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 137: Medium Reveals Meaning
May 17th, 2025 | 11 mins 2 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, elijah, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, illumination, light, luminous, luminous mysteries, moses, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, son, stained glass, sun, transfiguration, visio divina, votive church
Jesus is the light of the world, shown so clearly through the mystery of the Transfiguration. Fr. Mark-Mary draws on the symbolism found in today’s art medium, stained glass, to meditate on Jesus who illuminates the world for us. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Transfiguration and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
All of the Sacred Art we’ll be meditating with can be found in the Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide, for free linked in the complete prayer plan, or for free in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 136: We Must Receive
May 16th, 2025 | 9 mins 50 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, call to repentance, capernum, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, grateful, healing of the lepers, james tissot, lepers, luminous, luminous mysteries, proclamation, proclamation of the kingdom, receive, repentance, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, thanks, tissot, visio divina
In today’s painting, The Healing of the Lepers at Capernum, Jesus has healed ten lepers, but only one returns to give thanks. In this mystery, the Kingdom of God is proclaimed to us, but just like the lepers, we have the option to receive and return with thanks or to ignore Jesus’ proclamation. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Proclamation of the Kingdom and the Call to Conversion and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
All of the Sacred Art we’ll be meditating with can be found in the Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide, for free linked in the complete prayer plan, or for free in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 135: Miracles of Love
May 15th, 2025 | 11 mins 46 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, bartimaeus, catholic church, catholic faith, compassion, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glory, identity, lazarus, love, miracles, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, visio divina, wedding, wedding at cana, wedding feast, wedding feast at cana
Why does Jesus perform miracles? Fr. Mark-Mary, meditating with help from a painting by Carl Bloch, says that Jesus doesn’t just do miracles as a sign or as a magician. Jesus does miracles as acts of love, motivated by true compassion. We take a moment to rest in this sign of love at the Wedding Feast with Jesus and Mary. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Wedding Feast at Cana and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
All of the Sacred Art we’ll be meditating with can be found in the Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide, for free linked in the complete prayer plan, or for free in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 134: Shadow of the Cross
May 14th, 2025 | 11 mins 24 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, baptism, baptism in the jordan, baptism of jesus, catholic church, catholic faith, church of san benedetto, cross, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, fresco, hope, padua, passion, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, shadow, victory, visio divina
The first Luminous mystery is a mystery of profound joy, but a fresco of Jesus’ Baptism, featured in the Church of San Benedetto in Padua, reveals that the cross is never far from Christ. Fr. Mark-Mary reminds us that Jesus’ “yes” at his Baptism, is also a “yes” to his passion. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Baptism of Jesus and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
All of the Sacred Art we’ll be meditating with can be found in the Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide, for free linked in the complete prayer plan, or for free in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 133: Respond with Grace
May 13th, 2025 | 12 mins 43 secs
admiration, art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding, finding in the temple, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, grace, human, humanity, lourdes, mosaic, rejection, riy, rosary, rosary basilica, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, visio divina, wonder
How would you react if you saw 12-year old Jesus preaching in the temple? Fr. Mark-Mary points out the varied reactions of onlookers in the mosaic of the Finding in the Temple in the Rosary Basilica at Lourdes. Those surrounding Jesus react with human admiration, amazement, curiosity, and even rejection. Yet Mary looks upon him filled with divine grace. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Finding in the Temple and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
All of the Sacred Art we’ll be meditating with can be found in the Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide, for free linked in the complete prayer plan, or in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 132: Eyes on Jesus
May 12th, 2025 | 11 mins 31 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, commotion, eyes, father mark mary, father mark-mary, focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, giulio campi, mary, presentation, presentation in the temple, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, simeon, visio divina
Giulio Campi’s fresco of The Presentation in the Temple, is filled with people and commotion. Two women converse, a child looks towards the viewer, Simeon leans backwards, his eyes closed. Yet in all this chaos, Fr. Mark-Mary notices, Mary’s eyes remain focused on the child Jesus. We meditate on fixing our own eyes on Jesus. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Presentation in the Temple and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
All of the Sacred Art we’ll be meditating with can be found in the Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide, for free linked in the complete prayer plan, or in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 131: Worship and Warmth
May 11th, 2025 | 12 mins 17 secs
adoration, angels, art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, christmas, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, giovanni antonio pellegrini, joseph, love, mary, nativity, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, visio divina, visitation, warmth, worship
What will be true in heaven is already true in the manger at Bethlehem. Already, heaven and earth bend the knee in worship of Jesus to the glory of God the Father. Fr. Mark-Mary draws our attention to the gaze of Mary, Joseph, and the angels, fixed on Jesus, in Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini’s painting of the Nativity. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Nativity and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
All of the Sacred Art we’ll be meditating with can be found in the Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide, for free linked in the complete prayer plan, or in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 130: Joy in the Darkness
May 10th, 2025 | 13 mins 24 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, chiaroscuro, darkness, elizabeth, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, future, hope, light, mary, plan, rembrandt, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, the visitation, trust, visio divina, visitation, zachariah, zechariah
So often, our futures are shrouded in mystery and darkness. It can be hard to see where God’s plan is leading. Fr. Mark-Mary highlights the dynamics of light and darkness in Rembrandt’s painting, The Visitation, revealing two women who may not see every step of God’s plan, but trust in him regardless. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Visitation and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
All of the Sacred Art we’ll be meditating with can be found in the Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide, for free linked in the complete prayer plan, or in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 129: A Disposition of Reverence
May 9th, 2025 | 13 mins 53 secs
adam, angel, annunciation, art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, eve, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, fra angelico, gabriel, genesis, mary, new eve, painting, reverence, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, solemnity, visio divina
Fr. Mark-Mary begins our visio divina episodes with a meditation on The Annunciation by Fra Angelico. We contemplate the reverence and solemnity depicted in Mary and the Angel, and consider the parallels to Genesis shown in the mystery of the Annunciation. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Annunciation and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
All of the Sacred Art we’ll be meditating with can be found in the Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide, for free linked in the complete prayer plan, or for the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 128: Queen of Angels
May 8th, 2025 | 12 mins 11 secs
angels, army, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, coronation, coronation of mary, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, queen, queen of angels, queen of heaven, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, st. john henry neumann
Mary is the general of an angelic army, and her aim is fighting for us, protecting us from harm. Fr. Mark-Mary, with help from St. John Henry Neumann, explores the authority vested in Mary’s title of Queen of Heaven and Earth. 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 127: Reunion into Heaven
May 7th, 2025 | 11 mins 54 secs
ascension, assumption, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, grace, heaven, mary, mother teresa, resurrection, reunion, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, st. bernard, st. bernard of clairvaux
What was it like in heaven the day Mary was assumed? St. Bernard of Clairvaux describes the incredible joy that must have occurred, and Fr. Mark-Mary shares a story of Mother Theresa that mimics the joy of reunion to help us meditate on the mystery of the Assumption. 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 126: Fire of Love
May 6th, 2025 | 12 mins 37 secs
ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, cross, descent of the holy spirit, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fire, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, holy spirit, kindle, love, pentecost, prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacrifice, saint, saint reflections, st. alphonsus, st. alphonsus liguori
God desires the fire of his love to burn always in our hearts, says St. Alphonsus Liguori. Fr. Mark-Mary explains that we can kindle this fire of the Holy Spirit through the wood of the cross and the oxygen of prayer. We meditate on the Holy Spirit’s ability to transform us and growing our receptivity to his love. 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 125: Hold Fast to Christ
May 5th, 2025 | 14 mins 55 secs
ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, charity, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, kindness, listening, matthew, neighbor, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, st. augustine
As Jesus ascends to heaven, St. Augustine tells us to hold fast to Christ. Fr. Mark-Mary explains that we can do this through works of charity, using Matthew 25 and a personal anecdote to share how everyone can hold fast to Christ. 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 124: Newness of Life
May 4th, 2025 | 13 mins 59 secs
ascension, baptism, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, john paul ii, jp2, new life, paul, pope jp2, resurrection, riy, romans, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, st. augustine
We were buried with Christ by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead, we too might walk in newness of life. Fr. Mark-Mary, with a reading by St. Augustine, explains the integral connection between baptism and the mystery of the Resurrection. 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 123: She Magnifies Him
May 3rd, 2025 | 14 mins 50 secs
ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, crucifixion, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, magnified, magnify, mary, passion, revelations, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, st. bridget
St. Bridget's Revelations tells us of the crucifixion through Mary’s eyes. Fr. Mark-Mary explains that by meditating through Mary, we see Our Lord’s passion magnified, expressing the true depth of the sorrow in this moment. However, not only is our sorrow magnified, but our gratitude too can be magnified as we see through Mary’s eyes. 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 122: Trophy of Victory
May 2nd, 2025 | 13 mins 29 secs
aquinas, ascension, carrying, carrying of the cross, catholic church, catholic faith, cross, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorified, glory, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, st. thomas, suffering, victory, st. thomas aquinas
Carrying the cross was meant to be a dishonor, but Jesus carried his cross as a sign of his glory, as a victory carries his trophy. Fr. Mark-Mary reveals how we too can turn our sufferings into trophies of glory, as he reads from St. Thomas Aquinas. We may not experience the victory immediately, but we can trust that Jesus will bring victory. 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.