The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)
Pray the Rosary Like Never Before
About the show
In Ascension’s Rosary in a Year podcast, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, guides listeners in a step-by-step journey that will change the way you pray – no matter where you are in your spiritual life.
By starting small and adding on over time, listeners will find themselves falling more in love with this powerful Marian devotion, becoming a source of grace for the whole world.
Listen to discover….
How to build a daily habit of prayer
How to form a relationship with Jesus and Mary
The Biblical foundations of the Rosary
How to meditate with sacred art (visio divina), saint writings, and scripture (lectio divina)
The power of Mary’s influence in your life
…and more.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
Episodes
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Day 232: The Wedding Feast at Cana and Proclamation of the Kingdom and Call to Conversion
August 20th, 2025 | 10 mins 49 secs
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Fr. Mark-Mary invites us into a prayerful meditation on Jesus’ miracle at the Weeding in Cana and His proclamation of the Kingdom of God. At the wedding, we reflect on Mary’s attentiveness and Jesus’ willingness to act, stepping into His public ministry with generous love. As we hear the call to conversion, we’re reminded that Jesus Himself is the Kingdom made visible, drawing us closer through His words, His presence, and His saving work. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Wedding Feast at Cana and Proclamation of the Kingdom and Call to Conversion and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 231: The Finding of Jesus in the Temple and Baptism of Jesus
August 19th, 2025 | 11 mins 5 secs
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Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in prayer by drawing our hearts to two powerful scenes in the life of Christ. We are invited to ponder the mystery of Jesus being found in the temple and His baptism at the Jordan, both moments filled with identity, purpose, and divine love. As we meditate on these events, we are reminded of our own call to draw near to the Father and live in the light of His presence. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Finding of Jesus in the Temple and Baptism of Jesus and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 230: The Nativity and the Presentation
August 18th, 2025 | 10 mins 59 secs
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In today’s episode, we continue praying simply and slowly with the mysteries themselves. Fr. Mark-Mary guides us in reflecting on the birth of Jesus, God made flesh, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and the joy and warmth surrounding the Nativity. We then turn to the Presentation in the Temple, where Simeon and Anna recognize the Messiah and Mary hears the first prophecy of her coming sorrow. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Nativity and the Presentation, and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 229: The Annunciation and the Visitation
August 17th, 2025 | 11 mins 32 secs
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Today, we begin moving into meditation with the mysteries of the Rosary. Fr. Mark-Mary gently reminds us of the major themes of the Annunciation and the Visitation, inviting us to draw upon our mental meditation archive as we pray. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Annunciation and the Visitation, and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 228: Lifted Up With Mary
August 16th, 2025 | 10 mins 28 secs
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We entrust our intentions, someone else’s need or a situation outside of ourselves, to Our Lady. Fr. Mark-Mary guides us to imagine her with us at home, in your car, or wherever you are, receiving your intention with maternal tenderness. We pray our decades of the Rosary focused on sharing the needs of our heart and those we’re interceding for with Mary. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Assumption and the Coronation of Mary, and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 227: Shared with the Trinity
August 15th, 2025 | 10 mins 13 secs
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Today we share our intentions with not just one Person of the Trinity, but with the full Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, an eternal exchange of love. Whatever intention you’re carrying, whatever person, situation, or need, bring it fully to the heart of this divine communion. We entrust everything today to the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Ascension and the Descent of the Holy Spirit, and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 226: Entrusted to the Spirit
August 14th, 2025 | 10 mins 57 secs
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Fr. Mark-Mary invites us to pray, bringing our hearts and intentions to the Holy Spirit, asking to be overshadowed by the same Spirit who came upon Mary at the Annunciation. We entrust our intentions to the Spirit, reminded that nothing is impossible for God. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 225: Bring It to Jesus
August 13th, 2025 | 11 mins 6 secs
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Continuing the focus on intercessory prayer, Fr. Mark-Mary invites us to bring the intentions on our hearts directly to Jesus. He encourages us to imagine the Lord drawing near—whether to rejoice with us, to comfort us, or simply to be present with love and power. With trust in Christ’s nearness and care, we are called to lay down our intentions and enter prayer with openness and faith. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Crowning with Thorns and the Carrying of the Cross and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 224: Intentions to the Father
August 12th, 2025 | 12 mins 19 secs
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Fr. Mark-Mary enriches our time of prayer by inviting us to practice intercessory prayer, where we can bring before the Lord all that weighs on our hearts and minds. He invites us to imagine offering our intentions to God the Father, trusting that He sees, receives, and responds with love. With confidence in His goodness and power, let us entrust every intention to Him. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Agony in the Garden and the Scourging at the Pillar and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 223: Now and at Death
August 11th, 2025 | 10 mins 59 secs
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Focusing on the final petition in the Hail Mary, Fr. Mark-Mary reminds us that we are pilgrims on a journey, accompanied by Mary who lovingly intercedes for our salvation. He encourages us to invoke the Holy Spirit and practice attentiveness to each word we pray. This habit of focused prayer helps root us more deeply in God’s presence. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Transfiguration and Institution of the Eucharist and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 222: Elizabeth’s Greeting
August 10th, 2025 | 11 mins 46 secs
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Contemplate Elizabeth’s joyful greeting: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Fr. Mark-Mary leads us with prayerful attentiveness to recognize the sacred wonder of Christ’s presence and mission revealed through Mary, His bearer. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we are invited to enter more deeply into the words of prayer, allowing them to shape our hearts in gratitude and ongoing conversion. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Wedding Feast at Cana and Proclamation of the Kingdom and Call to Conversion and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Wedding Feast at Cana and Proclamation of the Kingdom and Call to Conversion and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 221: Words of an Angel
August 9th, 2025 | 12 mins 39 secs
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By reflecting on the angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary from Luke 1:28, we are guided through the opening words of the Hail Mary with renewed attentiveness. Fr. Mark-Mary encourages us to enter into a practice of focused prayer, gently strengthening our capacity for meditation and contemplation. This steady, grace-filled approach helps us grow in spiritual intimacy with God. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Finding of Jesus in the Temple and Baptism of Jesus and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 220: Lingering in the Words
August 8th, 2025 | 11 mins 50 secs
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Fr. Mark-Mary invites us to pray with attentiveness to the words of the prayers and let the repetition become a space for deeper reverence, presence, and meditation. Resting in the words, we discover how they can carry us, form us, and lead us into a quiet intimacy with the mysteries of Christ. We focus on the intentions within the Our Father: our father, God’s revelation of himself as Father, thy will be done, thy kingdom come, daily bread, and deliver us. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Nativity and the Presentation, and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 219: The Gift of Prayer
August 7th, 2025 | 12 mins 33 secs
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We begin meditating on the words of the prayers as we pray our decades of the Rosary. Fr. Mark-Mary encourages us to focus on the words of the Our Father, recalling the gift of this prayer that Jesus gave to his disciples in Matthew 6:9. In these words, we sit with Jesus as he teaches us to pray, leading us to the Father. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Annunciation and the Visitation, and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 218: Walking With Mary
August 6th, 2025 | 11 mins 56 secs
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In this final episode of our series on relational prayer with the Rosary, we turn our hearts toward Our Lady, inviting her not only into our imagination but into the very moments of our day, whether in prayer, work, or rest. Fr. Mark-Mary encourages us to be with Mary wherever we are: beside us in the chapel, in the car, at the kitchen sink, or on a prayer walk. Let her love you, shelter you, and intercede for you. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Assumption and the Coronation of Mary, and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 217: Resting With the Trinity
August 5th, 2025 | 12 mins 9 secs
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As we continue focusing our decades of the Rosary on the persons we’re praying to, Fr. Mark-Mary shares some insight on how to pray to the Trinity. We’re invited to sit at the table with the Trinity, offer them praise and adoration, or simply share in their exchange of love. Our meditation is guided by a quote from St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, whose longing to dwell wholly in God is echoed in today’s reflection. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Ascension and the Descent of the Holy Spirit, and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.