The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames) - Day 357: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Episode Date: December 23, 2025

Fr. Mark-Mary guides us in a deeply contemplative Rosary, as we walk the path of the Sorrowful Mysteries with Jesus. We encounter Christ in the Agony in the Garden, reflecting on how all of Salvation history has been leading to this moment. Reverently, we witness the Scourging and Crowning with Thorns, beholding Christ’s love and kingship. We honor the cross that became the sign of our salvation as Jesus carries it with love, and conclude in a meditation on James Tissot’s painting, What Our Lord Saw from the Cross. Today's focus is the Sorrowful 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 Franciscan friars at the 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 357. 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 3.5. 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 podcasts in the ascension app there are special features built just for this podcast and also recordings of the full rosary with myself and other friars i encourage you to pick up a copy of the rosary in a year prayer guide a book published by ascension that was designed to complement this podcast you'll find all the daily readings from scripture st reflections and beautiful images of the sacred art we'll be reflecting on we will be praying the sorrowful mysteries. 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 in the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to hell. On the third day, he rose again from the dead. 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 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 trespass. 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 sorrowful mystery is the agony in the garden.

It's a scripture I've quoted and will quote again many, many. times Romans chapter 8 verse 28 that God orders all things like for the good for those who love him and we see this in the passion we see this in a cute way a particular way here with 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 and today we can kind of make an act of faith in prayer, of surrendering like anything that needs to be ordered towards the good, any darkness that needs to be turned to light, suffering to glory. And we bring it to him and entrust it to him again here in the garden. 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 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 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. 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 sorrowful mystery is the scourging at the pillar. There's a lot we can focus on, and we have focused on, when we're praying the second sorrowful mystery of Jesus' love for you, shed for you. The invitation to look at him, looking at you, to be the one who receives the gift, and say thank you. you as in my own sort of prayer here today where I'm moved is to get specific is to look at Jesus scourged to maybe in your imagination focus on one wound from the scourging and watch the drop of blood slowly fall move down his body to his feet to join this puddle of blood that's poured out for me, for you.

We look at Jesus. We look at him looking at us. 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. Jesus scourged the pillar, we adore you, and we thank you. 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. 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. 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 will. 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 third sorrowful mystery is the crowning with thorns perhaps you've heard this language of in different catholic spaces of making acts of

reparation and in short it's to repair what has been broken either by ourselves or others and we see Jesus crowned with thorns mocked and those who are mocking him say you know hail king of the Jews but sarcastically and mockingly and so let's as we pray this decade let's make an act of reparation and let's look at Jesus crowned with thorns and worship him and adore him as our lord surrender to him confess our allegiance to him our obedience to him as the true and everlasting king so we hail our king we hail our lord we adore him and we worship him even as we behold him here in this mystery crowned with thorns 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 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 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. 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, sorrowful mystery is the carrying of the cross. I'm sure we've all had the experience where perhaps a spouse tells us something or a boss, maybe in my case religious superior. And like, you know, you know, you know, you You do it, but you do it like begrudgingly, like half-heartedly with just enough effort, right? I've heard this referred to as like crocodile arms in it. Like if you think of like the crocodile and he's just got like little arms,

and it's just like kind of, I think a good image of like, okay, I'll do it, but I'm not like going to fully do it. That's just not how Jesus embraces the cross. Jesus doesn't embrace the cross begrudgingly. He doesn't crocodile arms. it he like fully totally embraces it with open arms like arms wide open totally completely he 100% says yes to the cross because he doesn't like crocodile arms like his choice for you and me he doesn't crocodile arms the father's will like when it comes to you and me he embraces us and all of us and whatever cost it is to save us completely totally wholeheartedly

as we pray with Jesus embracing the cross today perhaps we can receive the gift of him choosing us choosing you like completely totally wholeheartedly and we can ask for the grace to always embrace the Father's will including the crosses in our lives completely totally wholeheartedly as Jesus freely embraces and takes up his cross 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 God. 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 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 fifth sorrow mystery is the crucifixion there is a piece of sacred art we looked at entitled what our Lord saw from the cross by James to sew that was painted from the perspective of Jesus on the cross looking out. And there's a lot of ways we can reflect on that and with our imagination, place ourselves there and reflect on what Jesus would see in our eyes, like contrition, like love, horror, sorrow. But as we pray today, I'd really encourage you just to Take the perspective of Jesus on the cross and then look down at Mary.

Just look down at Mary's eyes and how they're locked on him. Just behold that. And can this also just be something we can return to as a source of grace whenever we feel ourselves sharing in the cross? Knowing that as Mary looks on him with tenderness and love, and like compassion and like the deepest of like investments like i'm with you can we experience mary looking at us like that again whenever we ourselves share in the cross of jesus 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. 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 God. 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. Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry poor banished children of Eve. To thee we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then most gracious advocate than eyes of mercy towards us. And after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, a 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 is 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 to the same Christ

our Lord. Amen. In the name 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, Poca, friends. God bless y'all.