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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Phase 5 Bonus: Introduction to Phase Five: “Building Up the Decades”
July 28th, 2025 | 34 mins 55 secs
ascension, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, dr. edward sri, dr. sri, edward sri, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, meditating, meditative prayer, phase 5, poco a poco, prayer, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year
Fr. Mark-Mary is joined by Dr. Edward Sri as they discuss practical tips for growing your devotion to the rosary and persevering through dry periods in prayer. Dr. Sri shares inspiring stories about Pope Saint John Paul II's Rosary devotion and discusses how modern distractions challenge our ability to pray, while offering advice on creating more spaces of prayer in everyday life. As a husband and father, Dr. Sri describes how he incorporates the Rosary in family life, and shares some suggestions for anyone to become more focused in prayer.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 208: Mary is With Us
July 27th, 2025 | 13 mins 12 secs
ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, coronation, defender, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, independent meditation, intercessor, luminous, luminous mysteries, meditation, mother, practice, prayer, protector, queen, queen of angels, queen of heaven, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, trinity
In the mystery of Mary’s coronation, we dive into the depths of Mary’s role as queen and mother. Fr. Mark-Mary reviews some of the many layers of this mystery: Mary’s role as an intercessor, her love for us as a protector and defender, and God’s profound love represented in the gifts he has given Mary. We ask for Mary’s intercession as we seek God’s grace through prayer. 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 207: Fiat by Fiat
July 26th, 2025 | 14 mins 59 secs
ascension, assumption, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, heaven, homecoming, independent meditation, luminous, luminous mysteries, mary, meditation, mother theresa, practice, prayer, promises, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, trust
Those of us who wish to experience the fulfillment of God's promises in our lives are called to make the journey through life to heaven just like Mary did: fiat by fiat. Fr. Mark-Mary walks through our meditation archive, reminding us that the Assumption reveals how God will fulfill his promises and inspires us to our homecoming in heaven. 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 206: Promise of the Father
July 25th, 2025 | 14 mins 57 secs
ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, confidence, conversion, descent of the holy spirit, faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, holy spirit, independent meditation, luminous, luminous mysteries, meditation, new wine, pentecost, practice, prayer, prayer event, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, trust
In Pentecost, the Church receives the promise of the Father: the Holy Spirit. Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in meditation with the Holy Spirit, focusing on Pentecost as a prayer event, the Apostle’s reception of the New Wine, and Mary’s confidence in the overshadowing of the Spirit. We drink deeply of this new wine as we pray our decade of the Rosary. 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 205: With Us Always
July 24th, 2025 | 15 mins 34 secs
ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, follow him, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, glorious mystery, independent meditation, invitation, love, meditation, pope benedict xvi, practice, prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, st augustine, works of charity, works of mercy
Fr. Mark-Mary explains that the Ascension is not Christ’s departure, but the perfection of His presence with us. No longer limited by time or space, Jesus is now intimately present to each of us in a divine way. Through acts of charity and love, we follow in His footsteps and are drawn into deeper union with Him. 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 204: Transcending Death
July 23rd, 2025 | 14 mins 33 secs
ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, glorious mystery, healing, hope, independent meditation, light, meditation, new life, pope benedict xvi, practice, prayer, resurrection, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, st john chrysostom, thomas, trust, wounds
The Resurrection was a transformation of life that transcended death, bringing hope, healing, and renewal to all of creation. Fr. Mark-Mary emphasizes that this new reality is not just a return from death but a glorified existence that calls us into deeper trust and faith. Through this mystery, we can be confident in Christ’s pursuit of our hearts and His power to bring light even into our darkest moments. 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 203: God’s Relentless Pursuit
July 22nd, 2025 | 15 mins 48 secs
ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, christ crucified, cross, crucifixion, death, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, good thief, independent meditation, meditation, my god my god why have you forsaken me, passion, pope benedict xvi, practice, prayer, prodigal son, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, sorrowful mystery
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Christ’s cry from the cross reveals not despair, but a prayer that carries the weight of human suffering to the heart of the Father. Fr. Mark-Mary draws connections to the prodigal son and the good thief, illustrating God’s relentless pursuit to bring His children home. The crucifixion becomes the fulfillment of God’s covenant, declaring that death, sorrow, and injustice will not have the final word, but life, mercy, and resurrection will. 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 202: Scapegoat and Savior
July 21st, 2025 | 14 mins 58 secs
ascension, carrying of the cross, catholic church, catholic faith, cross, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, independent meditation, jesus, jesus carries his cross, meditation, practice, prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, scapegoat, simon, sins, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, sorrowful mystery, suffering, trophy, victorious, victory
Fr. Mark-Mary connects Jesus carrying His cross to Christ as the new scapegoat, freely taking on the exile, rejection, and sins of all humanity and carrying them to His place of crucifixion. Simon of Cyrene had the opportunity to let his suffering draw him closer to Jesus—an invitation extended to each of us in our own crosses of loss, illness, or pain. When we unite our suffering with His, our crosses too can become salvific, glorified, and trophies of shared victory in Christ. 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 201: Thorns for Love
July 20th, 2025 | 14 mins 15 secs
ascension, behold the man, catholic church, catholic faith, crown, crowned, crowning with thorns, ecce homo, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, fulton sheen, independent meditation, king, kingdom, meditation, practice, prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, sorrowful mystery, suffering, thorn
Mocked and spat upon, Christ crowned with thorns fulfills the image of the suffering servant—humble in agony, yet still the King, still victorious. Fr. Mark-Mary invites us to behold Him, as Pilate once did, and examine our own heart. Are we offering our worship and loyalty to the Lord or to the world? Are we burdened by sins of indifference or misplaced priorities? Let us respond with renewed fidelity, offering our whole selves to the King. 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 200: Glory Hidden in Suffering
July 19th, 2025 | 14 mins 31 secs
ascension, be the one, catholic church, catholic faith, conquer, consolation, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glory, grateful, independent meditation, meditation, practice, prayer, prodigal son, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, scourging, scourging at the pillar, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, victory
We follow the trajectory of the Scourging, beginning with sorrow as we behold the results of sin in Jesus scourged, are encouraged to respond by consoling Jesus as he suffers, and finally contemplate that despite man’s betrayal of Jesus, nothing can extinguish his glory. Fr. Mark-Mary leads us to see Jesus’ victory in the Passion and stay with Jesus in his suffering. 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 199: What the Garden Reveals
July 18th, 2025 | 15 mins 38 secs
agony, agony in the garden, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, connection, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, independent meditation, inheritance, judas, meditation, nature of sin, practice, prayer, relationship, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sin, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, truth
The Agony in the Garden reveals deep truths, shared by Fr. Mark-Mary, as we return to three prior meditation topics. The nature of sin is unveiled, as we draw the connection to the prodigal son. Jesus sets an example for us, staying in dialogue with the Father despite his suffering. And finally, through the example of Judas, we’re reminded that Jesus is always calling us back, no matter how dim we think our halos are. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Agony of 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 198: The Love of Jesus
July 17th, 2025 | 15 mins 17 secs
abyss, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, communion, creativity, eucharist, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, independent meditation, institution of the eucharist, jesus, last supper, love, luminous, luminous mysteries, meditation, peace, practice, prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, trust
The Holy Eucharist is one of the greatest signs of Jesus’ love. With Fr. Mark-Mary, we return to the mystery of the Institution of the Eucharist, diving into the creativity of love and the abyss of love revealed at the Last Supper. Finally, we experience Jesus’ peace, given to us through 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.
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Day 197: Mystery of Light
July 16th, 2025 | 15 mins 18 secs
ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, independent meditation, jesus, light, luminous, luminous mysteries, meditation, mountain, mountain top, practice, prayer, return, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sinai, st. anastasius, transfiguration
We’re invited to faithfulness in prayer and a journey to the mountaintop in the Transfiguration. Returning to this mystery, Fr. Mark-Mary meditates on the theme of Jesus’ revelation of himself, our contemplation on the mountaintop, and our reading from St. Anastasius of Sinai. As we pray our decade of the rosary, Fr. Mark-Mary leads us into a mountaintop experience, and then as we descend, invites us to bring this grace to the world. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Transfiguration 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 196: Invited to the Kingdom
July 15th, 2025 | 17 mins 9 secs
ascension, call to conversion, catholic church, catholic faith, conversion, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, independent meditation, kingdom, luminous, luminous mysteries, meditation, practice, prayer, proclamation, proclamation of the kingdom, repentance, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year
We review our meditations focused on the Proclamation of the Kingdom, recalling Jesus’ call to us, asking us to become residents of the kingdom of heaven. Revisiting Rembrant’s Storm of the Sea of Galilee and St. Augustine’s writing, Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in prayer of a decade of the rosary. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Proclamation of the Kingdom and Call to Conversion 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 195: New Wine, New Life
July 14th, 2025 | 14 mins 24 secs
ascension, cana, catholic church, catholic faith, do whatever he tells you, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, independent meditation, jesus, love, luminous mysteries, luminous mystery, mary, meditation, practice, prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, wedding, wedding at cana, wedding feast at cana
“Do whatever He tells you.” Mary’s powerful words at the Wedding Feast at Cana urge us to trust Jesus wholeheartedly. This moment reveals Jesus as the divine bridegroom who brings transformation, joy, and new life into our lives. We are reminded that Jesus and Mary see our needs and respond with deep love and care, even when we do not realize it. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Wedding Feast at Cana 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 194: Beloved Sons and Daughters
July 13th, 2025 | 14 mins 6 secs
ascension, baptism, catholic church, catholic faith, daughter, dignity, father, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, grace, independent meditation, jordan, luminous mysteries, luminous mystery, meditation, practice, prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, son, st. ambrose, the baptism in the jordan, the baptism of jesus, this is my beloved son
Reflecting on the Baptism of Jesus, Fr. Mark-Mary emphasizes that our own baptism equips us with the identity and strength needed to face spiritual trials. Drawing from Scripture and the works of St. Ambrose, he underscores the Father's declaration of Jesus as His beloved Son as a source of assurance in faith and personal identity. He also reminds us that while the path of discipleship includes the cross, it is ultimately a journey toward resurrection and eternal life. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Baptism of Jesus and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.