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 184: Beyond the Tomb
July 3rd, 2025 | 13 mins 55 secs
annibale carracci, art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, love, mary, mother, pope john paul ii, resurrection, risen, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, tomb, visio divina, women
What if the first person to witness the Resurrection was Mary, the mother of Jesus? Fr. Mark-Mary explores this possibility through prayerful reflection on Annibale Carracci’s painting The Holy Women at Christ’s Tomb, highlighting the emotional depth and symbolism in the women's encounter with the angel. Drawing from Pope John Paul II’s insights, he invites us to imagine a tender, intimate reunion between the risen Christ and His mother, filled with healing, tears, and joy. 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 in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 183: Love Poured Out
July 2nd, 2025 | 17 mins 46 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, bridegroom, catholic church, catholic faith, church, cross, crucifixion, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, mary, peter paul rubens, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, spouse, visio divina
Fr. Mark-Mary reflects on the Crucifixion through Rubens’ painting, The Descent from the Cross, emphasizing the raw humanity of Jesus as He is lovingly lowered by His followers. He meditates on the mystical union between Christ the bridegroom and the Church, inviting us to find rest in Christ’s pierced side, the source of love, mercy, and life. Finally, he focuses on Mary’s sorrowful but hope-filled presence, encouraging us to bring our own losses to her while clinging to the promise of resurrection and redemption. 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 in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 182: Shared Sacrifice
July 1st, 2025 | 15 mins 31 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, carrying of the cross, catholic church, catholic faith, cross, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, jesus carrying his cross, love, mary, offering, raffaello sanzio da urbino, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, sacrifice, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, visio divina
Inspired by Raphael’s painting depicting the Carrying of the Cross, Fr. Mark-Mary focuses on the profound spiritual offering made by both Jesus and Mary. He emphasizes how Jesus willingly embraced his suffering out of love and obedience to the Father, and how Mary also offered her son with grace and faith. Their shared sacrifice is presented as an act of profound love and salvation. 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 in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 181: Grace Amid Thorns
June 30th, 2025 | 14 mins 15 secs
anthony van dyck, art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, crown, crowning with thorns, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, grace, pain, power, powerless, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, suffering, thorn, visio divina
Witnessing Christ crowned with thorns reveals a striking contrast between worldly might and divine strength and humility. Through the lens of Anthony van Dyck’s dramatic painting and the words of scripture and Pope John Paul II, Fr. Mark-Mary’s meditation unveils the redemptive power found in suffering. We are invited to see our own suffering as a means to draw nearer to Christ and receive His transforming grace. 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 in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 180: The God Who Bleeds
June 29th, 2025 | 15 mins 42 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, bleed, bleeds, catholic church, catholic faith, dedication, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, love, pain, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, scourging, scourging at the pillar, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, suffering, the god who bleeds, visio divina, william-adolphe bouguereau
Fr. Mark-Mary draws us in to an overwhelming realization while meditating on The Flagellation of Our Lord Jesus Christ by William-Adolphe Bouguereau: our God is a God who bleeds. We observe Jesus in his pain and suffering, reflecting on the incredible amount of love he has to pursue our souls regardless of 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 in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 179: Discouragement, Distraction, Despair
June 28th, 2025 | 17 mins 32 secs
agony, agony in the garden, arrest of christ, art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, despair, discomfort, discouragement, distraction, emotion, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, giotto, giotto di bondone, judas, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, st. augustine, visio divina
Today’s painting, The Arrest of Christ by Giotto di Bondone can be somewhat unsettling. Giotto di Bondone captures the moment of Judas' betrayal with intense emotion, reminding Fr. Mark-Mary that any of us could be in Judas’ place. Supplemented by a quote from St. Augustine, we meditate on the realization that all of us have the capacity to be great sinners or great saints. 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 in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 178: Open the Door
June 27th, 2025 | 13 mins 35 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, before the last supper, catholic church, catholic faith, christ and the disciples, door, eucharist, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, henry osswa tanner, institution, institution of the eucharist, last supper, love, luminous, luminous mysteries, passover, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, tanner, visio divina
In Tanner’s painting, Christ and the Disciples Before the Last Supper, we see Jesus and a few disciples before they enter the upper room to eat the Passover. In moments, the institution of the Eucharist will occur. Fr. Mark-Mary invites us to experience the incredible love Jesus is inviting them into before they enter and share the Passover meal. 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 177: Earthen Vessels
June 26th, 2025 | 15 mins 13 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, consolation, desolation, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, icon, luminous, luminous mysteries, mountain, peter, redemption, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, transfiguration, transformation, valley, visio divina
Fr. Mark-Mary introduces us to the spiritual background of icons as we pray with an icon of the Transfiguration. We consider how our transformation in Christ takes a lifetime, revealed through Peter’s journey from the mountain, through shadows and valleys, and back to Jesus’ mercy and love. 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 176: Jesus is in the Boat
June 25th, 2025 | 13 mins 55 secs
apostles, art, art meditations, ascension, boat, catholic church, catholic faith, danger, doubt, faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, luminous, luminous mysteries, mark, ocean, rembrandt, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, sea, storm, threat, trust, visio divina
Mark chapter 5 doesn’t shrink back from the danger of the storm. The apostles’ boat is filling with water and they are in immediate danger. Rembrandt’s painting, Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee, shows us how real this threat is. And yet, Jesus’ response is to urge the apostles to have faith in him. 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 175: Calling Through the Noise
June 24th, 2025 | 14 mins 47 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, cana, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, luminous, luminous mysteries, paolo veronese, peace, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, self-reliance, stress, trust, visio divina, wedding, wedding at cana, wedding feast at cana
Fr. Mark-Mary draws unique comparisons when meditating on Paolo Veronese’s The Wedding at Cana. The depiction of Christ’s quiet centrality amid worldly distraction mirrors how people often overlook Jesus, just as museumgoers miss this massive artwork while focused on the Mona Lisa. As well as the parallel between the statue of Atlas outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the image of Christ at Mass, contrasting the burden of self-reliance with the peace found in surrendering to God. Through this reflection, we are invited to entrust our struggles to Jesus, who alone can transform and uplift us. 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 174: Living Our Baptism
June 23rd, 2025 | 16 mins 29 secs
alexander ivanov, art, art meditations, ascension, baptism, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, john the baptist, luminous, luminous mysteries, messiah, prophet, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, the baptism in the jordan, the baptism of jesus, the jordan, visio divina
Through Alexander Ivanov’s painting, The Appearance of Christ Before the People, Fr. Mark-Mary contemplates the baptism of Jesus and the profound humility of John the Baptist, who recognizes Christ and directs his followers to Him. The artwork and Gospel text together highlight John’s deep spiritual freedom and his role in preparing the way for the Messiah. We are encouraged to live out our own baptismal calling by pointing others to Jesus through humble witness, love, and trust in God’s will. 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 in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 173: Rooted in Identity
June 22nd, 2025 | 17 mins 7 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, father’s house, finding in the temple, finding of jesus in the temple, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, identity william holman hunt, joyful, joyful mysteries, meek, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, temple, visio divina
Fr. Mark-Mary contemplates the courage required of 12-year-old Jesus speaking in the temple, as depicted in William Holman Hunt’s vivid painting, The Finding of the Saviour in the Temple. He contrasts this with his own childhood experiences of shyness and public speaking, drawing insight into how true meekness flows from knowing one’s identity. We are empowered to speak and live truthfully even in intimidating situations by cultivating spiritual confidence rooted in God’s love. 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 172: Heart of Prayer
June 21st, 2025 | 11 mins 32 secs
arent de gelder, art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, presentation, presentation in the temple, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, simeon, temple, visio divina
Meditating on Mary’s presence in the Presentation scene, painted by Aert de Gelder, reveals a woman who prays not only with words, but with her entire being. In the glow of the Christ Child, she models how to receive mystery, pain, and promise with unwavering faith. Her example reminds us that holiness begins not with full understanding, but with trustful reception of all things in and through Christ. 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 171: Worship the Newborn King
June 20th, 2025 | 11 mins 59 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, born, caravaggio, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, joyful, joyful mysteries, manger, nativity, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, st. francis, st. lawrence, the praises of god, visio divina
Caravaggio’s Nativity with Saint Francis and Saint Lawrence offers a tender and grounded depiction of Christ’s birth, surrounded not only by the Holy Family but also by saints known for their deep love of poverty. Fr. Mark-Mary uses this scene to lead into the Praises of God by St. Francis, lifting our gaze from the humble manger to the majesty of the One who was born there. We’re invited into deeper awe, love, and surrender by recognizing the greatness of God who chose such lowliness. 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 170: Grit and Grace
June 19th, 2025 | 12 mins 20 secs
ain karim, antonio barluzzi, art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, elizabeth, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, virtues, visio divina, visitation
Mary’s journey to visit Elizabeth is brought to life through Antonio Barluzzi’s mosaic, where Mary travels by donkey through rugged hills, accompanied by angels who walk beside her rather than carry her. This powerful detail highlights Mary’s strength and humility. She is a model of self-giving love, reminding us that holiness often unfolds through perseverance and sacrifice. 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 169: The Faithful “Yes”
June 18th, 2025 | 14 mins 15 secs
angel, angel gabriel, annunciation, art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, jan van eyck, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, obedience, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, surrender, trust, visio divina
What does it mean to say “yes” to God with complete trust? Reflecting on Jan van Eyck’s painting of the Annunciation, Fr. Mark-Mary explores how Mary’s faithful response marks the fulfillment of the Old Testament and invites us to a similar surrender. We are called to recognize God’s presence in all circumstances and to keep our focus and trust rooted in Him. 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 in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.