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

Day 22: Lead Souls to Heaven (2026)

January 22nd, 2026  |  9 mins 13 secs

death, fatima, fatima prayer, heaven, hell, hope, judgment, marian apparitions, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

The Fatima Prayer, said at the end of each decade of the Rosary, was given to us in the Marian apparition at Fatima. Fr. Mark-Mary draws from Romans 8:28, balancing between gravitas and hope, explaining how we can reflect on both of these concepts as we pray the Rosary. Today’s focus is “Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy, ” and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 19: Valley of Tears (2026)

January 19th, 2026  |  8 mins 51 secs

hail holy queen, hail mary, hope, marian prayer, mary, mother of god, mother of jesus, praying through mary, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, suffering, tears, valley of tears

We may be in a valley of tears, but we are never alone. Fr. Mark-Mary reads from the Gospel of John, revealing that the Blessed Mother has shared in our sufferings, and in the Rosary, is always with us. We are blessed to have Mary, who knew both suffering and the hope of God’s promises, as a perfect mother who will always love us. Today’s focus is “To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears,,” and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 18: Our Sweetness, Our Hope (2026)

January 18th, 2026  |  7 mins 23 secs

hail holy queen, hail mary, hope, marian prayer, mary, mother of god, mother of jesus, praying through mary, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sweetness

Jesus gives us not only what we need, but in his abundance, gives us more than what we need so that we might have joy. Fr. Mark-Mary meditates on the Hail Holy Queen, exploring the relationship between the Eucharist and Mary, the mother of God, to help us meditate during the Rosary. Today’s focus is “Hail Holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope,” and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 238: The Assumption and Coronation of Mary

August 26th, 2025  |  12 mins 1 sec

ascension, assumption, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, coronation, decades, eternity, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, glory, heaven, hope, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, mary, meditating, meditative prayer, mother, poco a poco, prayer, queen, queen of heaven, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, two decades

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 237: The Ascension and the Descent of the Holy Spirit

August 25th, 2025  |  11 mins 57 secs

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We pray with the Second and Third Glorious Mysteries: the Ascension of Jesus and the Descent of the Holy Spirit. As Jesus ascends into heaven, we reflect on the mystery of his closeness, how his union with the Father makes him even more present to each of us. Then, with Mary and the disciples in the Upper Room, we await the coming of the Holy Spirit in prayerful hope. The fire of Pentecost renews and transforms the fearful into bold proclaimers of the Gospel. We pray these decades of the rosary with them, asking for that same courage and renewal in our own lives. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Ascension and the Descent of the Holy Spirit and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.

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

Day 204: Transcending Death

July 23rd, 2025  |  14 mins 33 secs

ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, glorious mystery, healing, hope, independent meditation, light, meditation, new life, pope benedict xvi, practice, prayer, resurrection, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, st john chrysostom, thomas, trust, wounds

The Resurrection was a transformation of life that transcended death, bringing hope, healing, and renewal to all of creation. Fr. Mark-Mary emphasizes that this new reality is not just a return from death but a glorified existence that calls us into deeper trust and faith. Through this mystery, we can be confident in Christ’s pursuit of our hearts and His power to bring light even into our darkest moments. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Resurrection 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 161: Sharing Eternal Victory

June 10th, 2025  |  12 mins 13 secs

art, art meditations, ascension, caravaggio, catholic church, catholic faith, crown, crowning with thorns, darkness, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, hope, light, mercy, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, thorn, visio divina

Christ is depicted in Caravaggio’s Ecce Homo with quiet dignity amid humiliation, as He is crowned with thorns and presented to the crowd. Fr. Mark-Mary encourages a prayerful examination of conscience, recognizing our personal role in Christ’s Passion while holding fast to the light and hope that remains even in darkness. Through repentance and faith, we are called not only to witness His suffering but to share in His rising and ultimate victory. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Crowning with Thorns 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 134: Shadow of the Cross

May 14th, 2025  |  11 mins 24 secs

art, art meditations, ascension, baptism, baptism in the jordan, baptism of jesus, catholic church, catholic faith, church of san benedetto, cross, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, fresco, hope, padua, passion, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, shadow, victory, visio divina

The first Luminous mystery is a mystery of profound joy, but a fresco of Jesus’ Baptism, featured in the Church of San Benedetto in Padua, reveals that the cross is never far from Christ. Fr. Mark-Mary reminds us that Jesus’ “yes” at his Baptism, is also a “yes” to his passion. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Baptism of Jesus 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.

Day 130: Joy in the Darkness

May 10th, 2025  |  13 mins 24 secs

art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, chiaroscuro, darkness, elizabeth, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, future, hope, light, mary, plan, rembrandt, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, the visitation, trust, visio divina, visitation, zachariah, zechariah

So often, our futures are shrouded in mystery and darkness. It can be hard to see where God’s plan is leading. Fr. Mark-Mary highlights the dynamics of light and darkness in Rembrandt’s painting, The Visitation, revealing two women who may not see every step of God’s plan, but trust in him regardless. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Visitation 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.