Episode Summary
The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)
Day 85: The Blessing Never Stops
Date: March 26, 2026
Podcast Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR (Ascension)
Episode Overview
In this episode, Fr. Mark-Mary guides listeners through a powerful meditation on the Second Glorious Mystery: the Ascension of Jesus (Luke 24:50-53), exploring the theme "The Blessing Never Stops." The focus is on the perpetual blessing that comes from Jesus, who, in ascending, continues to bless all people without ceasing. Fr. Mark-Mary invites listeners into a prayerful reflection and offers practical ways to enter and remain in continuous blessing and reciprocal worship.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Scripture Focus: The Ascension
- Reading: Luke 24:50-53
- "Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy and were continually in the temple blessing God."
[01:40]
- "Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy and were continually in the temple blessing God."
2. Never-Ending Blessing
- Insight: Jesus' act of blessing his disciples as he ascends illustrates that his blessing is eternal, unhindered by physical limitations.
- Memorable Moment:
- "He never stops blessing us. Notice the details. He lifts up his hands and he blessed them. And while he is blessing them, he parted from them, was carried up into heaven."
[04:00]
- "He never stops blessing us. Notice the details. He lifts up his hands and he blessed them. And while he is blessing them, he parted from them, was carried up into heaven."
- Deeper Explanation:
- "The image portrayed is Jesus with his hands in blessing and continually keeping his hands in blessing over the disciples and over all of us as he returns to heaven..."
[04:20]
- "The image portrayed is Jesus with his hands in blessing and continually keeping his hands in blessing over the disciples and over all of us as he returns to heaven..."
3. Jesus’ Presence Transcends Physical Absence
-
Reflection: The disciples are not saddened by Jesus’ departure; rather, they rejoice, realizing through faith that he is now more present than ever.
- "So as he ascends to heaven, they worship him. They return to Jerusalem but with great joy, not great sadness."
[05:40]
- "So as he ascends to heaven, they worship him. They return to Jerusalem but with great joy, not great sadness."
-
Reciprocal Blessing:
- "The blessing doesn’t stop... but also the reciprocation, the response of blessing God, of praising God, like it never stops."
[06:15]
- "The blessing doesn’t stop... but also the reciprocation, the response of blessing God, of praising God, like it never stops."
4. Invitation to Continuous Worship and Relationship
-
Visual and Imaginative Prayer: Fr. Mark-Mary encourages listeners to imagine Jesus eternally blessing them, and to respond in their own way—lifting hands, adoring, blessing.
- "Look upon Jesus with his hands still outstretched in blessing... respond with your own blessing."
[08:30]
- "Look upon Jesus with his hands still outstretched in blessing... respond with your own blessing."
-
Practical Encouragement:
- "As you return to this mystery again and again, while you’re praying the Second Glorious Mystery, you can return to this place."
[09:10]
- "As you return to this mystery again and again, while you’re praying the Second Glorious Mystery, you can return to this place."
5. Lectio Divina Model Applied: Receive, Respond, Request, Rejoice
-
Receive (God’s Revelation):
- The Father’s faithfulness is revealed in Jesus’ continual blessing and resurrection.
- "We have a new access to Jesus—an even more profound, even more efficacious, even more beautiful, even more immediate access to Jesus than we did during his earthly life..."
[11:50]
-
Respond (Praise and Adoration):
- "Jesus, we bless you, we adore you, we worship you, we glorify you, we rejoice in your ascension."
[12:20]
- "Jesus, we bless you, we adore you, we worship you, we glorify you, we rejoice in your ascension."
-
Request (Prayer for Grace):
- Asking for the grace to receive the joy of the ascension, to persevere in blessing, and to always experience Jesus’ loving gaze.
- "Jesus, we’re going to ask for the grace to receive the great joy of the ascension...that we may persevere in blessing."
[13:20]
-
Rejoice (Thanksgiving):
- "Jesus, we just thank you for the gift of this prayer... for reminding us that even now, seated at the right hand of the Father, you bless us."
[14:05]
- "Jesus, we just thank you for the gift of this prayer... for reminding us that even now, seated at the right hand of the Father, you bless us."
6. Contemplation and Practical Application
- Guided Contemplation:
- Listeners are encouraged to remain in the spiritual space of “mutual blessing”—to contemplate Jesus blessing them and to return blessing through adoration.
- "Remain in this place of looking upon him as he looks upon you... look upon Jesus, see him blessing you and respond by adoring, speaking to him."
[15:00]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On the Unceasing Blessing:
"Forever, he is blessing us. And forever, he is blessing the Father as he’s in the Father’s presence, right? Right Hand of the Father with the Holy Spirit."
— Fr. Mark-Mary, [05:00] -
On Our Response:
"Let us like spiritually, night and day, be in the temple, continually blessing Jesus, continually in relationship with Jesus."
— Fr. Mark-Mary, [13:00] -
On Jesus’ Loving Gaze:
"Jesus in particular, we’re just gonna ask for this, this particular grace, Lord, to see you looking at us in this moment with love, affection and blessing."
— Fr. Mark-Mary, [13:50]
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Time (MM:SS) | Segment | |------------------|------------------------------------------------------| | 01:40 | Scriptural reading: Luke 24:50-53 | | 04:00 | Jesus’ never-ending blessing highlighted | | 05:40 | Disciples’ joyful response to the Ascension | | 08:30 | Practical invitation to enter the scene in meditation| | 11:50 | Lectio Divina: Receive — Faithfulness & New Access | | 12:20 | Lectio Divina: Response — Praise & Adoration | | 13:20 | Lectio Divina: Request — Grace to Persevere | | 14:05 | Lectio Divina: Rejoice — Thanksgiving | | 15:00 | Call to remain in contemplative adoration |
Overall Tone
Fr. Mark-Mary’s tone is gentle, encouraging, and deeply reflective. He emphasizes hope, joyful worship, and an intimate, ongoing encounter with Christ’s blessing. The language is pastoral, personal, and accessible, guiding listeners into a participatory and transformative experience of prayer.
Summary Takeaway
This episode centers on the profound truth that Jesus' ascension marks not a withdrawal, but an eternal, limitless blessing for all. Listeners are invited to internalize this reality, respond with continuous praise, and carry an awareness of Jesus’ loving presence and blessing throughout their daily spiritual lives.