The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)

Day 354: The Joyful Mysteries

December 20th, 2025  |  31 mins 30 secs

anna, annunciation, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding, finding in the temple, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, meditating, meditation archive, meditation muscles, meditative prayer, nativity, poco a poco, prayer, praying together, presentation, rembrandt, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, st. bernard of clarivaux, st. leto the great, visitation

Today, Fr. Mark-Mary prays with the Joyful Mysteries, beginning with the Annunciation and the beautiful tension St. Bernard describes as all of heaven awaiting Mary’s “yes.” In the Visitation, he reminds us that although we don’t know every detail of our future, God gives enough light for each step. At the Nativity, he encourages us to bring our whole hearts—joys and sorrows alike—to the newborn Christ. He then reflects on the Presentation through Anna’s long waiting and God’s tender gaze. Finally, in the Finding in the Temple, we learn from Mary’s calm, confident pondering as she receives everything in love. Today’s focus is the Joyful Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 72: You Don’t Wait in Vain

March 13th, 2025  |  14 mins 54 secs

anna, ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholicism, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, joyful, joyful mysteries, lectio, lectio divina, patience, presentation, promise, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, simeon, temple, waiting

Simeon and Anna spent their entire lives waiting in the Temple for the savior. We might feel like Simeon and Anna, waiting for God and his promises in our own lives. Fr. Mark-Mary tells us that the Presentation is a sign of hope for all of us: just as Simeon and Anna saw salvation, we too do not wait in vain. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Presentation in the Temple and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 32: A Total Offering

February 1st, 2025  |  14 mins 14 secs

anna, historical context, isaiah, joy, joyful, joyful mysteries, jp2, meditation, old testament, pope john paul 2, presentation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, simeon

The Mystery of Jesus’ Presentation signifies an important moment of fulfillment between the Old and New Covenant. Fr. Mark-Mary leads us through this mystery, pointing out parallels between Simeon’s words to Mary and Old Testament prophecies in Isaiah, giving us a meditation on entrusting our lives to God through the Rosary. 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.