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 275: The Joyful and Luminous Mysteries
October 2nd, 2025 | 17 mins 17 secs
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We move through a set of mysteries that span both the Joyful and Luminous moments of Christ’s life. Beginning with the Finding of Jesus in the Temple, Mary and Joseph discover Jesus among the teachers, revealing His deep union with the Father’s will even as a child. Entering into the Baptism in the Jordan, we witness Jesus humbly step into the waters as he is revealed as the beloved Son. Next, we reflect on the Wedding at Cana, where Christ performs His first public miracle at Mary’s request, transforming water into wine. Finally, we pray with the Proclamation of the Kingdom, remembering how Jesus announced the Good News and called all people to conversion and faith. Together, these mysteries invite us to grow in trust, obedience, and a renewed openness to the transforming power of God’s grace. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Finding of Jesus in the Temple, the Baptism in the Jordan, the Wedding at Cana, and the Proclamation of the Kingdom. We will be praying four decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 274: The Joyful Mysteries
October 1st, 2025 | 18 mins 15 secs
annunciation, ascension, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, four decades, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, meditating, meditative prayer, nativity, poco a poco, prayer, presentation, presentation in the temple, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, visitation
As we continue to move through our slow build, today we begin praying four mysteries of the Rosary. Fr. Mark-Mary draws the connection between our pace, and the pace of communal prayer, reminding us that as we listen, we pray together with the community of believers, those praying through the Rosary in a Year, religious orders who pray the Rosary in community, and all Catholics praying the Rosary. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, and the Presentation in the Temple. We will be praying four decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 273: The Glorious Mysteries
September 30th, 2025 | 13 mins 53 secs
ascension, assumption, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, coronation, decades, descent, descent of the holy spirit, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, holy spirit, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, mary, meditating, meditative prayer, poco a poco, prayer, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, three decades
Together with Fr. Mark-Mary, we pray the final Glorious Mysteries and rejoice in the triumph of God’s grace. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descends upon the Apostles, filling them with courage and strengthening the Church for its mission. In the Assumption, Mary is taken body and soul into the fullness of heaven. In the Coronation, Mary is exalted as Queen of Heaven and Earth, crowned with glory by the Blessed Trinity. These mysteries invite us to live in the Spirit, to trust in the life to come, and to place ourselves under Mary’s loving care as she leads us closer to her Son. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Assumption of Mary, and the Coronation of Mary. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 272: The Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries
September 29th, 2025 | 14 mins 15 secs
ascension, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, crucifixion, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, mary, meditating, meditative prayer, poco a poco, prayer, relational prayer, resurrection, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, three decades
The Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension reveal the fullness of God’s saving plan. In the Crucifixion, suffering is transformed into victory; in the Resurrection, death is overcome by life; and in the Ascension, humanity is lifted into communion with God. In these mysteries, we are called to embrace the Cross, to rejoice in the triumph of life, and to live each day with the hope of eternal glory. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, and the Ascension. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 271: The Sorrowful Mysteries
September 28th, 2025 | 14 mins 17 secs
ascension, building, building up the decades, carrying of the cross, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, cross, crowning, crowning with thorns, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, mary, meditating, meditative prayer, poco a poco, prayer, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, scourging, scourging at the pillar, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, three decades
In the Sorrowful Mysteries, we behold the depth of Christ’s suffering and love for us. At the Scourging at the Pillar, His body is torn by cruel lashes. In the Crowning with Thorns, He is mocked and humiliated. As He carries the Cross, each step bears the weight of our sins. In these mysteries, we are called to accept our own sufferings with patience, to remain steadfast in faith amid trials, and to follow Christ with courage and love. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Scourging at the Pillar, the Crowning with Thorns, and the Carrying of the Cross. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 270: The Luminous and Sorrowful Mysteries
September 27th, 2025 | 14 mins 46 secs
agony, agony in the garden, ascension, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, eucharist, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, institution of the eucharist, intercessory prayer, last supper, luminous, luminous mysteries, meditating, meditative prayer, poco a poco, prayer, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, three decades, transfiguration
Concluding the Luminous mysteries, we recall Our Lord’s divinity as he is transfigured on the mountain and shares himself, body, blood, soul, and divinity with us in the Eucharist. Stepping into the Sorrowful mysteries, after the Last Supper we have just mediated upon, we witness his agony in preparation to offer himself up for our salvation. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Transfiguration, the Institution of the Eucharist, and the Agony in the Garden. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 269: The Luminous Mysteries
September 26th, 2025 | 15 mins 9 secs
ascension, baptism, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, luminous, luminous mysteries, mary, meditating, meditative prayer, poco a poco, prayer, proclamation of the kingdom, proclamation of the kingdom and call to repentance, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, shepherd, three decades, wedding, wedding at cana, wedding feast
In today’s Rosary, we pray the first three Luminous mysteries, meditating on the revelation of the person of Jesus in his ministry. As his ministry begins in his Baptism, we hear God’s words, calling his beloved son, and are reminded that we too are beloved sons and daughters of God. The Wedding Feast at Cana promises us that not only does Jesus want us to have the new wine, but he wants it to be good. Finally the Proclamation of the Kingdom and Call to Repentance is a tangible sign of the shepherd among us, shepherding his people. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Baptism of Jesus, the Wedding Feast at Cana, and the Proclamation of the Kingdom and Call to Repentance. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 268: The Joyful Mysteries
September 25th, 2025 | 15 mins 13 secs
ascension, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, christmas, contemplative prayer, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding, finding in the temple, foreshadowing, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, meditating, meditative prayer, nativity, poco a poco, prayer, presentation, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, three decades
Concluding the Joyful mysteries, we witness the complexity of joy in the Christian life. The Nativity brings us the joy of the Incarnation, as God becomes man, born to bring us salvation. In the Presentation and Finding in the Temple, we see the price of salvation foreshadowed, as Mary is told Simeon’s prophecy, and as Jesus is lost for three days, to be found in his father’s house. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Nativity, the Presentation, and the Finding in the Temple. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 267: The Glorious and Joyful Mysteries
September 24th, 2025 | 13 mins
annunciation, ascension, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, coronation, coronation of mary, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, humility, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, meditating, meditative prayer, poco a poco, prayer, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, three decades, visitation
Continuing our meditative journey, we complete the glorious mysteries, returning to the beginning of the story within the joyful mysteries. Beginning our meditation with the glory of Mary’s coronation of Queen of Heaven and Earth, we then recall her humble beginnings in the Annunciation and Visitation, walking the “royal road of humility”. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Coronation of Mary, the Annunciation, and the Visitation. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 266: The Glorious Mysteries
September 23rd, 2025 | 13 mins 1 sec
ascension, assumption, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, descent of the holy spirit, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, holy spirit, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, mary, meditating, meditative prayer, pentecost, poco a poco, prayer, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, three decades
We pray with three of the Glorious mysteries, meditating on the glory that awaits us. As we sift through our mental archive, we can recall Jesus’ promise that the blessing never ends: his Ascension allows him to be even more present with us each personally. In the Descent of the Holy Spirit, he shares with us the spirit we need to bring his word to all people, and finally in the Assumption, we receive the promise that we too can be taken to heaven to join him and Mary one day. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Ascension, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, and the Assumption. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 265: The Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries
September 22nd, 2025 | 12 mins 52 secs
ascension, building, building up the decades, carrying of the cross, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, cross, crucifixion, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, mary, meditating, meditative prayer, poco a poco, prayer, relational prayer, resurrection, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, three decades
The Carrying of the Cross, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection reveal the path of Christ’s Passion leading to new life. As Jesus carries the Cross, we walk beside Him, witnessing His perseverance under the weight of suffering and His quiet strength. At the Crucifixion, we kneel at the foot of the Cross, where Christ’s arms are outstretched in the ultimate act of love, offering His life for the redemption of the world. Finally, the silence of the tomb is broken by the glory of the Resurrection, where sin and death are conquered and the promise of eternal life is fulfilled. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Carrying of the Cross, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 264: The Sorrowful Mysteries
September 21st, 2025 | 12 mins 46 secs
agony, agony in the garden, ascension, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, crown, crowning, crowning with thorns, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, garden, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, mary, meditating, meditative prayer, poco a poco, prayer, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, scourging, scourging at the pillar, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, thorns, three decades
As we enter into the Sorrowful Mysteries, our hearts remain with Christ in His Passion. The Agony in the Garden, the Scourging at the Pillar, and the Crowning with Thorns reveal Christ’s obedience, courage, and unfailing love in the face of betrayal, pain, and humiliation. In these mysteries, we behold the depth of His sacrifice and are invited to unite our own trials with His, remaining steadfast in faith amid suffering. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Agony in the Garden, the Scourging at the Pillar, and the Crowning with Thorns. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 263: The Luminous Mysteries
September 20th, 2025 | 12 mins 40 secs
ascension, building, building up the decades, call to conversion, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, eucharist, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, institution, institution of the eucharist, intercessory prayer, kingdom, luminous, luminous mysteries, mary, meditating, meditative prayer, poco a poco, prayer, proclamation, proclamation of the kingdom of god, relational prayer, repentance, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, three decades, transfiguration
Praying with the Luminous Mysteries, we see Christ reveal the fullness of His mission. In the Proclamation of the Kingdom and Call to Conversion, Jesus announces the Good News, heals the sick, forgives sins, and invites all to turn their hearts back to God. In the Transfiguration, we behold His radiant glory and a glimpse of the Resurrection. In the Institution of the Eucharist, Christ offers His Body and Blood as the lasting gift of His love and the source of eternal life. Let us hear His Word, be transformed by His presence, and live in communion with Him. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Proclamation of the Kingdom and Call to Conversion, the Transfiguration, and the Institution of the Eucharist. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 262: The Joyful and Luminous Mysteries
September 19th, 2025 | 12 mins 49 secs
Closing out the Joyful Mysteries and moving into the Luminous Mysteries, we behold Christ revealed as the beloved Son of the Father. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple, the Baptism of Jesus, and the Wedding Feast at Cana each reveal Christ’s divine identity and mission in a new way—first as a child proclaiming His Father’s work, then as the Beloved Son beginning His ministry, and finally as the miracle-worker who manifests His glory. In these mysteries, we are invited to trust in God’s plan, to follow Christ with faith, and to obey His call in our lives. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Finding of Jesus in the Temple, the Baptism of Jesus, and the Wedding Feast at Cana. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 261: The Joyful Mysteries
September 18th, 2025 | 13 mins 7 secs
ascension, birth, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, elizabeth, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, meditating, meditative prayer, nativity, poco a poco, prayer, presentation, presentation of jesus in the temple, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, three decades, visitation
As we continue with the Joyful Mysteries, we celebrate the saving presence of Christ among us. In the Visitation, Mary carries the Savior to Elizabeth, and His presence brings joy and blessing. In the Nativity, Christ is born in poverty yet shines forth as the Light of the World. In the Presentation in the Temple, Mary and Joseph offer Jesus to the Father, and the promise of salvation is proclaimed. In these mysteries, we are called to bring Christ joyfully to others, to welcome Him with humble hearts, and to dedicate our lives to the will of God. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Visitation, the Nativity, and the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 260: The Glorious and Joyful Mysteries
September 17th, 2025 | 13 mins 28 secs
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We pray through a beautiful sequence that bridges the Glorious and Joyful Mysteries. Drawing upon our mental archive, we could return with the Assumption to the promise that “it’s all true,” as we dwell in Mary’s magnificat fulfilled in her assumption. Recalling Mary’s title, Queen of Angels, we see her crowned as Queen of the angelic host, ready to defend us, her children. Finally, as we return to the Annunciation, we remember that Mary is a human just like us, who made the choice to say yes to God’s plan. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Assumption, the Coronation of Mary, and the Annunciation. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.