The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames) - Episodes Tagged with “Agony”

Day 99: Stay in Dialogue

Ascension — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 03:15:00 -0400

When we experience real, deep, human fear and anguish, we can draw hope from the fact that Jesus has experienced these things before us. Fr. Mark-Mary shares a story of one of his fellow friars guiding new friars through their fear of heights, highlighting that by staying in dialogue with the Father, we find our hope beyond fear. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Agony in the Garden and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 79: Trust like Jesus

Ascension — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 03:15:00 -0400

When Jesus is sorrowful in the Garden of Gethsemane, he stays in relationship with the Father, trusting in the Father’s plan. Fr. Mark-Mary invites us to sit with Jesus, trusting in the Father when we are sorrowful and afraid, following the Son’s example. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Agony in the Garden and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 59: The Nature of Sin (2026)

Ascension — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 03:15:00 -0500

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.

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

Day 39: In the Garden (2026)

Ascension — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 03:15:00 -0500

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.

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

Day 364: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 03:15:00 -0500

We are called to remain close to Jesus in moments of sorrow, learning from His choice to meet suffering with trust in the Father rather than isolation. Fr. Mark-Mary reflects on the Passion as a costly gift of love, revealing how deeply Christ desires to save and remain with us. Through perseverance in prayer, we are reminded that Jesus never stops seeking us, even when the road is heavy. At the foot of the Cross, we receive Mary as our Mother, finding consolation in her faithful and tender care. Today’s focus is the Sorrowful Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 360: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 03:15:00 -0500

We pray the Sorrowful Mysteries and enter deeply into the heart of Christ’s Passion, guided by Fr. Mark-Mary through each decade. In the Agony in the Garden, Fr. Mark-Mary reflects on Jesus’ threefold cry of “My Father,” showing how Jesus faces his suffering in relationship with the Father, inviting us to bring our own agonies to God with the same trust. The Scourging at the Pillar inspires us to meditate on the irony of the crowd choosing Barabbas, the “son of the father” in name only, over the true Son. Despite the mockery of the Crowning with Thorns, Fr. Mark-Mary shows how even here Christ’s kingship is revealed and God is silently at work for our salvation. During the Carrying of the Cross, we’re guided into a moment of imaginative prayer, placing us in the role of Simon of Cyrene. Finally, as we pray with the Crucifixion, Fr. Mark-Mary draws attention to the tearing of the temple veil and Pope Benedict XVI’s insight that symbols give way to reality: God himself has opened the way to his heart through the crucified Christ. Today's focus is the Sorrowful Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 357: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 03:15:00 -0500

Fr. Mark-Mary guides us in a deeply contemplative Rosary, as we walk the path of the Sorrowful Mysteries with Jesus. We encounter Christ in the Agony in the Garden, reflecting on how all of Salvation history has been leading to this moment. Reverently, we witness the Scourging and Crowning with Thorns, beholding Christ’s love and kingship. We honor the cross that became the sign of our salvation as Jesus carries it with love, and conclude in a meditation on James Tissot’s painting, What Our Lord Saw from the Cross. Today's focus is the Sorrowful Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 353: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 03:15:00 -0500

Guiding us through the Sorrowful Mysteries, Fr. Mark-Mary ponders these mysteries through the lens of the Prodigal Son. In the Agony in the Garden, he highlights that just as the prodigal son demanded his inheritance, sinful humanity grasped at Christ, prompting us to consider the ways we, too, take matters into our own hands. During the Scourging and the Crowning with Thorns, he reveals both the cost of sin and the unshakable truth of our identity as beloved sons and daughters of the Father. As we arrive at the Carrying of the Cross and the Crucifixion, Fr. Mark-Mary emphasizes the Father’s relentless pursuit of us—running toward us in our weakness and answering every doubt with unwavering love. Today’s focus is the Sorrowful Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 350: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 03:15:00 -0500

As we pray the Rosary, contemplating the sorrowful mysteries, Fr. Mark-Mary encourages us to draw close to Jesus. We witness the culmination of all of salvation history in the Garden of Gethsemane, we see the depths of love poured out for us with his blood, and we are invited to bring our contrition and hearts to our Lord. Today's focus is the Sorrowful Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 346: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 03:15:00 -0500

For today’s Rosary, Fr. Mark-Mary shares meditations on Vincente Masip’s Jesus in Gethsemane, the parallels between Christ and Isaiah’s prophecy of the Suffering Servant, Fulton Sheen’s reflection on Pilate’s choices, and more. We walk with Christ through his passion, journeying from the Garden to the Cross. Today's focus is the Sorrowful Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 343: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 03:15:00 -0500

Immersing ourselves in the Sorrowful Mysteries, Fr. Mark-Mary directs us to ponder Jesus’s final moments on earth. We see through Jesus’s eyes in the Agony in the Garden as He suffers yet continues to trust the Father. We look through Mary’s perspective during the Scourging at the Pillar, entering into her sorrow and offering our own suffering alongside hers. In the Crowning with Thorns, Jesus endures mockery and pain while reminding us of our unshakeable identity as beloved sons and daughters of the Father. As He carries His Cross, Jesus feels the weight of our sins yet reveals a hope that perseveres. And at the Crucifixion, even in His final breath, Jesus is forgiving us from the cross. Today’s focus is the Sorrowful Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 339: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 03:15:00 -0500

We return to the Sorrowful Mysteries, and Fr. Mark-Mary shares meditations on the relationship between the Garden of Gethsemane and the Garden of Eden, reminding us of the relationship between sin and the Sorrowful Mysteries. As we witness Jesus crowned with thorns and carrying the cross, we’re also reminded of the glory that can be found in Christ’s passion. Today's focus is the Sorrowful Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 336: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 02:15:00 -0500

Congratulations! You have arrived at the last Phase of the Rosary in a Year, Phase 6: Praying Together. As we step into this final phase, we’ll begin praying a full Rosary together, and Fr. Mark-Mary will share brief meditation prompts before each decade. We will also begin praying the mysteries on the days they are traditionally prayed, beginning with the Sorrowful mysteries for Tuesday today. Fr. Mark-Mary will walk us through the full mystery of Christ’s passion, sharing meditations on communion with the Father, Simon’s choice to help Jesus carry the cross, and what Jesus’ last words on the cross mean for us. Today's focus is the Sorrowful Mysteries.

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

Day 334: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 03:15:00 -0500

Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in prayer with five decades of the Rosary, as we utilize the meditation "muscles" we've built up in each phase of the Rosary in a Year. You can find more resources for meditation on each of the mysteries, including Sacred Art, Saint Reflections, and Bible Verses under each episode in the Ascension App, to aid in your meditation. Today's focus is the Sorrowful Mysteries: the Agony in the Garden, the Scourging at the Pillar, the Crowning with Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross, and the Crucifixion.

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

Day 330: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 03:15:00 -0500

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

Day 326: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 03:15:00 -0500

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

Day 322: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 03:15:00 -0500

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

Day 318: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 03:15:00 -0500

Description
Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in prayer with five decades of the Rosary, as we utilize the meditation "muscles" we've built up in each phase of the Rosary in a Year. You can find more resources for meditation on each of the mysteries, including Sacred Art, Saint Reflections, and Bible Verses under each episode in the Ascension App, to aid in your meditation. Today's focus is the Sorrowful Mysteries: the Agony in the Garden, the Scourging at the Pillar, the Crowning with Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross, and the Crucifixion.

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

Day 314: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 03:15:00 -0500

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

Day 310: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 03:15:00 -0500

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

Day 306: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 03:15:00 -0500

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

Day 301: The Luminous and Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 03:15:00 -0400

These Luminous and Sorrowful mysteries draw us from the divine light of Christ to the depth of His compassion. They reveal a love that shines in glory and endures in suffering, a faithfulness that never falters. In contemplating these mysteries, we come to understand that God’s will leads to peace, suffering can bear fruit in grace, and our faith unites us with Christ. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Transfiguration, the Institution of the Eucharist, the Agony in the Garden, and the Scourging at the Pillar. We will be praying four decades of the Rosary.

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

Day 296: The Luminous and Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 03:15:00 -0400

Today we pray through four mysteries that reveal both the glory and the suffering of Christ. We begin with the Transfiguration, when Jesus is revealed in radiant glory before His disciples, strengthening their faith for what is to come. We then reflect on the Institution of the Eucharist, where He offers His Body and Blood as the everlasting sign of His love and presence. From there, we enter into the Agony in the Garden, joining Jesus in His deep prayer and surrender to the Father’s will. Finally, we meditate on the Scourging at the Pillar, recalling His courage, obedience, and unfathomable love even in the face of cruelty. Together, these mysteries draw us closer to the heart of Jesus, who unites divine majesty with humble sacrifice for our salvation. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Transfiguration, Institution of the Eucharist, Agony in the Garden, and Scourging at the Pillar. We will be praying four decades of the Rosary.

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

Day 291: The Luminous and Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 03:15:00 -0400

We trace the path from Christ’s divinity revealed to His willing surrender as we pray with the final Luminous Mysteries and move into the Sorrowful Mysteries. In the Transfiguration, we glimpse His heavenly majesty. In the Eucharist, we receive His eternal gift of love. In the Garden, we witness His prayerful obedience. At the pillar, we see His patient endurance. Through these mysteries, we learn to trust God’s will, to find strength in suffering, and to walk with Christ in faith and love. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Transfiguration, the Institution of the Eucharist, the Agony in the Garden, and the Scourging at the Pillar. We will be praying four decades of the Rosary.

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

Day 281: The Luminous and Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 03:15:00 -0400

The Transfiguration, the Institution of the Eucharist, the Agony in the Garden, and the Scourging at the Pillar reveal Christ’s glory, His self-giving love, and His willing embrace of suffering for our salvation. Together, these mysteries trace the passage from glory to sacrifice, showing Christ as both radiant Son of God and suffering Servant. They call us to behold His glory, to receive His gift in the Eucharist, to surrender to God’s will in our trials, and to carry our sufferings with faith united to His. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Transfiguration, the Institution of the Eucharist, the Agony in the Garden, and the Scourging at the Pillar. We will be praying four decades of the Rosary.

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

Day 276: The Luminous and Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 03:15:00 -0400

In today's episode, we pray through mysteries that draw us into both the glory and the suffering of Christ. We begin with the Transfiguration, where Jesus reveals His divine majesty to Peter, James, and John on the mountain. We then move to the Institution of the Eucharist, contemplating the gift of His Body and Blood given for us at the Last Supper. From there, we enter the sorrowful hours of His Passion, beginning with the Agony in the Garden, where Jesus surrenders to the Father’s will in the face of suffering. Finally, we reflect on the Scourging at the Pillar, remembering His profound endurance and love even in the midst of violence and humiliation. These mysteries invite us to hold together both the glory of Christ’s divinity and the depth of His sacrifice, strengthening our faith and drawing us deeper into His love. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Transfiguration, the Institution of the Eucharist, the Agony in the Garden, and the Scourging at the Pillar. We will be praying four decades of the Rosary.

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

Day 270: The Luminous and Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 03:15:00 -0400

Concluding the Luminous mysteries, we recall Our Lord’s divinity as he is transfigured on the mountain and shares himself, body, blood, soul, and divinity with us in the Eucharist. Stepping into the Sorrowful mysteries, after the Last Supper we have just mediated upon, we witness his agony in preparation to offer himself up for our salvation. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Transfiguration, the Institution of the Eucharist, and the Agony in the Garden. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.

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

Day 264: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 03:15:00 -0400

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Day 257: The Luminous and Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 03:15:00 -0400

We journey from the Luminous mysteries into the Sorrowful, reminding us of the connection between Jesus’ ministry and his passion. Moments after Jesus institutes the sacrament of the Eucharist, he enters into his Agony, the first sorrowful mystery. Just as his upcoming passion is interwoven among the Luminous mysteries, we can still see the light of God’s beloved son shining through the Sorrowful as he offers his life for ours. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Institution of the Eucharist, the Agony in the Garden, and the Scourging at the Pillar. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.

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

Day 250: The Luminous and Sorrowful Mysteries

Ascension — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 03:15:00 -0400

Beginning our decades with the Luminous Mysteries, we contemplate the Transfiguration and the Institution of the Eucharist. In these events, Christ points toward His Passion and prepares His disciples for the trials to come. We then enter the Sorrowful Mysteries, where His Passion unfolds with the Agony in the Garden. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Transfiguration, Institution of the Eucharist, and the Agony in the Garden. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.

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

Day 234: The Agony in the Garden and the Scourging at the Pillar

Ascension — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 03:15:00 -0400

As we enter into the sorrowful mysteries of Christ’s Passion, we reflect on His agony in the garden and His scourging at the pillar. We see Jesus pleading with the Father in solitude, embracing the Father’s will despite the weight of sorrow, and freely choosing to suffer for our salvation. Through these mysteries, we are called to receive His sacrifice not with indifference, but with grateful hearts open to the transforming gift of His love. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Agony in the Garden and the Scourging at the Pillar and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.

For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 224: Intentions to the Father

Ascension — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 03:15:00 -0400

Fr. Mark-Mary enriches our time of prayer by inviting us to practice intercessory prayer, where we can bring before the Lord all that weighs on our hearts and minds. He invites us to imagine offering our intentions to God the Father, trusting that He sees, receives, and responds with love. With confidence in His goodness and power, let us entrust every intention to Him. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Agony in the Garden and the Scourging at the Pillar and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.

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

Day 214: Trusting the Father

Ascension — Sat, 02 Aug 2025 03:15:00 -0400

We are invited to enter into prayer with a deep awareness of the Heavenly Father’s presence through Fr. Mark-Mary’s meditative reflection. Drawing from Jesus’ prayers before Lazarus’ tomb and His teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, Fr. Mark-Mary emphasizes that God sees, hears, and knows us intimately. This reflection reminds us of the Father’s love and His desire to give us every good gift. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Agony in the Garden and the Scourging at the Pillar and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.

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

Day 199: What the Garden Reveals

Ascension — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 03:15:00 -0400

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.

Day 179: Discouragement, Distraction, Despair

Ascension — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 03:15:00 -0400

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.

Day 159: Surrender Your Suffering

Ascension — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 03:15:00 -0400

As we meditate with the painting entitled Prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane Garden by Alessandro Maganza, Fr. Mark-Mary notices that all of the movement, lines, and action in the painting points towards Jesus. Sharing a story about one of his fellow friars, Fr. Mark-Mary explains how we can direct ourselves to Jesus and surrender our fears, worries, and pain. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Agony in the Garden and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

Day 139: Gold in Our Halos

Ascension — Mon, 19 May 2025 03:15:00 -0400

In today’s painting by Vicente Masip, Judas is pictured with a gold and black halo. Even as Judas leads the soldiers to arrest Jesus, Fr. Mark-Mary explains that this halo shows Judas has the chance to return to Jesus. We too can always return to Jesus, seeking his forgiveness as Peter does. 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 for free in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.

Day 119: Till The End

Ascension — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 03:15:00 -0400

In the final moments before his arrest, Jesus is praying for the apostles. This is the movement of love when it encounters suffering and difficulty, says Fr. Mark-Mary. Drawing from St. Hilary of Poitiers, we meditate on bringing our suffering to the Father, so that it might become a grace for others. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Agony in the Garden and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 99: Stay in Dialogue

Ascension — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 03:15:00 -0400

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

Day 79: Trust like Jesus

Ascension — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 03:15:00 -0400

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

Day 59: The Nature of Sin

Ascension — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 03:15:00 -0500

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

Day 39: In the Garden

Ascension — Sat, 08 Feb 2025 03:15:00 -0500

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