The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)

Episode Archive

Episode Archive

181 episodes of The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames) since the first episode, which aired on October 25th, 2024.

  • Day 144: Done in Secret

    May 24th, 2025  |  11 mins 53 secs
    annibale carracci, art, art meditations, ascension, calm, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, prayer, resurrection, reward, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, secret, solitude, visio divina

    Repeatedly in the Gospels, Jesus goes off alone to pray to the Father, telling us, “pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” While meditating on today’s painting, The Resurrection of Christ by Annibale Carracci, Fr. Mark-Mary draws out the hidden nature of the Resurrection. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Resurrection 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.

  • Day 143: Fulfillment of the Promise

    May 23rd, 2025  |  12 mins 10 secs
    art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, covenant, crucifixion, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, fresco, genesis, noah, old testament, pietro gagliardi, promise, rainbow, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, visio divina

    In the Old Testament, God sent Noah the sign of the rainbow to promise he would never flood the earth again. Pietro Gagliardi’s fresco of the Crucifixion also depicts a rainbow above this sorrowful scene, signifying that this is the fulfillment of God’s promise. As we meditate, Fr. Mark-Mary tells us that this symbolism can remind us that death will not have the last word. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Crucifixion 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.

  • Day 142: Truly the Son of God

    May 22nd, 2025  |  13 mins 21 secs
    art, art meditations, ascension, carrying, carrying of the cross, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, good friday, meditation, pieter bruegel, prayer, response, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, soldiers, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, visio divina

    Pieter Bruegel’s painting, The Procession to Calvary, is distinctly filled with Roman soldiers. Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in a meditation focusing on the Roman soldiers observing the carrying of the cross, and relates it to his modern day experience of different reactions to Jesus in New York. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Carrying of the Cross 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.

  • Day 141: Render Unto God

    May 21st, 2025  |  13 mins 41 secs
    antiquity, art, art meditations, ascension, caesar, catholic church, catholic faith, crowning, crowning with thorns, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, love, render, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, thorns, titian, visio divina, worship

    As  we see the bust of Tiberius Caesar at the top of today’s painting, Christ Crowned with Thorns by Titian, the phrase “render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and render to God what is God’s” may come to mind. Fr. Mark-Mary asks us to consider whether we are rendering our worship and love unto God, or unto the world. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Crowning with Thorns 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.

  • Day 140: His Glory Remains

    May 20th, 2025  |  13 mins 10 secs
    agostino ciampelli, art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, fresco, glory, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, scourging, scourging at the pillar, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, strength, suffering, visio divina

    St. Paul’s letter to the Romans tells us, “if God is for us, who is against us?” Reflecting on a fresco of the Scourging, Fr. Mark-Mary draws our attention to Jesus’ strength and glory shining through despite his suffering. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Scourging at the Pillar 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.

  • Day 139: Gold in Our Halos

    May 19th, 2025  |  11 mins 44 secs
    agony, agony in the garden, art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, choice, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, free will, halo, joel, judas, peter, repentance, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, vicente masip, visio divina

    In today’s painting by Vicente Masip, Judas is pictured with a gold and black halo. Even as Judas leads the soldiers to arrest Jesus, Fr. Mark-Mary explains that this halo shows Judas has the chance to return to Jesus. We too can always return to Jesus, seeking his forgiveness as Peter does. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Agony in the Garden 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.

  • Day 138: Rest in All Things

    May 18th, 2025  |  13 mins 39 secs
    art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, eucharist, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, giacomo raffaelli, institution of the eucharist, last supper, luminous, luminous mysteries, passion, peace, rest, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, surrender, victory, visio divina

    Even at the Last Supper, anticipating his passion, Jesus is at peace, as depicted in today’s mosaic by Giacomo Raffaelli. Jesus can be at peace because he knows who he is and he knows who his Father is. In this mystery, we’re invited to find rest in Jesus through trust and surrender to the Father. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Institution of the Eucharist 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.