The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames) - Day 354: The Joyful Mysteries

Episode Date: December 20, 2025

Today, Fr. Mark-Mary prays with the Joyful Mysteries, beginning with the Annunciation and the beautiful tension St. Bernard describes as all of heaven awaiting Mary’s “yes.” In the Visitation, he reminds us that although we don’t know every detail of our future, God gives enough light for each step. At the Nativity, he encourages us to bring our whole hearts—joys and sorrows alike—to the newborn Christ. He then reflects on the Presentation through Anna’s long waiting and God’s tender gaze. Finally, in the Finding in the Temple, we learn from Mary’s calm, confident pondering as she receives everything in love. Today’s focus is the Joyful Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.

I'm Father Mark Mary with the Franciscan friars of Renewal, and this is the Rosary in a Year podcast. We're 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 354. To download the prayer plan for Rosary in a Year, visit ascensionpress.com forward slash rosary in a year, or text R-I-Y to 33-777. 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 recording to the full rosary with myself and other friars. I encourage you to pick up a copy of the Rosary in the Year prayer guide, a book published by Ascension that was designed to compliment this podcast. You'll find all the daily readings for scripture, saint reflections, and beautiful images of the sacred art we'll be reflecting on. Today, we will be praying the joyful mystery. Let us begin in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who is conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontchish 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 hand of God. God, the Father Almighty. 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. Amen. For our Holy Father's health and intentions, our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 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 hail mary full of grace the lord is with thee blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb jesus holy mary mother of god pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death amen hail mary full of grace the lord is with thee blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb jesus holy mary mother of god pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death amen hail mary full of grace the lord is with thee blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God. Pray for us sinners. Now and at the hour of our death, amen. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning,

is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen. The first joyful mystery is the enunciation. I hope you remember or maybe you can revisit One of my very favorite writings of all time by St. Bernard of Clairvaux, which kind of brings to life the tension and the stakes of the moment of the enunciation. The angel Gabriel speaks. And then St. Bernard of Clairvaux, like with his pen, he paints this picture of all of salvation history, like waiting at the door with bated breath, waiting for Mary's answer. to the angel. There's this incredible sort of like tension and building up of desire and hope as we

waits and everything like hangs on this. And Mary says, behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. She says yes. The word becomes flesh and dwells among us and all heaven and earth rejoice. let us too rejoice again our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name 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 Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed it is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God. Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. Now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed are you. is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God. Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners.

Now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. now and at the hour of our death amen Hail Mary full of grace The Lord is with thee Blessed are thou among women

And blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus Holy Mary mother of God Pray for us sinners Now and at the hour of our death Amen Hail Mary full of grace The Lord is with thee Blessed are thou among women

And blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. Now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end, amen.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy. The second joyful mystery is the visitation. By the designs of Almighty God, himself. You and I do not know all of the specific details about our future. Doesn't mean we don't know anything about the future. Like, there's prophecy, there is promise. We know how the story ends with, you know, the final judgment, and we know of the victory of Jesus in heaven and our call

to be there. But the details of how things are going to unfold, like even today, are not not known to us. This is kind of a theme we touched on when we were talking about the painting by Rembrandt of the visitation and his use of Kiaroscuro. And the way in which Mary and Elizabeth are shrouded, like surrounded by shadow. But between them, like close to them, like in their immediate proximity, there was light and the shared light of God. God and God's work.

And God is this light who is with us. It shows us the next light to make another step. Or one of our priests uses the image of lights on a car. It doesn't illuminate the whole road, but it keeps illuminating enough for you to kind of keep going forward safely. And we saw this certainly in the life of Mary and Elizabeth, who had a lot of surprises, but a lot of unknown. But they made the journey rooted in that which was sure, God, His goodness, right? so can we today as we pray can we surrender our desire to know all of the details about everything can we accept that we don't know the whole path we don't know how everything's going to work out

in all of the details but we know god is with us and we know where we're headed ultimately we know who walks with us and as it was for mary may this be enough for us our father who art in heaven hallow be thy name 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. Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit.

of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. Now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. Now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. Now and at the hour of our death, amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God. God. Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners.

Now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. Now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, amen. O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. and lead all souls to heaven especially those in most need of thy mercy the third joyful mystery is the nativity regarding the nativity st leo the great wrote there is no proper place for sadness when we keep the birthday of life which destroys the fear of mortality There's this exhortation to joy before in the Nativity, before Jesus and the crush and the manger. Sometimes, I think, at least personally,

there can be like a felt movement towards coming to the Nativity seeking a compartmentalized joy. Like I'm going to leave my sadness in real life, like outside. And I'm going to come and just be present to the newborn baby. And I'm going to like just ignore the other stuff. and experience the joy of the birth of Jesus. But I don't think the nativity of Jesus invites us to a compartmentalized joy,

but a complete joy where we bring everything and know that the good news of the nativity of Jesus in the manger speaks like a definitive good news to all of our lives and hearts and concerns. Because he comes to save us, he comes for victory over all suffering and death, He comes to order all things for the good for those who love him. Let's come and adore him and kneel before him, but let's bring everything.

Let's bring it all and allow the good news of Jesus born in Bethlehem to illumine, to soothe, to heal, to strengthen, and to bring joy into all of our lives and all of our heart. our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name 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 Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God. Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. Now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death amen hail mary full of grace the lord is with thee

blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb jesus holy mary mother of god pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death amen hail mary full of grace the lord is with thee blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. Now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end amen oh my jesus forgive us our sins save us from the fires of hell and lead all souls to heaven especially those in most need of thy mercy

the fourth joyful mystery is the presentation of jesus in the temple remember particularly anna who was just in the temple day and night like waiting praying, waiting, praying. And we meet her when Jesus comes. Like we meet her when her prayer, if you will, like is answered. Were her longing is satiated. But what was her experience like for so many days and nights and weeks and months and years and decades just waiting and waiting and waiting? And seemingly, like having her prayer go and heard, was she tested?

was she tried, was she ever discouraged? How did she persevere? How did she wait? Where'd she get that strength? Anana's story isn't unique. It's kind of a story we see played out throughout salvation history and probably are experiencing

in a lot of ways ourselves. The key is just to not wait alone. We wait in relationship with God. with the Lord in conversation with him and dialogue with him. And so as we're praying today and we have intentions, we have needs, we have desires, and we have these experiences of prayers felt like they haven't been answered or desires or needs unresponded to, like, as we experienced what Anna did in the temple before the coming of Jesus, let's take a moment to like see our Heavenly Father looking upon us.

and may his eyes like locked with yours speak like i see you i hear you i care about you i'm with you i'm comforting you i'm carrying you trust me trust me in the waiting trust me in the waiting you will not be left unsatisfied blessed her to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness they will be satisfied it was true for anna it was true for simeon it'll be true for you and for me our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name 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 grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. Now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit

of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. Now and at the hour of our death, amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the end of the earth. hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. Now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. Now and at the hour of our death, amen. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end amen oh my jesus forgive us our sins save us from the fires of hell and lead all souls to heaven especially those in most need of thy mercy

the fifth joyful mystery is the finding of jesus and the temple there's a mosaic and lords we looked at which i think really kind of beautifully and insightfully displayed a wide variety of responses from those who heard like the 12 year old Jesus preaching in the temple there was admiration, there was amazement, there was curiosity even feel like there was rejection

the whole gamut of things people trying to figure it out but if you remember and you can go back this was day 133 like if you remember like Mary she's just looking at Jesus and with grace like she's receiving everything

okay with not maybe understanding it at all, but like pondering it in her heart. She's receiving it all, like, with confidence. And also, like, the most overwhelming love of her son. But so much happens, and we can receive it from, like, a hermeneutic of suspicion or of fear or of doubt. And Mary's disposition was always one of prayer. And I believe her perspective was one of love and of confidence.

of Christian confidence that we call hope and the hope which is not disappoint. Let us pray for like Mary to receive and to ponder all that's happening with love of our Lord and hope in Him. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallow be thy name. 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 hail mary full of grace the lord is with thee blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit

of thy womb jesus holy mary mother of god pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of our death. of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God. Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death,

amen. Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God. Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, God. Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother

of God. Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou, thou. among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, amen. O my Jesus, forgive us our sin. and save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy. Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee, do we cry, poor banished children, revieve. To thee, do we send up our sighs, mourning, and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, most gracious advocate thine eyes of mercy towards us, and after this our exile, shown to us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary, pray for us, most holy mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray. O God, who's only begotten Son by his life, death, and resurrection has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life grant we beseech thee, 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 through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen. of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Thanks everyone for joining me and praying with me today. I look forward to continuing this journey with you again tomorrow. Poca, poca, poca, poca, friends. God bless you.