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

Day 44: Glorified Reality

February 13th, 2025  |  12 mins 14 secs

destination, destiny, future, glorified reality, glorious, glorious mysteries, heaven, historical context, hope, lazarus, old testament, pope benedict xvi, reality, resurrection, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

In the Resurrection we are given an opportunity to see the glorified reality that is our destiny and our hope. Fr. Mark-Mary pulls from Pope Benedict XVI’s writings to explain glorified reality and what is spiritually occurring in the mystery of the Resurrection. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Resurrection, and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 43: The Veil is Torn

February 12th, 2025  |  9 mins 44 secs

cross, crucifixion, heaven, historical context, hope, old testament, pope benedict xvi, psalm 22, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, salvation, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries

Are Jesus’ last words on the cross from Psalm 22, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me,” a cry of despair, or a revelation of hope? Fr. Mark-Mary shares a meditation on God’s response to Jesus in the mystery of the Crucifixion, expressing the certainty of salvation that we too can hope to share in. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Crucifixion, and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.

Day 42: Sent into Exile

February 11th, 2025  |  9 mins 48 secs

2 corinthians, carrying of the cross, cross, hebrews, historical context, old testament, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, scapegoat, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries

In the Old Testament, the scapegoat was led outside of the city, bearing the sins of the people. In a striking parallel, the fourth Sorrowful mystery of the Rosary features Jesus being led outside of the city, bearing the people’s sins. Fr. Mark-Mary dives into this parallel, leading us in a meditation for our Rosary. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Carrying of the Cross, and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.

Day 41: The Victorious King

February 10th, 2025  |  7 mins 44 secs

crowning, crowning with thorns, historical context, isaiah, old testament, riy, romans, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, suffering, suffering servant

In the mystery of the Crowing with Thorns, we see both the effects of sin on the world, but also the truth that Jesus is conquering death. Fr. Mark-Mary continues drawing connections between the prophecy of the Suffering Servant from Isaiah and the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Crowning with Thorns, and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 40: Suffering Servant

February 9th, 2025  |  10 mins 18 secs

historical context, isaiah, old testament, riy, romans, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, scourging, scourging at the pillar, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, suffering, suffering servant

Fr. Mark-Mary explains the historical context behind the mystery of the Scourging at the Pillar, and reveals how this mystery fulfills prophecies within the Old Testament book of Isaiah. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Scourging at the Pillar, and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 39: In the Garden

February 8th, 2025  |  13 mins 40 secs

agony, agony in the garden, catechism, garden, hebrews, historical context, obedience, old testament, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sin, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries

Through obedience to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemene, in the mystery of the Agony in the Garden, Jesus will repair the damage caused by Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden. Fr. Mark-Mary explores the significance of the Agony in the Garden through the book of Hebrews and the Catechism. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Agony in the Garden and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 38: Food for the Journey

February 7th, 2025  |  14 mins 51 secs

abraham, eucharist, exodus, historical context, institution of the eucharist, lamb of god, last supper, luminous, luminous mysteries, manna, meditation, melchizedek, old testament, passover, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

In the institution of the Holy Eucharist Jesus is revealed as the Bread of Life that sustains us to the promised land. Fr. Mark-Mary draws upon the Old Testament to reveal how this mystery was foreshadowed, and what salvation history can tell us about Jesus and the Eucharist. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Institution of the Eucharist and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.

Day 37: To Be Transfigured

February 6th, 2025  |  11 mins

completion, exodus, glory, heaven, historical context, journey, light, luminous, luminous mysteries, meditation, moses, old testament, pilgrimage, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, transfiguration

The mystery of the Transfiguration is a glimpse of heaven, giving us an image of the home Jesus has prepared for us. Fr. Mark-Mary takes us on a journey in the book of Exodus as we explore Jesus’ fulfillment of the Old Testament. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Transfiguration and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 36: The Kingdom and the Gospel

February 5th, 2025  |  10 mins 9 secs

conversion, good news, gospel, historical context, kingdom, luminous, luminous mysteries, meditation, old testament, proclamation, proclamation of the kingdom and the call to conversion, repentance, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

The Lord is here and he is at work! Fr. Mark-Mary reminds us that we don’t have to save ourselves: Jesus is proclaiming the Good News and acting for good in our lives, just as he acts in this third Luminous Mystery of the Rosary. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Proclamation of the Kingdom and the Call to Conversion and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 35: Divine Bridegroom

February 4th, 2025  |  12 mins 2 secs

bride, bridegroom, historical context, hosea, luminous, luminous mysteries, miracle, miracles, new covenant, new creation, old testament, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, seven, wedding, wedding at cana, wedding feast

Sometimes we can feel like we’ve run out of wine, we’ve run out of sweetness in our lives. However, as the Divine Bridegroom, Jesus will provide the wine. Fr. Mark-Mary explains the spiritual significance of the miracle at the Wedding Feast at Cana and meditates on the depth of Jesus’ love. Today’s focus is the mystery of The Wedding Feast at Cana and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.

Day 34: The Anointed One

February 3rd, 2025  |  13 mins 28 secs

baptism, day of atonement, historical context, jordan river, lamb, lamb of god, luminous, luminous mysteries, meditation, messiah, old testament, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacrifice, scapegoat, sin

Each of the Luminous mysteries reveal an aspect of Jesus’ nature and mission. Fr. Mark-Mary draws on the history of the Jordan River and the Jewish Day of Atonement, historical details that reveal Jesus as Messiah and sacrifice in this mystery of the Rosary. Today’s focus is the mystery of The Baptism of Jesus and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 33: Lost and Found

February 2nd, 2025  |  10 mins 45 secs

filial obedience, finding in the temple, freedom, historical context, journey, joy, joyful, joyful mysteries, loss, meditation, obedience, old testament, pilgrim, rebellion, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

Why does Jesus leave Mary and Joseph to remain in the temple in Jerusalem? Fr. Mark-Mary unpacks the spiritual significance of the Finding in the Temple, teaching us about filial obedience and how we can understand our own journeys through this mystery of the Rosary. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Finding of Jesus in the Temple and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 32: A Total Offering

February 1st, 2025  |  14 mins 14 secs

anna, historical context, isaiah, joy, joyful, joyful mysteries, jp2, meditation, old testament, pope john paul 2, presentation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, simeon

The Mystery of Jesus’ Presentation signifies an important moment of fulfillment between the Old and New Covenant. Fr. Mark-Mary leads us through this mystery, pointing out parallels between Simeon’s words to Mary and Old Testament prophecies in Isaiah, giving us a meditation on entrusting our lives to God through the Rosary. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 31: No Other Savior

January 31st, 2025  |  12 mins 54 secs

caesar augustus, christmas, historical context, joseph, joy, joyful, joyful mysteries, meditation, nativity, old testament, providence, riy, roman empire, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

Sometimes it’s difficult to see how God can work through the hard situations in our lives. In the Mystery of the Nativity, the Holy Family was faced with an incredibly hard situation: traveling 90 miles to participate in a Roman census right before Jesus’ birth. However, Fr. Mark-Mary explains how God was working with these struggles to fulfill an Old Testament prophecy, reading from the book of Micah. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Nativity and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 30: The New Ark

January 30th, 2025  |  12 mins 44 secs

ark of the covenant, covenant, elizabeth, historical context, joy, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, meditation, old testament, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, visitation

In the Old Testament, God met his people, dwelt with them, and brought them victory through the Ark of the Covenant. As we explore the Biblical roots of the Mysteries of the Rosary, Fr. Mark-Mary reveals how Mary is the new Ark of the Covenant, drawing parallels between the Visitation and the book of 2 Samuel. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Visitation and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 29: Something Unexpected

January 29th, 2025  |  13 mins 33 secs

faith, historical context, joy, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, meditation annunciation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

All of Jesus’ story was unexpected, as a very different Messiah than the people anticipated. Fr. Mark-Mary walks us through the historical and Biblical context of the mystery of the Annunciation, revealing how this mystery of the Rosary is something new, different, and deeper than we might expect. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Annunciation and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.