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 113: Spoiler Alert
April 23rd, 2025 | 12 mins 11 secs
ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, divinity, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding, finding in the temple, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, historical, history, joyful, joyful mysteries, movies, revelation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, st. cyril, st. cyril of alexandria
Spoiler alert: Jesus is Lord! While the mystery of the Finding in the Temple is not the climax of Jesus’ story, for the first century man or woman, this is an attention grabbing moment. Fr. Mark-Mary, reading from St. Cyril of Alexandria, reminds us that this is when Jesus first begins to reveal his divinity. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Finding of Jesus in the Temple and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 112: All My Time is Free
April 22nd, 2025 | 13 mins 43 secs
ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, freedom, joyful, joyful mysteries, jp2, mary, mother, parenthood, pope john paul 2, presentation, presentation of jesus in the temple, recommit, renewal, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacrifice, saint, saint reflections, st. alphonsus liguori
Mary gave consent to Jesus’ sacrifice in the mystery of the Annunciation, but in the mystery of the Presentation, God asks her to recommit to this solemn sacrifice. Fr. Mark-Mary tells us that in every moment, God is asking us to recommit ourselves to him and be faithful, as Mary does at Jesus’ Presentation. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 111: Manifest in Humility
April 21st, 2025 | 12 mins 22 secs
ascension, bethlehem, catholic church, catholic faith, christmas, creation, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, humility, joyful, joyful mysteries, nativity, outer space, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, space, st. bernard, sun
God so profoundly wants us to have confidence to approach him, that he veils his glory and clothes himself in humble humanity, saying, “Come to Me.” Fr. Mark-Mary meditates on a reading from St. Bernard, observing the grandeur of God’s creation and the humility of his Incarnation. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Nativity and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 110: Greater Seeks Lesser
April 20th, 2025 | 12 mins 10 secs
ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, elizabeth, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, generosity, greater, humility, joyful, joyful mysteries, lesser, mary, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, seek, seeking, visitation, st. ambrose
God doesn’t just stay in heaven and wait for us to approach him. Instead, as reflected in the mystery of the Visitation, God comes in search of us. Fr. Mark-Mary tells us, reading from St. Ambrose, that not only does Mary, the mother of God, seek out Elizabeth, but she even greets her first. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Visitation and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 109: The Gift of Wonder
April 19th, 2025 | 14 mins 45 secs
annunciation, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, forgiveness, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, freedom, incarnation, joyful, joyful mysteries, miracle worker, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, salvation, savior, st. gregory, wonder, wonder worker, st. gregory thaumaturgus
St. Gregory Thaumaturgus means St. Gregory the “wonder worker,” Fr. Mark-Mary tells us. Leading us through a reading from St. Gregory, Fr. Mark-Mary directs us to meditate on the true wonder of the Annunciation. God has come to save his people, wanting them to experience forgiveness and freedom. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Annunciation and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 108: Heights of Holiness
April 18th, 2025 | 12 mins 10 secs
ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, coronation, coronation of mary, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fiat, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, holiness, mary, mother, queen, queen of earth, queen of heaven, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, st. john, st. john damascene
A Queen is set apart, but Mary, as Queen of Heaven and Earth is set apart so that as our mother she can draw us up to her son. When we are too little to reach the heights of holiness, she lifts us up, says Fr. Mark-Mary, reading from St. John Damascene. We ask Our Lady to help us echo her fiat and do the Father’s will. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Coronation of Mary and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 107: Beauty Which Never Fades
April 17th, 2025 | 14 mins 58 secs
aging, ascension, assumption, beauty, catholic church, catholic faith, earth, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, fulton sheen, glorious, glorious mysteries, heaven, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, venerable fulton sheen
The mystery of the Assumption reveals to us that true beauty lies not in earthly appearances, but heavenly things, in heaven, our true home. Fr. Mark-Mary reads from Venerable Fulton Sheen, meditating on the Assumption lifting us out of earthly despair to heavenly joy. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Assumption and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 106: He Sends His Spirit
April 16th, 2025 | 11 mins 39 secs
ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, descent of the holy spirit, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, holy spirit, pentecost, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, st. ambrose, trinity, worship
Sometimes it feels like Jesus gets more attention than the Holy Spirit. Fr. Mark-Mary, with help from a reading by St. Ambrose, dives into the role of the Holy Spirit in our prayer, and how we ought to worship the third person of the Blessed Trinity. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Descent of the Holy Spirit and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 105: Love Draws Us Up
April 15th, 2025 | 11 mins 31 secs
ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, heaven, love, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, st. thomas aquinas, theological truth, theology
Heaven is more than just a theological reality. Heaven can be a personal truth we approach with profound love, longing to join Jesus in heaven. Fr. Mark-Mary reads from St. Thomas Aquinas, leading us in meditation on the mystery of the Ascension. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Ascension and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 104: Where is Your Sting?
April 14th, 2025 | 13 mins 33 secs
ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, death, eternal, eternity, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, resurrection, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, temporary, st. john chrysostom
Meditating on a reading from St. John Chrysostom, we recall that Jesus’ victory over death is eternal. Fr. Mark-Mary encourages us to take comfort in keeping eternal things eternal and temporary things temporary. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Resurrection and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 103: Pilgrimage of Faith
April 13th, 2025 | 12 mins 10 secs
ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, crucifixion, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, immaculate conception, martyrdom, mary, pilgrimage, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, st. alphonsus, st. alphonsus liguori
Mary was preserved by special grace from sin, but Mary was also human, requiring her to journey on the same spiritual pilgrimage we all undertake. Here, on Calvary, we see Mary reach the conclusion of her pilgrimage of faith, as we are led by a reading from St. Alphonsus Liguori. Fr. Mark-Mary tells us that at this moment, Mary fully understands her son’s mission. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Crucifixion and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 102: Carried with Love
April 12th, 2025 | 12 mins 4 secs
ascension, carrying, carrying of the cross, catholic church, catholic faith, cross, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, king, king of love, love, passion, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, throne, st. josemaría escrivá
On the day of the crucifixion, three crosses were carried. Yet, there’s only one cross that we honor, only one cross that is featured as a mystery of the Rosary. Fr. Mark-Mary reads from St. Josemaría Escrivá, meditating on how Jesus’ cross was carried freely with love, making it the throne of the King of love. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Carrying of the Cross and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 101: Glory and Indignity
April 11th, 2025 | 13 mins 9 secs
ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, crowning, crowning with thorns, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glory, indignity, justice, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, trust, st. thomas aquinas
Instead of a crown of glory, they imposed on him a crown of indignity, St. Thomas Aquinas writes of the Crowning with Thorns. Fr. Mark-Mary recalls a learning experience on a trip to Nebraska, explaining the true nature of indignity, and relating it to Jesus’ experience during his passion. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Crowning with Thorns and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 100: Always Her Son
April 10th, 2025 | 13 mins 14 secs
ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, fulfillment, mary, prophecy, revelations, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, scourging, scourging at the pillar, sorrow, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, st. bridget
Drawing upon St. Bridget of Sweden’s work, Revelations, we meditate on the Scourging at the Pillar from Mary’s perspective. Fr. Mark-Mary reminds us that this is the fulfillment of Simeon’s prophecy to Mary, as she witnesses her son undergo his Passion. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Scourging at the Pillar and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 99: Stay in Dialogue
April 9th, 2025 | 12 mins 54 secs
agony, agony in the garden, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, climbing, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fear, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, heights, rappelling, relationship, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, suffering, st. alphonsus, st. alphonsus liguori
When we experience real, deep, human fear and anguish, we can draw hope from the fact that Jesus has experienced these things before us. Fr. Mark-Mary shares a story of one of his fellow friars guiding new friars through their fear of heights, highlighting that by staying in dialogue with the Father, we find our hope beyond fear. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Agony in the Garden and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 98: An Abyss of Love
April 8th, 2025 | 11 mins 49 secs
ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, christian mysticism, communion, eucharist, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, institution of the eucharist, last supper, love, luminous, luminous mysteries, mysticism, passover, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, st. catherine, st. catherine of siena
Aided by a meditation from St. Catherine of Siena’s Dialogue, we reflect on the profound gift of the Eucharist. Jesus tells each and every one of us how deeply he loves us as he says, ”I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you,” a love we partake of each time we approach the Eucharist. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Institution of the Eucharist and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.