web02.fireside.fm Sun, 19 Apr 2026 13:07:50 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames) - Episodes Tagged with “Focus” https://rosaryinayear.fireside.fm/tags/focus Mon, 15 Dec 2025 03:15:00 -0500 In Ascension’s Rosary in a Year podcast, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, guides listeners in a step-by-step journey that will change the way you pray – no matter where you are in your spiritual life. By starting small and adding on over time, listeners will find themselves falling more in love with this powerful Marian devotion, becoming a source of grace for the whole world. Listen to discover…. How to build a daily habit of prayer How to form a relationship with Jesus and Mary The Biblical foundations of the Rosary How to meditate with sacred art (visio divina), saint writings, and scripture (lectio divina) The power of Mary’s influence in your life …and more. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy. en-us episodic Pray the Rosary Like Never Before Ascension In Ascension’s Rosary in a Year podcast, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, guides listeners in a step-by-step journey that will change the way you pray – no matter where you are in your spiritual life. By starting small and adding on over time, listeners will find themselves falling more in love with this powerful Marian devotion, becoming a source of grace for the whole world. Listen to discover…. How to build a daily habit of prayer How to form a relationship with Jesus and Mary The Biblical foundations of the Rosary How to meditate with sacred art (visio divina), saint writings, and scripture (lectio divina) The power of Mary’s influence in your life …and more. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy. no catholic, catholicism, catholic church, catholic faith, ascension, rosary, fr. mark-mary, fr. mark mary, father mark-mary, father mark mary, rosary in a year, riy, rosary-in-a-year Ascension rosaryinayear@ascensionpress.com Day 349: The Joyful Mysteries https://rosaryinayear.fireside.fm/riy-day349-2025 2a4adf11-d273-4d0c-ace7-04de89b3b996 Mon, 15 Dec 2025 03:15:00 -0500 Ascension full Ascension 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. 28:34 no 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. Praying together, poco a poco, prayer, imaginative prayer, meditative prayer, contemplative prayer, meditating, meditation archive, meditation muscles, decades, joyful, joyful mysteries, annunciation, visitation, nativity, presentation, finding in the temple, finding, mary, blessed, faith, humility, reverence, obedience, focus, director, actor, trust, catholic church, catholic faith, ascension, rosary, fr. mark-mary, fr. mark mary, father mark-mary, father mark mary, rosary in a year, riy, rosary-in-a-year 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.

]]> 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 242: The Wedding Feast at Cana and Proclamation of the Kingdom and Call to Conversion https://rosaryinayear.fireside.fm/riy-day242-2025 47c90b04-ea17-481b-a5bb-c4bc69c97323 Sat, 30 Aug 2025 03:15:00 -0400 Ascension full Ascension Are you feeling bored in your prayer life? Many experience a sense of spiritual dryness during mental prayer or while praying the Rosary. Fr. Mark-Mary reminds us that love often calls for perseverance, encouraging us to remain faithful in prayer even when it lacks emotional sweetness. He suggests exploring new approaches—such as meditating on sacred art, Scripture, or Church teachings—as fresh ways to reconnect with the mysteries and the Lord. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Wedding Feast at Cana and Proclamation of the Kingdom and Call to Conversion and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy. 11:45 no Are you feeling bored in your prayer life? Many experience a sense of spiritual dryness during mental prayer or while praying the Rosary. Fr. Mark-Mary reminds us that love often calls for perseverance, encouraging us to remain faithful in prayer even when it lacks emotional sweetness. He suggests exploring new approaches—such as meditating on sacred art, Scripture, or Church teachings—as fresh ways to reconnect with the mysteries and the Lord. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Wedding Feast at Cana and Proclamation of the Kingdom and Call to Conversion and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy. Building up the decades, building, poco a poco, prayer, intercessory prayer, relational prayer, imaginative prayer, meditative prayer, contemplative prayer, meditating, decades, two decades, luminous, luminous mystery, luminous mysteries, wedding feast at cana, wedding at cana, wedding, cana, proclamation of the kingdom, proclamation, kingdom, call to conversion, call, conversion, focus, distraction, distracted, bored, boredom, dry, dryness, prayer tips, catholic church, catholic faith, ascension, rosary, fr. mark-mary, fr. mark mary, father mark-mary, father mark mary, rosary in a year, riy, rosary-in-a-year Are you feeling bored in your prayer life? Many experience a sense of spiritual dryness during mental prayer or while praying the Rosary. Fr. Mark-Mary reminds us that love often calls for perseverance, encouraging us to remain faithful in prayer even when it lacks emotional sweetness. He suggests exploring new approaches—such as meditating on sacred art, Scripture, or Church teachings—as fresh ways to reconnect with the mysteries and the Lord. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Wedding Feast at Cana and Proclamation of the Kingdom and Call to Conversion and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.

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

]]> Are you feeling bored in your prayer life? Many experience a sense of spiritual dryness during mental prayer or while praying the Rosary. Fr. Mark-Mary reminds us that love often calls for perseverance, encouraging us to remain faithful in prayer even when it lacks emotional sweetness. He suggests exploring new approaches—such as meditating on sacred art, Scripture, or Church teachings—as fresh ways to reconnect with the mysteries and the Lord. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Wedding Feast at Cana and Proclamation of the Kingdom and Call to Conversion and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.

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

]]> Day 241: The Finding of Jesus in the Temple and Baptism of Jesus https://rosaryinayear.fireside.fm/riy-day241-2025 41065683-ab30-41e1-ab6f-540c89caecb7 Fri, 29 Aug 2025 03:15:00 -0400 Ascension full Ascension Many of us struggle with distraction in prayer. Fr. Mark-Mary offers encouragement for cultivating a more focused and peaceful prayer life by examining the noise we allow into our daily routines. He shares a quote from St. Charles Borromeo to illustrate how a distracted life often leads to distracted prayer, suggesting practical ways to foster inner stillness and effective meditative prayer. 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. 10:41 no Many of us struggle with distraction in prayer. Fr. Mark-Mary offers encouragement for cultivating a more focused and peaceful prayer life by examining the noise we allow into our daily routines. He shares a quote from St. Charles Borromeo to illustrate how a distracted life often leads to distracted prayer, suggesting practical ways to foster inner stillness and effective meditative prayer. 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. Building up the decades, building, poco a poco, prayer, intercessory prayer, relational prayer, imaginative prayer, meditative prayer, contemplative prayer, meditating, decades, two decades, joyful, joyful mystery, joyful mysteries, luminous, luminous mystery, luminous mysteries, finding of jesus in the temple, finding in the temple, temple, the baptism in the Jordan, the baptism of Jesus, baptism, jordan, focus, distraction, distracted, prayer tips, St. Charles Borromeo, catholic church, catholic faith, ascension, rosary, fr. mark-mary, fr. mark mary, father mark-mary, father mark mary, rosary in a year, riy, rosary-in-a-year Many of us struggle with distraction in prayer. Fr. Mark-Mary offers encouragement for cultivating a more focused and peaceful prayer life by examining the noise we allow into our daily routines. He shares a quote from St. Charles Borromeo to illustrate how a distracted life often leads to distracted prayer, suggesting practical ways to foster inner stillness and effective meditative prayer. 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.

]]> Many of us struggle with distraction in prayer. Fr. Mark-Mary offers encouragement for cultivating a more focused and peaceful prayer life by examining the noise we allow into our daily routines. He shares a quote from St. Charles Borromeo to illustrate how a distracted life often leads to distracted prayer, suggesting practical ways to foster inner stillness and effective meditative prayer. 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.

]]> Bonus: Introduction to Phase Four: “Finding Focus” https://rosaryinayear.fireside.fm/riy-bonus4-2025 9ca22bab-a3d5-467f-b3e6-97429da9a5b7 Tue, 08 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400 Ascension full Ascension What’s the difference between a commitment and a devotion? How can we grow in love for the rosary? In this special bonus episode, Fr. Mark-Mary is joined by Sr. Miriam James Heidland SOLT, to discuss prayer quality over quantity, overcoming discouragement in prayer, and the beauty of Mary and her motherhood. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy. 38:35 no What’s the difference between a commitment and a devotion? How can we grow in love for the rosary? In this special bonus episode, Fr. Mark-Mary is joined by Sr. Miriam James Heidland SOLT, to discuss prayer quality over quantity, overcoming discouragement in prayer, and the beauty of Mary and her motherhood. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy. Phase 4, finding focus, focus, Sr. Miriam, Sr. Miriam James Heidland, commitment, devotion, love, quality, quantity, discouragement, Mary, motherhood, catholic, catholicism, catholic church, catholic faith, ascension, rosary, fr. mark-mary, fr. mark mary, father mark-mary, father mark mary, rosary in a year, riy, rosary-in-a-year What’s the difference between a commitment and a devotion? How can we grow in love for the rosary? In this special bonus episode, Fr. Mark-Mary is joined by Sr. Miriam James Heidland SOLT, to discuss prayer quality over quantity, overcoming discouragement in prayer, and the beauty of Mary and her motherhood.

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

]]> What’s the difference between a commitment and a devotion? How can we grow in love for the rosary? In this special bonus episode, Fr. Mark-Mary is joined by Sr. Miriam James Heidland SOLT, to discuss prayer quality over quantity, overcoming discouragement in prayer, and the beauty of Mary and her motherhood.

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

]]> Day 132: Eyes on Jesus https://rosaryinayear.fireside.fm/riy-day132-2025 2ea908f4-1612-400b-b456-0d93544938d1 Mon, 12 May 2025 03:15:00 -0400 Ascension full Ascension Giulio Campi’s fresco of The Presentation in the Temple, is filled with people and commotion. Two women converse, a child looks towards the viewer, Simeon leans backwards, his eyes closed. Yet in all this chaos, Fr. Mark-Mary notices, Mary’s eyes remain focused on the child Jesus. We meditate on fixing our own eyes on Jesus. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Presentation in the Temple 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. 11:31 no Giulio Campi’s fresco of The Presentation in the Temple, is filled with people and commotion. Two women converse, a child looks towards the viewer, Simeon leans backwards, his eyes closed. Yet in all this chaos, Fr. Mark-Mary notices, Mary’s eyes remain focused on the child Jesus. We meditate on fixing our own eyes on Jesus. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Presentation in the Temple 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. Art, sacred art, visio divina, art meditations, presentation, presentation in the temple, Giulio Campi, focus, eyes, Simeon, Mary, commotion, catholic church, catholic faith, ascension, rosary, fr. mark-mary, fr. mark mary, father mark-mary, father mark mary, rosary in a year, riy, rosary-in-a-year Giulio Campi’s fresco of The Presentation in the Temple, is filled with people and commotion. Two women converse, a child looks towards the viewer, Simeon leans backwards, his eyes closed. Yet in all this chaos, Fr. Mark-Mary notices, Mary’s eyes remain focused on the child Jesus. We meditate on fixing our own eyes on Jesus. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Presentation in the Temple 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.

]]> Giulio Campi’s fresco of The Presentation in the Temple, is filled with people and commotion. Two women converse, a child looks towards the viewer, Simeon leans backwards, his eyes closed. Yet in all this chaos, Fr. Mark-Mary notices, Mary’s eyes remain focused on the child Jesus. We meditate on fixing our own eyes on Jesus. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Presentation in the Temple 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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