The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)
Pray the Rosary Like Never Before
Displaying Episode 1 - 10 of 14 in total of The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames) with the tag “carrying of the cross”.
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Day 251: The Sorrowful Mysteries
September 8th, 2025 | 13 mins 44 secs
ascension, building, building up the decades, carrying of the cross, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, cross, crown, crowning, crowning with thorns, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, meditating, meditative prayer, poco a poco, prayer, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, scourging, scourging at the pillar, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, thorns, three decades
As we meditate on the Sorrowful Mysteries, we enter into the depth of our Lord’s Passion. The Scourging at the Pillar, the Crowning with Thorns, and the Carrying of the Cross each draw Christ nearer to the ultimate act of love—His death on the Cross. Let us unite our own trials and sufferings with His sacrifice. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Scourging at the Pillar, the Crowning with Thorns, and the Carrying of the Cross. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 245: The Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries
September 2nd, 2025 | 13 mins 25 secs
ascension, building, building up the decades, carrying of the cross, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, crucifixion, death, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, meditating, meditative prayer, poco a poco, prayer, relational prayer, resurrection, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, three decades
We continue to build spiritual endurance through the rhythm of daily prayer. Meditating first on the carrying of the cross and the crucifixion and death of Jesus, we enter deeply into his suffering and sacrifice. Then, we transition into hope as we pray the first Glorious Mystery, the Resurrection of our Lord. This movement from sorrow to triumph invites us to reflect on both the cost of redemption and the promise of eternal life. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Carrying of the Cross, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 235: The Crowning with Thorns and the Carrying of the Cross
August 23rd, 2025 | 11 mins 27 secs
ascension, building, building up the decades, carrying of the cross, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, cross, crown, crowning, crowning with thorns, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, jesus, jesus carrying his cross, meditating, meditative prayer, poco a poco, prayer, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, sorrowful mystery, thorn, two decades
In prayer, we focus on the third Sorrowful Mystery, the Crowning with Thorns, and the fourth Sorrowful Mystery, the Carrying of the Cross. In the mockery of Jesus as King, we behold the profound humility and suffering He freely embraces. On the road to Calvary, we reflect on His encounter with Simon of Cyrene, who shares in the weight of the cross and meets salvation face to face. These mysteries draw us into deeper surrender as we say yes to carrying our own crosses each day in union with Christ. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Crowning with Thorns and the Carrying of the Cross 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 225: Bring It to Jesus
August 13th, 2025 | 11 mins 6 secs
ascension, building, building up the decades, carrying of the cross, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, cross, crown, crowning, crowning with thorns, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, jesus, jesus carrying his cross, meditating, meditative prayer, poco a poco, prayer, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, sorrowful mystery, thorn, two decades
Continuing the focus on intercessory prayer, Fr. Mark-Mary invites us to bring the intentions on our hearts directly to Jesus. He encourages us to imagine the Lord drawing near—whether to rejoice with us, to comfort us, or simply to be present with love and power. With trust in Christ’s nearness and care, we are called to lay down our intentions and enter prayer with openness and faith. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Crowning with Thorns and the Carrying of the Cross 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 215: Here With Jesus
August 3rd, 2025 | 12 mins 30 secs
ascension, building, building up the decades, carrying of the cross, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, cross, crown, crowning, crowning with thorns, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, jesus, jesus carrying his cross, meditating, meditative prayer, poco a poco, prayer, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, sorrowful mystery, thorn, two decades
Imagine Jesus present in your everyday environment—your home, school, office, or car. While we often picture Him in distant historical settings, Fr. Mark-Mary encourages us to experience Jesus coming to us in the here and now. This kind of imaginative prayer deepens our relationship with Jesus by making His love and presence tangible in the ordinary moments of our lives. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Crowning with Thorns and the Carrying of the Cross 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 202: Scapegoat and Savior
July 21st, 2025 | 14 mins 58 secs
ascension, carrying of the cross, catholic church, catholic faith, cross, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, independent meditation, jesus, jesus carries his cross, meditation, practice, prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, scapegoat, simon, sins, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, sorrowful mystery, suffering, trophy, victorious, victory
Fr. Mark-Mary connects Jesus carrying His cross to Christ as the new scapegoat, freely taking on the exile, rejection, and sins of all humanity and carrying them to His place of crucifixion. Simon of Cyrene had the opportunity to let his suffering draw him closer to Jesus—an invitation extended to each of us in our own crosses of loss, illness, or pain. When we unite our suffering with His, our crosses too can become salvific, glorified, and trophies of shared victory in Christ. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Carrying of the Cross and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
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 162: Carrying the Cross Together
June 11th, 2025 | 15 mins 57 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, burden, carrying of the cross, catholic church, catholic faith, cross, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, gentileschi, heavy, light, rest, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, surrender, visio divina
Orazio Gentileschi’s painting, Christ Carrying the Cross, captures the profound strength and inner peace of Jesus’ suffering—His body straining beneath the weight of the cross, yet His face is calm. Fr. Mark-Mary contrasts the visible burden of the cross with Jesus’ promise of a “light burden”. He invites us to consider that what lightens the load is not its removal, but the strength that comes from perfect trust in the Father. We are encouraged to seek not just relief, but faith that rests in God’s presence and power, even when our cross feels anything but light. 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 142: Truly the Son of God
May 22nd, 2025 | 13 mins 21 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, carrying, carrying of the cross, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, good friday, meditation, pieter bruegel, prayer, response, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, soldiers, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, visio divina
Pieter Bruegel’s painting, The Procession to Calvary, is distinctly filled with Roman soldiers. Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in a meditation focusing on the Roman soldiers observing the carrying of the cross, and relates it to his modern day experience of different reactions to Jesus in New York. 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 for free in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 122: Trophy of Victory
May 2nd, 2025 | 13 mins 29 secs
aquinas, ascension, carrying, carrying of the cross, catholic church, catholic faith, cross, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorified, glory, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, st. thomas, suffering, victory, st. thomas aquinas
Carrying the cross was meant to be a dishonor, but Jesus carried his cross as a sign of his glory, as a victory carries his trophy. Fr. Mark-Mary reveals how we too can turn our sufferings into trophies of glory, as he reads from St. Thomas Aquinas. We may not experience the victory immediately, but we can trust that Jesus will bring victory. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Carrying of the Cross and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.