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

Episode: Day 362 – The Glorious Mysteries

Date: December 28, 2025
Host: Ascension | Main Guides: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, and Fr. Mike Schmitz

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode invites listeners into a communal praying of the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary, guided by Fr. Mark-Mary Ames and Fr. Mike Schmitz. Designed for anyone seeking to deepen their relationship with Jesus and Mary through prayer, the episode presents not only the prayers themselves but also fresh meditations for each mystery. Emphasizing awe, joy, and greater trust in God’s power and mercy, the episode encourages listeners to let these mysteries become transformative moments of grace in their own lives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction and Opening Prayers

• Purpose of the podcast reiterated: “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.” (Mark Mary, 00:04)
• Brief announcements about tracking prayer habits and ways to support the podcast (skipped for this summary).
• The Rosary begins with the Sign of the Cross, Apostle’s Creed, and introductory prayers for the Holy Father and the virtues of faith, hope, and charity.
• Timestamps: 01:06 – 03:20

2. First Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection

• Meditation: Fr. Mike encourages listeners to “place yourself in the garden outside the empty tomb,” to imagine encountering the Risen Lord as Mary Magdalene did.
  • “You hear Him speak these words: Do not be afraid. I am risen. I have conquered sin. I've conquered death. There's nothing I can't forgive. There's nothing I can't respond to. Do not be afraid.” (Fr. Mike Schmitz, 03:46 – 04:05)
  • Fr. Mike notes, “I'm sensitive to the fact that's not an exact quote from Scripture, but it is what His resurrection says.” (04:07)
  • Repetition of the message: “May you experience the risen Lord speak these words to you again: Do not be afraid.” (Fr. Mike Schmitz, 04:19)
• Timestamps: 03:22 – 08:06

3. Second Glorious Mystery: The Ascension

• Meditation: Fr. Mike relates the joy felt for a favorite athlete’s victory to the joy the apostles must have felt at Jesus’ ascension.
  • “If I can get this great joy because of a baseball player or basketball player, how much more joy is possible for me before the victory, the ascension of my God, to whom I am a disciple, the one I adore, the one I love.” (Fr. Mike Schmitz, 09:17 – 09:37)
  • Reflecting on Luke 24:52-53 about the apostles’ joy: “They worshiped him … and were continually in the temple blessing God.” (Fr. Mike Schmitz, 08:46)
• Invitation to “experience great joy at the victory of the ascension of the Lord.”
• Timestamps: 08:06 – 13:23

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

• Meditation: The focus shifts to awe and wonder before God’s actions.
  • Citing Acts 2:12 – “All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’” (Fr. Mike Schmitz, 13:35)
  • “God is awesome. His works are awesome. His ways are awesome.” (Fr. Mike Schmitz, 13:55)
  • On the limits of human understanding: “It breaks through our capacity for total comprehension … so beautiful, so big, so glorious, so majestic. And this is God.” (Fr. Mike Schmitz, 13:59 – 14:14)
• Prayer: Asking to be filled with such awe and “that we ourselves may be so filled, so transformed by the Spirit of God, that we might actually become like causes of awe toward God and those we encounter.” (Fr. Mike Schmitz, 14:44)
  • “Jesus, fill us with awe towards you. And make us, through your grace, causes of joy that bring others to awe of you as well.” (Fr. Mike Schmitz, 15:03)
• Timestamps: 13:23 – 19:03

5. Fourth Glorious Mystery: The Assumption

• Meditation: Parallel drawn with the Ascension, but now in Mary.
  • “We see Mary being assumed into heaven, body and soul. We see Jesus’s victory in her and her share in this victory.” (Fr. Mike Schmitz, 19:11)
  • Emphasis on celebrating Mary’s share in the Father’s promises: “The one we love gets her definitive share in the promises of the Father and in the victory of her son.” (Fr. Mike Schmitz, 19:24 – 19:34)
• Joy is invited—rejoicing in Mary’s exaltation and her closeness to all believers.
• Timestamps: 19:03 – 23:19

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

• Meditation: Mary is acknowledged as both Queen and Mother.
  • “We come to Mary as our queen and mother, encouraged, comforted by her love and tenderness towards us, but also strengthened, given courage by the authority and the power God has granted her.” (Fr. Mike Schmitz, 23:25 – 23:49)
  • Invitation for listeners to place all struggles, needs, and requests for protection before the Queen’s loving intercession: “Let us place anything in our lives that we’re struggling with, that we need grace for, that we need protection, before our mother and our queen, trusting in her loving intercession.” (Fr. Mike Schmitz, 23:49)
• Timestamps: 23:19 – 27:19

7. Closing Prayers

• Prayers include the Hail, Holy Queen and customary concluding prayers of the Rosary.
  • Memorable phrasing: “Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us.” (Fr. Mike Schmitz, 27:52)
  • “That meditating upon these mysteries of the most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise…” (Fr. Mike Schmitz, 28:11)
• The episode closes with a blessing and encouragement.
  • “Thanks, everyone, for joining me and praying with me today. I look forward to continuing this journey with you again tomorrow.” (Fr. Mike Schmitz, 28:35)
• Timestamps: 27:39 – End

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Resurrection:

  “Do not be afraid. I am risen. I have conquered sin. I’ve conquered death. There’s nothing I can’t forgive. There’s nothing I can’t respond to. Do not be afraid.”
  – Fr. Mike Schmitz (03:46 – 04:05)

• On Joy in the Ascension:

  “If I can get this great joy because of a baseball player or basketball player, how much more joy is possible for me before the victory, the ascension of my God… the one I adore, the one I love.”
  – Fr. Mike Schmitz (09:17 – 09:37)

• On Awe at Pentecost:

  “God is awesome. His works are awesome. His ways are awesome. It's something before us which, like, doesn't leave us confused, like, empty, but it breaks through our capacity for total comprehension... And this is God.”
  – Fr. Mike Schmitz (13:55 – 14:14)

• On Mary’s Assumption and Coronation:

  “The one we love gets her definitive share in the promises of the Father and in the victory of her son.”
  – Fr. Mike Schmitz (19:34)
  “We come to Mary as our queen and mother, encouraged, comforted by her love and tenderness towards us, but also strengthened, given courage by the authority and the power God has granted her.”
  – Fr. Mike Schmitz (23:25)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening prayers and introduction: 00:04 – 03:20
• First Glorious Mystery (Resurrection): 03:22 – 08:06
• Second Glorious Mystery (Ascension): 08:06 – 13:23
• Third Glorious Mystery (Pentecost): 13:23 – 19:03
• Fourth Glorious Mystery (Assumption): 19:03 – 23:19
• Fifth Glorious Mystery (Coronation): 23:19 – 27:19
• Closing prayers and blessing: 27:39 – End

Tone and Style

The episode is peaceful, reflective, and deeply invitational. Fr. Mike Schmitz’s meditations are personal and relatable, connecting each mystery to everyday experiences and emotions while upholding the profound spiritual truths at their core.

Takeaway

Listeners are drawn into each Glorious Mystery not only through prayer but through vivid, imaginative meditation and personal reflection. The episode underscores joy, awe, trust, and hope—as gifts that come from entering deeply into the Rosary and into relationship with Mary and Jesus. Fr. Mike and the team encourage all to let these mysteries change hearts and daily life, moving from prayer to lived grace.

Recommended for: Anyone hoping to build a more meaningful daily prayer habit, grow closer to Mary and Jesus, or simply seeking comfort, awe, and confidence in faith.