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

Day 211: Presence of the Holy Spirit

July 30th, 2025  |  13 mins 33 secs

ascension, baptism, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding in the temple, finding of jesus in the temple, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, holy spirit, imaginative prayer, jordan, joyful, joyful mysteries, joyful mystery, luminous, luminous mysteries, luminous mystery, meditating, meditative prayer, poco a poco, prayer, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, temple, the baptism in the jordan, the baptism of jesus, two decades

We have an opportunity to deepen our relationship with the Holy Spirit through todays meditative prayer and the Rosary. Fr. Mark-Mary invites us to personally engage with the Holy Spirit by offering areas of our hearts that need healing, courage, or comfort. He reminds us to see the Holy Spirit not merely as a symbol, but as a divine person who listens, responds, and loves. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Finding of Jesus in the Temple and Baptism of Jesus and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.

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

Day 194: Beloved Sons and Daughters

July 13th, 2025  |  14 mins 6 secs

ascension, baptism, catholic church, catholic faith, daughter, dignity, father, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, grace, independent meditation, jordan, luminous mysteries, luminous mystery, meditation, practice, prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, son, st. ambrose, the baptism in the jordan, the baptism of jesus, this is my beloved son

Reflecting on the Baptism of Jesus, Fr. Mark-Mary emphasizes that our own baptism equips us with the identity and strength needed to face spiritual trials. Drawing from Scripture and the works of St. Ambrose, he underscores the Father's declaration of Jesus as His beloved Son as a source of assurance in faith and personal identity. He also reminds us that while the path of discipleship includes the cross, it is ultimately a journey toward resurrection and eternal life. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Baptism of Jesus and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

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.

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.

Day 134: Shadow of the Cross

May 14th, 2025  |  11 mins 24 secs

art, art meditations, ascension, baptism, baptism in the jordan, baptism of jesus, catholic church, catholic faith, church of san benedetto, cross, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, fresco, hope, padua, passion, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, shadow, victory, visio divina

The first Luminous mystery is a mystery of profound joy, but a fresco of Jesus’ Baptism, featured in the Church of San Benedetto in Padua, reveals that the cross is never far from Christ. Fr. Mark-Mary reminds us that Jesus’ “yes” at his Baptism, is also a “yes” to his passion. 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 for free in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.

Day 124: Newness of Life

May 4th, 2025  |  13 mins 59 secs

ascension, baptism, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, john paul ii, jp2, new life, paul, pope jp2, resurrection, riy, romans, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, st.  augustine

 We were buried with Christ by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead, we too might walk in newness of life. Fr. Mark-Mary, with a reading by St. Augustine, explains the integral connection between baptism and the mystery of the Resurrection. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Resurrection and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 114: Baptized with Him

April 24th, 2025  |  13 mins 11 secs

ascension, baptism, baptism in the jordan, cappadocian, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, friars, holy spirit, luminous, luminous mysteries, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, salvation, st. gregory, st. gregory of nazianzus, trinity

St. Gregory of Nazianzus offers us a reading on Christ’s baptism, full of scriptural references to the Old Testament and the Trinity. Fr. Mark-Mary provides us with historical information on St. Gregory’s teachings on the Trinity, and a meditation on  the person of Jesus and our baptism into his mystical body as the means of salvation. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Baptism of Jesus and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 94: No Doubt

April 4th, 2025  |  10 mins 51 secs

ascension, baptism, baptism in the jordan, belief, catholic church, catholic faith, doubt, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, luminous, luminous mysteries, revelation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, st. ambrose, trust, truth

Is there any room left for doubt in the mystery of the Baptism? No, say Fr. Mark-Mary and St. Ambrose, as we meditate on the confidence with which we can believe in God’s revelation. We step into the waters of the Jordan with Jesus, resting in the truth of his divine sonship. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Baptism in the Jordan and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 74: Beloved of the Father

March 15th, 2025  |  15 mins 27 secs

ascension, baptism, baptism in the jordan, baptism of jesus, beloved, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholicism, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, lectio, lectio divina, love, luminous, luminous mysteries, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

We know Jesus is the beloved of the Father, but today Fr. Mark-Mary tells us that we too should see ourselves as beloved through the grace of our Baptisms. As we pray lectio divina, we meditate on how we are not only beloved, but can become pleasing to the Father. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Baptism in the Jordan and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

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.