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

Day 24: Still, Small Voice (2026)

January 24th, 2026  |  10 mins 48 secs

annunciation, apostles creed, creed, faith, incarnation, mary, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, salvation, trust, word made flesh

The Holy Spirit chooses to do his greatest works and reveal his glory in still and quiet moments. While reflecting on the Apostles’ Creed, Fr. Mark-Mary uncovers the Incarnation as one of these silent movements of the Spirit: a pivotal event in salvation history that unfolded in the humble, quiet town of Nazareth. As we meditate on the prayers of the Rosary, this episode draws our attention to the quiet moments in which the Holy Spirit works in our lives. Today’s focus is “Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,” and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 25: No Longer in Darkness (2026)

January 24th, 2026  |  10 mins 30 secs

apostles creed, creed, crucifixion, faith, incarnation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, salvation, sorrowful mysteries, trust

By the grace of Jesus Christ, there is no longer total darkness. Fr. Mark-Mary explains how we can maintain hope while meditating on the crucifixion, a necessary prelude for the Sorrowful Mysteries. Drawing from the Catechism and the Good Friday liturgy, we continue our meditation on the Creed and Jesus’ incredible love for us. Today’s focus is “He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day, he rose again from the dead,” and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 23: Creator of Heaven and Earth (2026)

January 23rd, 2026  |  9 mins 9 secs

apostles creed, creation, creed, faith, job, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, trust

Were you there when he laid the foundation of the Earth? Fr. Mark-Mary brings us this pertinent question from the book of Job as we reflect on the Apostles Creed that we pray every Rosary. He explains that this question, far from being accusatory, is a promise of care from the Lord, a promise that we can trust in God to be God. Today’s focus is “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord, ” and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 17: Turn On the Light (2026)

January 17th, 2026  |  10 mins 29 secs

cross, faith, how to pray, prayer, praying, psalms, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sign of the cross

Catholics may be very familiar with the Sign of the Cross, but this short prayer has deep significance. Fr. Mark-Mary shares the Biblical origins of the Sign of the Cross, reading from Matthew’s Gospel and the book of Psalms to explain how this prayer can allow us to see life as God does and proclaim our Faith as we say the Rosary. Today’s focus is “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 16: Glorify Him (2026)

January 16th, 2026  |  7 mins 55 secs

doxology, faith, praise, prayer, prayer of praise, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, wonder

How often do we pray a prayer of purely praise and adoration to God? Fr. Mark-Mary explains how the Rosary and the Glory Be can be said as a prayer of praise, drawing from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Psalms, leading us to enter into adoration of God. Today’s focus is “Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end,” and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 12: Thy Will Be Done (2026)

January 12th, 2026  |  8 mins 5 secs

faith, glory be, gods will, hail mary, heaven, kingdom of heaven, kingship of god, prayer, rosary in a year, the lord’s prayer, the our father, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, will of god

Fr. Mark-Mary continues meditating on the Our Father, exploring the concept of the kingdom of heaven through Matthew 18:1-4. Jesus instructs his disciples to become like children in order to enter the kingdom of heaven, and Fr. Mark-Mary shares how we can have more child-like faith in God as we pray the Rosary. Today’s focus is “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 349: The Joyful Mysteries

December 15th, 2025  |  28 mins 34 secs

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We return to Fra Angelico’s painting of The Annunciation and Giulio Campi’s fresco of the Presentation in the Temple as Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in meditation on the reverence and faith revealed in the Joyful Mysteries. Our prayer explores themes of humility, God’s love for us, and the importance of keeping our eyes on Jesus. 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 206: Promise of the Father

July 25th, 2025  |  14 mins 57 secs

ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, confidence, conversion, descent of the holy spirit, faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, holy spirit, independent meditation, luminous, luminous mysteries, meditation, new wine, pentecost, practice, prayer, prayer event, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, trust

In Pentecost, the Church receives the promise of the Father: the Holy Spirit. Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in meditation with the Holy Spirit, focusing on Pentecost as a prayer event, the Apostle’s reception of the New Wine, and Mary’s confidence in the overshadowing of the Spirit. We drink deeply of this new wine as we pray our decade of the Rosary. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Descent of the Holy Spirit and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 192: A Renewed “Yes”

July 11th, 2025  |  16 mins 30 secs

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Through storytelling and scripture, Fr. Mark-Mary explores the sacrificial freedom expressed by both Jesus and Mary during the Presentation in the Temple. Mary’s renewed “yes” is a powerful witness to steadfast faith. We are reminded to remain anchored in Christ with unwavering trust. 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 176: Jesus is in the Boat

June 25th, 2025  |  13 mins 55 secs

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Mark chapter 5 doesn’t shrink back from the danger of the storm. The apostles’ boat is filling with water and they are in immediate danger. Rembrandt’s painting,  Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee, shows us how real this threat is. And yet, Jesus’ response is to urge the apostles to have faith in him. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Proclamation of the Gospel and Call to Conversion 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.