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

Day 48: Mother and Queen (2026)

February 17th, 2026  |  10 mins 52 secs

coronation, glorious, glorious mysteries, historical context, hyperdulia, intercessory prayer, latria, mary, mother of god, queen, queen mother, queen of heaven, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

How should we venerate Mary as the Queen of Heaven, and what does being Queen of Heaven mean? Fr. Mark-Mary explains that far from detracting from our worship of God, giving due veneration to Mary actually honors Jesus, her son and our Lord. In turn, Mary has a special role as our mother and queen, and can specially intercede for us to Jesus. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Coronation of Mary, and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

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

Day 47: Mary’s Return Home (2026)

February 16th, 2026  |  12 mins 36 secs

ark of the covenant, assumption, glorious, glorious mysteries, heaven, historical context, mary, mother of god, old testament, revelation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

What are the Biblical roots of the Assumption? Fr. Mark-Mary draws from both the Old and New Testament to explain the Biblical basis of Mary’s Assumption. Mary is the new Ark of the Covenant, and so just as David ensured the first Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem, Jesus would ensure that his mother was brought home to heaven, body and soul. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Assumption of Mary, and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

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

Day 46: Come Holy Spirit (2026)

February 15th, 2026  |  11 mins 59 secs

covenant, descent of the holy spirit, ezekiel, fulfillment, glorified reality, glorious, glorious mysteries, heaven, historical context, holy spirit, joel, new covenant, old testament, pentecost, pope john paul ii, promises, reality, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

The Descent of the Holy Spirit makes all things new, including our way of participating in God’s life. Fr. Mark-Mary looks at Pentecost as a prayer event, the fulfilment of the promise of the Father, and as a fulfillment of the Old Testament feast of Pentecost, drawing on audiences from Pope John Paul II. As we pray the Rosary, we meditate on this new life of God at work in us through the Holy Spirit. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

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

Day 45: He Parted from Them (2026)

February 14th, 2026  |  9 mins 33 secs

ascension, destination, destiny, future, glorified reality, glorious, glorious mysteries, heaven, historical context, hope, human nature, humanity, old testament, pope benedict xvi, reality, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, space

What does Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, body and soul, mean for us? Fr. Mark-Mary explains that this mystery is more than Jesus joining the Father in Heaven: the Ascension has implications for our future destiny. For the first time, humanity enters into the life of God as Jesus’ human body enters heaven. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Ascension, and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

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

Day 44: Glorified Reality (2026)

February 13th, 2026  |  12 mins 14 secs

destination, destiny, future, glorified reality, glorious, glorious mysteries, heaven, historical context, hope, lazarus, old testament, pope benedict xvi, reality, resurrection, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

In the Resurrection we are given an opportunity to see the glorified reality that is our destiny and our hope. Fr. Mark-Mary pulls from Pope Benedict XVI’s writings to explain glorified reality and what is spiritually occurring in the mystery of the Resurrection. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Resurrection, and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 365: The Glorious Mysteries

December 31st, 2025  |  29 mins 17 secs

ascension, assumption, catholic church, catholic faith, commitment, conclusion, contemplative prayer, coronation, coronation of mary, day 365, decades, descent of the holy spirit, father mark mary, father mark-mary, five decades, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, holy spirit, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, journey, loaves, loaves and fish, meditating, meditation archive, meditation muscles, meditative prayer, pentecost, perseverance, poco a poco, prayer, praying together, relational prayer, resurrection, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

We conclude our Rosary in a Year journey with the Glorious Mysteries, thanking God for all of his gifts and blessings, both throughout Salvation history and our own lives. Fr. Mark-Mary shares his farewell message of thanks and emphasizes that while our 365 episodes of Rosary in a Year have come to an end, our journeys of prayer and drawing closer to God should continue on. We bring our “loaves and fish,” our prayer, commitment, and perseverance to Mary and Jesus today, confident that they will multiply our efforts. Today's focus is the Glorious Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 362: The Glorious Mysteries

December 28th, 2025  |  28 mins 50 secs

ascension, assumption, awe, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, coronation, coronation of mary, decades, descent of the holy spirit, disciples, do not be afraid, father mark mary, father mark-mary, five decades, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, holy spirit, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, joy, mary, mary magdalene, meditating, meditation archive, meditation muscles, meditative prayer, pentecost, poco a poco, prayer, praying together, queen, queen of heaven, queen of heaven and earth, relational prayer, resurrection, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

Inviting us to encounter the risen Jesus, Fr. Mark-Mary focuses on the deep joy that comes from loving Christ and rejoicing in His victory, a joy meant to shape our daily lives. As we pray, we ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with awe before God’s greatness and to renew our hearts. We also place our hopes and struggles into the care of Mary, our Queen and Mother, trusting in her loving intercession. Today’s focus is the Glorious Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 358: The Glorious Mysteries

December 24th, 2025  |  32 mins 1 sec

ascension, assumption, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, coronation, coronation of mary, decades, descent of the holy spirit, father mark mary, father mark-mary, five decades, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, heaven, holy spirit, home, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, mary, meditating, meditation archive, meditation muscles, meditative prayer, pentecost, poco a poco, prayer, praying together, queen, queen of heaven, queen of heaven and earth, relational prayer, resurrection, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

We begin the Glorious Mysteries, returning to St. Augustine’s reflection on the Resurrection: a doorway to new life was opened in the Resurrection, that we ourselves share in through our baptism. Just as we enter into the Resurrection through our Baptisms, the Ascension too is a promise about our future destiny, as Fr. Mark-Mary explains Jesus is giving us the promise we’re meant to join him in heaven. In the Descent of the Holy Spirit, Jesus sends us the Spirit to accompany us, and sends us another promise in the form of Mary’s Assumption. Finally, Fr. Mark-Mary reflects on the beautiful love of God revealed in Mary’s coronation. Today's focus is the Glorious Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 355: The Glorious Mysteries

December 21st, 2025  |  31 mins 15 secs

ascension, assumption, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, coronation, coronation of mary, decades, descent of the holy spirit, father mark mary, father mark-mary, five decades, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, fresco, glorious, glorious mysteries, holy spirit, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, mary, meditating, meditation archive, meditation muscles, meditative prayer, pentecost, poco a poco, prayer, praying together, queen, queen of heaven, queen of heaven and earth, relational prayer, resurrection, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, st. john chrysostom, st. john damascene, st. john the baptist, st. paul

Fr. Mark-Mary draws us into the Glorious Mysteries, reflecting first on the Resurrection as the definitive victory over death. He then considers the Ascension as the culmination of Christ’s self-emptying, urging us to imitate his humility. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit’s fire becomes a source of renewal for hearts grown weary. The Assumption highlights Mary’s childlike trust, which becomes a powerful defense against evil. Finally, in the Coronation, Mary’s unique grace as Queen and Mother strengthens us to do the Father’s will. Today's focus is the Glorious Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 351: The Glorious Mysteries

December 17th, 2025  |  30 mins 8 secs

ascension, assumption, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, coronation, coronation of mary, decades, descent of the holy spirit, father mark mary, father mark-mary, five decades, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, holy spirit, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, keys to the kingdom, mary, meditating, meditation archive, meditation muscles, meditative prayer, pentecost, peter, poco a poco, prayer, praying together, queen, queen of heaven, queen of heaven and earth, relational prayer, rene girard, resurrection, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, st. thomas aquinas, titian

For today’s Rosary, Fr. Mark-Mary reflects on the hidden beauty of the Resurrection, the longing for heaven stirred within us by the Ascension, and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit revealed at Pentecost. He invites us to contemplate Mary’s Assumption as a sign of the glory prepared for those who trust in the Lord and her Coronation as the fruit of a life lived in humility. Today’s focus is the Glorious Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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