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

Episode: Day 8 – Full of Grace
Date: January 8, 2026
Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Produced by: Ascension

Main Theme and Purpose

In Day 8 of "The Rosary in a Year," Fr. Mark-Mary introduces listeners to Phase Two: The Biblical Roots of the Rosary. This episode focuses on the opening words of the Hail Mary—“full of grace, the Lord is with thee”—exploring their scriptural origin, theological meaning, and how these words can deepen one’s relationship with Mary and Jesus through the Rosary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Launching Phase Two: Rooting the Rosary in Scripture

• Fr. Mark-Mary explains that the next phase will examine the scriptural foundations of each prayer in the Rosary, beginning with the Hail Mary.

  • “We’ll root them in Scripture and then go on to the particular scripture passages appropriate to the different mysteries and spend time working through these and reflecting on them.” (01:42)

• Each episode will read part of a prayer, offer a related Scripture lens, and conclude with prayer:

  • “At the end of each episode... we’ll say the Sign of the Cross and then we’ll pray an Our Father, three Hail Marys, and a Glory Be and close the episode for the day.” (03:00)

2. Focusing on ‘Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord Is with Thee’

• These words originate from the Annunciation—the angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary (Luke 1:28).

  • “An angel is a messenger of God. And the message that the angel carries isn't their own message, it's the message that God gave them to carry. And Hail Mary, full of grace... It's not just Gabriel's greeting, it's God's greeting.” (04:00)

• Fr. Mark-Mary emphasizes that just as Jesus gave us the words for the Our Father, God gives us the words to greet Mary through the angel:

  • “Jesus teaches us the Our Father... how to approach the Father. The Hail Mary... God teaches us how to approach Mary.” (05:14)
  • “We are greeting the Blessed Mother and we’re greeting her with God's own words in the Hail Mary.” (05:33)

3. Encouragement for Deeper Theological Study

• He recommends Pope John Paul II’s Redemptoris Mater for a deeper theological unpacking of “full of grace, the Lord is with thee.”
  • “He offers a really rich theological discussion on what these words mean.” (06:16)

4. The Heart of Rosary Repetition—Ever New Love

• Drawing from John Paul II’s apostolic letter on the Rosary (Rosarium Virginis Mariae, para. 26), Fr. Mark-Mary reframes the repetition of the Hail Mary as an “outpouring of love”:

  • “If this repetition is considered superficially, there could be a temptation to see the Rosary as a dry and boring exercise. It is quite another thing, however, when the Rosary is thought of as an outpouring of that love which tirelessly returns to the person loved with expressions similar in their content but ever fresh in terms of the feeling pervading them.” [Quote from John Paul II, 07:07]

• He encourages listeners to approach each Hail Mary as a new, loving greeting to Mary, letting the words be “ever new in affection and love.”

  • “The content, the form, the words, they don't change. But the affection is ever new, the love is ever new.” (08:10)
  • “Approach her again and again with an outpouring of love which tirelessly returns to the person loved.” (08:25)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On God’s greeting to Mary:

  • “It is God himself who, through his angel as intermediary, greets Mary. And in praying... I thought it was pretty neat. And so I’m going to share it with you.” (04:45)

• On the purpose of repetition in the Rosary:

  • “We are greeting her with ever new love, ever new affection, ever new confidence, ever new joy... Hail Mary, I love you, Mother. You are beautiful, Mother, full of grace. You are full of grace, Mother. And where I am lacking, pour upon me your grace.” (07:50)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Introduction to Phase Two: Biblical Roots of the Rosary (01:42)
• Context of ‘Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee’ from the Annunciation (04:00)
• Connection to the Our Father: God Gives Us Words to Approach Mary (05:14)
• Recommend Deeper Study: Pope John Paul II’s Redemptoris Mater (06:16)
• Reflection on Rosary Repetition as Love, Not Routine (07:07)
• Invitation to Personal Prayer and Reflection (08:10–08:25)
• Guided Prayer (Our Father, Hail Marys, Glory Be) (09:00)

Episode Tone and Closing Thoughts

• The episode is gentle, contemplative, and warmly pastoral. Fr. Mark-Mary’s tone is encouraging and personal, inviting listeners to slow down and to pray the Rosary with intentional, renewed love for Mary.
• He closes, “We just greet the Blessed Mother with great love, the love that she deserves. And I look forward to continuing this journey again with you tomorrow. Poco a poco.” (12:25)

Takeaway for Listeners

• Begin to see each Hail Mary as a fresh act of love, repeating God’s own greeting to Mary, not out of habit, but with sincere, ever-renewed affection.
• Root your daily prayer in the words of Scripture—let them deepen your relationship with Jesus and Mary.
• Consider digging deeper into the theology of Marian devotion, especially through the writings of Pope John Paul II.

For further resources and the full prayer plan, visit:
https://ascensionpress.com/riy