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 68: Fancy Friends
March 9th, 2025 | 10 mins 40 secs
catholic, catholic church, catholicism, coronation of mary, faith, friendship, glorious, glorious mysteries, mary, mary as queen, mother, mother of god, queen, revelation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year
Many of us have “fancy” friends in our lives, and sometimes we are the “fancy” friend: someone whose role, talents, or connections are able to help us out. However, Fr. Mark-Mary explains that we all have the best “fancy” friend in Mary, our Mother and Queen. Reading from the book of Revelation, he explores how we can have total confidence in Mary as we bring our petitions to her. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.
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Day 67: He Has Promised
March 8th, 2025 | 12 mins 1 sec
assumption, catholic, catholic church, catholicism, doubt, faith, fulfillment, glorious, glorious mysteries, god’s plan, mary, promise, promises, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, trust
Sometimes God asks us to do things that are unexpected or difficult. However, these times are often an opportunity for God to bless us: although we might have planned good things for ourselves, God asks us to trust that he has the best planned for us. Fr. Mark-Mary shows how Mary is the perfect example of this trust in God, and how God’s promises of goodness are fulfilled in the Assumption. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Assumption of Mary and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.
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Day 66: Wait and Pray
March 7th, 2025 | 12 mins 12 secs
apostles, catholic, catholic church, catholicism, faith, glorious, glorious mysteries, holy spirit, patience, pentecost, prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, transformation
What were the Apostles feeling as they waited in the upper room? Despite their trepidation, the Apostles waited and prayed with confidence, and the Holy Spirit transformed them. Fr. Mark-Mary shares a story of transformative prayer, teaching us how we can call upon the Holy Spirit. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.
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Day 65: Returning Home
March 6th, 2025 | 9 mins 48 secs
apostles, ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholicism, faith, glorious, glorious mysteries, heaven, home, jesus, pope benedict xvi, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year
Did Jesus leave us when he ascended to heaven? Fr. Mark-Mary answers this question, leading us in a meditation on the certainty of Jesus’ perpetual presence with us in all times and places. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Ascension and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.
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Day 64: Christ is Risen
March 5th, 2025 | 10 mins 38 secs
catholic, catholic church, catholicism, christ is risen, easter, faith, glorious, glorious mysteries, hope, paschal candle, resurrection, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year
How do you celebrate Easter? Fr. Mark-Mary provides listeners with a challenge, reminiscing on the moment he realized just how important Easter is, and how much hope the truth that Christ is Risen can give us. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Resurrection and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.
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Day 63: Even Unto Death
March 4th, 2025 | 11 mins 1 sec
calvary, catholic, catholic church, catholicism, crucifixion, effects of sin, faith, god’s love, love, prodigal son, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sin, sorrowful mysteries, suffering
Just as the father in the parable of the prodigal son does not merely wait to welcome his son back, but pursues to meet him on the way, Fr. Mark-Mary explains that God does not wait for us to return to him but instead pursues us, even to death on the cross. At Calvary, in the Crucifixion, we see the true nature of the heart of God, a heart filled with love for us. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.
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Day 62: He Meets Us
March 3rd, 2025 | 10 mins 17 secs
carrying of the cross, catholic, catholic church, catholicism, effects of sin, faith, prodigal son, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, savior, sin, sorrowful mysteries
In the parable of the Prodigal Son, the father does not wait for his son to come back home, but instead descends to meet him on the way. In the mystery of the Carrying of the Cross, God our Father does not leave us to an isolated journey to death, says Fr. Mark-Mary, but instead as Jesus is ascending the mountain with the cross, God is descending to save us and bring new life. 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.
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Day 61: You Are Beloved
March 2nd, 2025 | 9 mins 16 secs
beloved, catholic, catholic church, catholicism, crowning with thorns, dignity, effects of sin, faith, mockery, prodigal son, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sin, sons and daughters, sorrowful mysteries, suffering
When the devil attacks, he tries to mock us and deny our dignity. Fr. Mark-Mary continues the journey of reflecting on the passion of our Lord as it reveals the true nature of sin, revealing how meditating on the Crowning with Thorns can help us reject Satan’s lies and remember our dignity as beloved sons and daughters. 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.
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Day 60: Effects of Sin
March 1st, 2025 | 7 mins 5 secs
catholic, catholic church, catholicism, effects of sin, faith, prodigal son, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, scourging, sin, sorrowful mysteries, suffering
Sometimes we don’t fully recognize or understand the effects of sin on our soul, but the mystery of the Scourging at the Pillar reveals the reality of sin to us. Fr. Mark-Mary continues the journey of reflecting on the passion of our Lord as it reveals the true nature of sin and the true nature of the heart of God. 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.
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Day 59: The Nature of Sin
February 28th, 2025 | 10 mins 20 secs
agony, agony in the garden, catholic, catholic church, catholicism, faith, inheritance, parables, prodigal son, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sin, sin’s effects, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries
As we begin journeying through the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, Fr. Mark-Mary uses the parable of the Prodigal Son to illustrate how Jesus’ Agony in the Garden reveals humanity’s rejection of God’s gift. However, despite this rejection we find salvation in Jesus’ incredible love for us. 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.
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Day 58: Creativity of Love
February 27th, 2025 | 10 mins 12 secs
catholic, catholic church, catholicism, communion, eucharist, faith, god’s love, homily, institution of the eucharist, love, luminous mysteries, meditation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year
When you love someone, you create a way to be with them. Fr. Mark-Mary tells us that if you love Jesus, you’ll create time to be with him. However, our love for God is a response to God’s love for us. This beautiful reciprocity means the creator of the universe has found a creative way to remain with us in all times and places, revealed through the fifth Luminous mystery, the Institution of 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.
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Day 57: Let's Step Away
February 26th, 2025 | 11 mins 4 secs
catholic, catholic church, catholicism, distractions, faith, homily, luminous mysteries, meditation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, technology, transfiguration
To reveal his glory in the Transfiguration, Jesus took the apostles up the mountain, apart from distractions. Today, Fr. Mark-Mary asks if Jesus might be asking us to step away and go up the mountain apart with him, so that we can be moved by his brilliance. Let’s take this opportunity to join the apostles and see what we might need to step away from. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Transfiguration and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.
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Day 56: Good News
February 25th, 2025 | 7 mins 44 secs
call to repentance, catholic, catholic church, catholicism, faith, homily, luminous mysteries, meditation, proclamation of the kingdom, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, trust
What is the Proclamation of the Kingdom and the Call to Conversion really about? Fr. Mark-Mary explains the rich mystery of the Proclamation of the Kingdom and the Call to Conversion, revealing the Good News throughout Jesus’ teachings: everything you are seeking and longing for is here. 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.
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Day 55: Water Into Wine
February 24th, 2025 | 12 mins 16 secs
cana, catholic, catholic church, catholicism, faith, homily, luminous mysteries, mary, meditation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacrifice, wedding, wedding at cana
In the Wedding Feast at Cana, we see Mary taking a new role: that of the initiator, asking Jesus to perform his first miracle. Fr. Mark-Mary unpacks this mystery, revealing the depth of Mary’s actions. By initiating Jesus’ public ministry, Mary is freely giving her son away, out of her great love for all of us. 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.
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Day 54: My Beloved Son
February 23rd, 2025 | 10 mins 35 secs
baptism, catholic, catholic church, catholicism, faith, homily, jesus’ baptism, luminous mysteries, meditation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, temptation, trust
The waters of the Jordan in our lives must always precede the sands of the desert. Fr. Mark-Mary explores the mystery of Jesus’ Baptism, highlighting that Jesus’ baptism immediately precedes his temptation in the desert. We are invited to recall our own baptisms and the gifts we received as we meditate on the Rosary and face difficulties in our lives. 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.
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Day 53: Our Perfect Director
February 22nd, 2025 | 9 mins 1 sec
catholic, catholic church, catholicism, faith, finding, finding in the temple, finding jesus, joy, joyful, joyful mysteries, meditation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, trust
Mary and Joseph knew that they had a special role when raising Jesus, but something unexpected happens in the mystery of the Finding in the Temple. Mary may not fully understand Jesus’ explanation that he would be “in his Father’s house”, but she continues to trust in God’s plan. We have all experienced times in which we cannot visualize God’s plan for us, but Fr. Mark-Mary reminds us that we have a perfect director who will make a masterpiece out of our stories. All we have to do is trust and say yes. 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.