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

Day 238: The Assumption and Coronation of Mary

August 26th, 2025  |  12 mins 1 sec

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Today we pray with the Fourth and Fifth Glorious Mysteries: the Assumption of Mary and her Coronation as Queen of Heaven and Earth. Fr. Mark-Mary reminds us that in the Assumption, we witness God’s faithfulness to Mary, and we renew our hope that, by the Holy Spirit, we too are destined for eternal glory. Her Magnificat becomes our pattern: rejoicing in what God has done, and trusting in what He will do. As we meditate on her Coronation, we honor Mary as both Queen and Mother, who prays that we might receive the grace to persevere in faith and echo her unwavering yes to God. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Assumption and the Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.

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

Day 207: Fiat by Fiat

July 26th, 2025  |  14 mins 59 secs

ascension, assumption, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, heaven, homecoming, independent meditation, luminous, luminous mysteries, mary, meditation, mother theresa, practice, prayer, promises, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, trust

 Those of us who wish to experience the fulfillment of God's promises in our lives are called to make the journey through life to heaven just like Mary did: fiat by fiat. Fr. Mark-Mary walks through our meditation archive, reminding us that the Assumption reveals how God will fulfill his promises and inspires us to our homecoming in heaven. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Assumption and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 188: Gifts for Mary

July 7th, 2025  |  15 mins 36 secs

art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, coronation, coronation of mary, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, fresco, gifts, giuseppe rollini, glorious, glorious mysteries, heaven, mary help of christians, queen, queen of heaven, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, saints, visio divina

In our final visio divina episode, we meditate on a fresco entitled Mary, Help of Christians, by Giuseppe Rollini. Mary is surrounded by rows and rows of saints, from all backgrounds and professions, and yet there is still more space in Jesus’ house. With Fr. Mark-Mary, we bring the gift of our prayer and present it to Mary, our Queen. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Coronation of Mary 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 168: Our Shared Inheritance

June 17th, 2025  |  15 mins 47 secs

and st. john the baptist, art, art meditations, ascension, beatitudes, catholic church, catholic faith, coronation, coronation of mary, crown, crowning, earth, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, giuseppe mattia borgnis, glorious, glorious mysteries, heaven, inheritance, queen, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, st. anne, st. joseph, visio divina

The Coronation of Mary is portrayed in Giuseppe Mattia Borgnis’s fresco, where the Trinity crowns her Queen of Heaven as saints, angels, and loved ones gaze on with joy. The presence of St. Joseph, St. Anne, and St. John the Baptist emphasizes that those who suffer with Christ also share in His glory. We are reminded that while the road of discipleship includes pain, it ultimately leads to the fulfillment of God’s promises of eternal victory and our shared inheritance in Christ. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Coronation of Mary 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 167: Glory Awaits the Faithful

June 16th, 2025  |  13 mins 37 secs

art, art meditations, ascension, assumption, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, heaven, mariani, mary, queen, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, st bonaventure, victorious, victory, visio divina

Fr. Mark-Mary reflects on the Assumption of Mary through Cesare Mariani’s 1863 fresco, which depicts Our Lady rising in glory, surrounded by angels, saints, and the faithful. This meditation reminds us that in Christ, the victory is already won—and all who remain faithful will share in that eternal triumph with Him and Our Lady. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Assumption 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 165: Following in His Footsteps

June 14th, 2025  |  14 mins 7 secs

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Exploring the mystery of the Ascension, Fr. Mark-Mary meditates on Jesus’ enduring presence through the symbol of His footprints, as depicted in Bernardino Gandino’s Baroque painting. This image becomes a powerful reminder of Christ’s continued presence and an invitation to follow Him not just in spirit, but step by step, through Scripture, the sacraments, and the life of the Church. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Ascension 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 127: Reunion into Heaven

May 7th, 2025  |  11 mins 54 secs

ascension, assumption, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, grace, heaven, mary, mother teresa, resurrection, reunion, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, st. bernard, st. bernard of clairvaux

What was it like in heaven the day Mary was assumed?  St. Bernard of Clairvaux describes the incredible joy that must have occurred, and Fr. Mark-Mary shares a story of Mother Theresa that mimics the joy of reunion to help us meditate on the mystery of the Assumption. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Assumption and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 107: Beauty Which Never Fades

April 17th, 2025  |  14 mins 58 secs

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The mystery of the Assumption reveals to us that true beauty lies not in earthly appearances, but heavenly things, in heaven, our true home. Fr. Mark-Mary reads from Venerable Fulton Sheen, meditating on the Assumption lifting us out of earthly despair to heavenly joy. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Assumption and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 105: Love Draws Us Up

April 15th, 2025  |  11 mins 31 secs

ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, heaven, love, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, st. thomas aquinas, theological truth, theology

Heaven is more than just a theological reality. Heaven can be a personal truth we approach with profound love, longing to join Jesus in heaven. Fr. Mark-Mary reads from St. Thomas Aquinas, leading us in meditation on the mystery of the Ascension. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Ascension and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 65: Returning Home

March 6th, 2025  |  9 mins 48 secs

apostles, ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholicism, faith, glorious, glorious mysteries, heaven, home, jesus, pope benedict xvi, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

Did Jesus leave us when he ascended to heaven? Fr. Mark-Mary answers this question, leading us in a meditation on the certainty of Jesus’ perpetual presence with us in all times and places. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Ascension and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.