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 158: Wash All of Me
June 7th, 2025 | 12 mins 8 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, commitment, devotion, eucharist, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, institution of the eucharist, juan de juanes, luminous, luminous mysteries, peter, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, visio divina, washing
Jesus gives himself totally to us in the Eucharist, body, blood, soul, and divinity. Today’s art, The Last Supper, by Juan de Juanes (Vicente Juan Masip) includes the bowl and urn used for the washing of feet, reminding us of Peter’s request that Jesus wash him entirely. This is the attitude, Fr. Mark-Mary says, that we should bring as we receive the Eucharist. 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 in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 157: We Have Authority
June 6th, 2025 | 14 mins 9 secs
apostles, art, art meditations, ascension, authority, catholic church, catholic faith, exorcism, faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, healing, luminous, luminous mysteries, matthew, power, raphael, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, transfiguration, visio divina
Fr. Mark-Mary notices that The Transfiguration, painted by Raphael, contains a very interesting Biblical reference. Raphael has chosen to depict the beginning of Jesus’ exorcism of a demon in Matthew 17 alongside the Transfiguration. This parallel reveals the truth that Jesus can give us all spiritual authority to resist temptation, through our faith in him. 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 in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 156: I Do Not Condemn You
June 5th, 2025 | 15 mins
art, art meditations, ascension, call to conversion, catholic church, catholic faith, condemnation, conversion, father mark mary, father mark-mary, forgiveness, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, luminous, luminous mysteries, proclamation, proclamation of the kingdom, repentance, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, sin, visio divina
In Lorenzo Lotto’s painting, The Adulterous Woman, we are presented with an unforgettable moment from the Gospels. A group of accusers try to trap Jesus by asking for his judgement of a woman caught in sin. However, Fr. Mark-Mary explains, Jesus’ incredible response to the accusers and the woman is a response to all of us. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Proclamation of the Gospel and 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 in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 155: More than Meets the Eye
June 4th, 2025 | 12 mins 29 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, celebration, double, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, intentional, joy, luminous, luminous mysteries, miracle, miracles, multitasking, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, visio divina, wedding, wedding feast at cana
Jesus is a divine multitasker, intentionally and perfectly. Fr. Mark-Mary explains that while we might struggle to multitask, God works on multiple levels at all times. As Jesus turns water into wine in Gérard David’s painting, The Wedding at Cana, he is both continuing the joy of the celebration and revealing himself as the divine bridegroom. 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 in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 154: I Am Not Worthy
June 3rd, 2025 | 11 mins 12 secs
andrea del verrocchio, art, art meditations, ascension, baptism, baptism in the jordan, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, humility, john, leonardo da vinci, luminous, luminous mysteries, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, visio divina
When Jesus approaches John to be baptized, John initially resists, insisting that he is not worthy. John is troubled, explains Fr. Mark-Mary, and yet, when Jesus reassures him, he obeys with confidence and trust. Andrea del Verrocchio and Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, The Baptism of Christ guides our meditation on humility. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Baptism in the Jordan 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 153: From St. Joseph to Jesus
June 2nd, 2025 | 13 mins 9 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding of jesus in the temple, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, holly family, joseph, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, st. joseph, temple, visio divina, wedding at cana
Concluding our focus on St. Joseph, we reflect on the quiet but powerful transition of Mary’s care from St. Joseph to Jesus in the Holy Family. God's constant provision for Mary is evident as we see how Jesus steps into his role as protector and provider for his mother. The reflection is anchored in a 17th-century painting of The Finding in the Temple, located at St. Nicholas Church in Brussels. Fr. Mark-Mary reminds us that even when God's plan requires letting go, His attentive love never leaves us abandoned. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Finding of Jesus 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 152: St. Joseph’s Offering
June 1st, 2025 | 12 mins 31 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, joseph, joyful, joyful mysteries, offering, presentation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, sacrifice, sorrow, st. joseph, temple, turtledoves, visio divina
We continue our series focusing on St. Joseph’s presence with the Presentation in the Temple. In today’s art, we see Joseph offering the turtle doves, artistically representing what also is happening interiorly, Fr. Mark-Mary says. St. Joseph’s heart was surely sorrowful when Simeon prophesied that a sword would pierce Mary’s heart, and yet he said yes to the Father alongside her. 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 151: St. Joseph’s Protection
May 31st, 2025 | 12 mins 13 secs
adoration, art, art meditations, ascension, care, catholic church, catholic faith, christmas, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, joyful, joyful mysteries, magic, nativity, paternal, providence, provision, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, shepherds, st. joseph, visio divina
If St. Joseph had not been present at the Nativity, could the adoration of the shepherds have happened? Fr. Mark-Mary continues our focus on St. Joseph’s role, highlighting the goodness of God in bringing Mary and Joseph together to raise the Savior. 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 for free in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 150: God Will Provide
May 30th, 2025 | 12 mins 6 secs
angel, art, art meditations, ascension, care, catholic church, catholic faith, father, father mark mary, father mark-mary, federico maldarelli, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, joseph, joyful, joyful mysteries, paternal, provide, providence, provision, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, st. joseph, visio divina, visitation
Mary was not the only one who received an angelic visitor. Joseph too was directed by an angel to take Mary, his wife, into his home. Fr. Mark-Mary, meditating on Joseph’s presence at the Visitation, shares this as an example of God’s providential care towards Mary and towards all his children. 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 for free in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 149: Littleness Before the Lord
May 29th, 2025 | 12 mins 26 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, coronation, coronation of mary, daughter, diego velázquez, father, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, holy spirit, joyful, joyful mysteries, mother, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, son, spouse, the coronation of the virgin, trinity, visio divina
Henry Ossawa Tanner’s depiction of the Annunciation is distinctly unique. Fr. Mark-Mary directs our meditation to an observation of Mary’s youth and littleness before the Lord, contrasted with her complete trust and confidence. This, he says, can help us trust God despite our own littleness. 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 free in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 148: Daughter, Mother, Spouse
May 28th, 2025 | 12 mins 46 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, coronation, coronation of mary, daughter, diego velázquez, father, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, holy spirit, mother, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, son, spouse, the coronation of the virgin, trinity, visio divina
The Coronation of Mary can be seen in a distinctly Trinitarian sense, highlighted in Diego Velázquez’s painting, The Coronation of the Virgin. Fr. Mark-Mary explains Mary’s relationships to each member of the Trinity as daughter, mother, and spouse. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Coronation of Mary 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 147: Fullness of Victory
May 27th, 2025 | 14 mins 10 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, assumption, catholic church, catholic faith, childlike, daughter, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, fresco, glorious, glorious mysteries, immaculate conception, mary, riy, rome, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, victory, visio divina
Mary, through her Immaculate Conception, shares in the fullness of Christ’s victory. Fr. Mark-Mary, meditating on The Immaculate Conception, a fresco in the Church of Santa Maria dell’Orto, in Rome, explains the intrinsic connection between the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Assumption 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 146: My Soul Thirsts
May 26th, 2025 | 14 mins 3 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, boldness, catholic church, catholic faith, confidence, descent of the holy spirit, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fear, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, holy spirit, jean restout, mary, pentecost, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, spirit, trust, visio divina
At Pentecost, the Apostles may have been filled with a reasonable amount of fear, as wind shook the upper room and fire descended. However, Jean Restout’s painting, Pentecost, draws our attention to someone who is unafraid: Mary, who has already experienced the overshadowing of the Spirit. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Descent of the Holy Spirit 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 145: He Must Increase
May 25th, 2025 | 13 mins 29 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, decrease, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, glory, humility, increase, john, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, st. john the baptist, visio divina
St. John the Baptist said in John 3:30, “he must increase, I must decrease”. In today’s mosaic of the Ascension, Fr. Mark-Mary draws our attention to St. John the Baptist and Mary, who in turn direct our attention to Christ. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Ascension 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 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.
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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.