intentions of the Holy Father and an increase in faith, hope, and charity.

First Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden (03:18–07:54)

• Reflection: Fr. Francis draws on Romans 8:28: “God orders all things for the good, for those who love him.”
• Jesus’ agony becomes a place to surrender one’s own darkness and suffering, trusting that Christ can transform suffering into glory.
  • Quote (03:26):
    “God orders all things…for the good, for those who love him. We see this in the passion. We see this…here with Jesus in the garden, taking upon himself all evil, all sin, all suffering…and ultimately taking it...to victory.”
    —Friar Francis
• Encouragement: Listeners are led to “make an act of faith and prayer of surrender,” bringing personal burdens to Jesus in Gethsemane.

Second Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar (07:56–12:54)

• Reflection: Emphasizes focusing on the concrete—visualize a specific wound, a single drop of blood falling to Jesus’ feet, symbolizing his sacrificial love.
  • Quote (08:53):
    “Let's just really focus in on the precious blood of Jesus. Each drop of blood of infinite worth and value, each drop of blood sufficient to save the whole world.”
    —Friar Francis
• Invitation: Meditate on being seen by Jesus, and letting gratitude arise in response to the love poured out.

Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning with Thorns (12:54–17:41)

• Theme: Acts of reparation—repairing what’s been broken by personal or collective sin.
• Reflection: In the midst of mockery, listeners are led to “hail our king, we hail our Lord,” worshiping Jesus as the true King, even in humiliation.
  • Quote (13:25):
    “As we pray this decade, let's make an act of reparation. Let's look at Jesus crowned with thorns and worship him and adore him as our Lord…confess our allegiance to him…our obedience to him as the true and everlasting king.”
    —Friar Francis

Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross (17:41–23:11)

• Relatable Analogy: Fr. Francis uses the image of “crocodile arms”—doing something reluctantly and minimally, relating this to how we sometimes accept suffering or duty.
  • He contrasts this with Jesus’ wholehearted embrace of the cross:
    • Quote (18:07):
      “Jesus doesn't embrace the cross begrudgingly. He doesn't crocodile arms it. He, like, fully, totally embraces it with open arms…He 100% says yes to the cross because he doesn't like crocodile arms his choice for you and me.”
• Invitation: Ask for grace to accept one’s own crosses as Jesus did—with a full and willing heart.

Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion (23:11–28:14)

• Sacred Art Reflection: The painting “What Our Lord Saw from the Cross” by James Tissot is introduced. Listeners are prompted to imagine Jesus’ view: looking out at us with love and, crucially, looking down at Mary.
  • Quote (23:45):
    “I'd really encourage you just to take the perspective of Jesus on the cross and then look down at Mary…see her eyes locked on him.”
• Insight: Just as Jesus receives the loving, compassionate gaze of Mary, so too can we receive her motherly attention, especially when sharing in Christ’s suffering.

Concluding Prayers and Blessing (28:14–29:16)

• Hail, Holy Queen and closing prayers for grace to imitate and obtain the promises of the Rosary’s mysteries.
• Fr. Francis expresses gratitude to the community of listeners:
  • Quote (29:16):
    “I look forward to continuing this journey with you again tomorrow. Poco a poco, friends. God bless you.”
    —Friar Francis

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Transformation in Suffering (03:26):
  “We see this in the passion…Jesus in the garden, taking upon himself all evil, all sin, all suffering…and ultimately taking it right to the cross and, through the cross, to the resurrection, to victory.”
• Infinite Value of Christ’s Blood (08:53):
  “Each drop of blood of infinite worth and value, each drop of blood sufficient to save the whole world.”
• Wholehearted Embrace of the Cross (18:07):
  “He doesn't crocodile arms the Father's will…when it comes to you and me...He embraces us and all of us.”
• Mary’s Compassion at the Cross (23:45):
  “Look down at Mary…see her eyes locked on him…as Mary looks on him with tenderness and love…can we experience Mary looking at us like that?”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–03:17 Introduction & Intentions
• 03:18–07:54 First Sorrowful Mystery: Agony in the Garden & Reflection
• 07:56–12:54 Second Sorrowful Mystery: Scourging at the Pillar & Reflection
• 12:54–17:41 Third Sorrowful Mystery: Crowning with Thorns & Reflection
• 17:41–23:11 Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: Carrying of the Cross & Reflection
• 23:11–28:14 Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: Crucifixion & Reflection
• 28:14–29:16 Concluding Prayers & Farewell

Summary

This episode draws listeners into a meditative journey through the Sorrowful Mysteries, combining traditional prayers with vivid, relatable reflections. Fr. Mark-Mary Ames and the friars encourage surrender, gratitude, reparation, wholehearted acceptance of God’s will, and the consolation of Mary’s compassion, making the mysteries not only events to recount but realities to live and encounter in daily life. The language is gentle, personal, and spiritually rich, offering encouragement and practical ways to deepen one’s prayer life—one decade, and one day, at a time.