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

Day 33: Lost and Found (2026)

February 2nd, 2026  |  10 mins 45 secs

filial obedience, finding in the temple, freedom, historical context, journey, joy, joyful, joyful mysteries, loss, meditation, obedience, old testament, pilgrim, rebellion, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

Why does Jesus leave Mary and Joseph to remain in the temple in Jerusalem? Fr. Mark-Mary unpacks the spiritual significance of the Finding in the Temple, teaching us about filial obedience and how we can understand our own journeys through this mystery of the Rosary. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Finding of Jesus in the Temple and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 32: A Total Offering (2026)

February 1st, 2026  |  14 mins 14 secs

anna, historical context, isaiah, joy, joyful, joyful mysteries, jp2, meditation, old testament, pope john paul 2, presentation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, simeon

The Mystery of Jesus’ Presentation signifies an important moment of fulfillment between the Old and New Covenant. Fr. Mark-Mary leads us through this mystery, pointing out parallels between Simeon’s words to Mary and Old Testament prophecies in Isaiah, giving us a meditation on entrusting our lives to God through the Rosary. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 31: No Other Savior (2026)

January 31st, 2026  |  12 mins 54 secs

caesar augustus, christmas, historical context, joseph, joy, joyful, joyful mysteries, meditation, nativity, old testament, providence, riy, roman empire, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

Sometimes it’s difficult to see how God can work through the hard situations in our lives. In the Mystery of the Nativity, the Holy Family was faced with an incredibly hard situation: traveling 90 miles to participate in a Roman census right before Jesus’ birth. However, Fr. Mark-Mary explains how God was working with these struggles to fulfill an Old Testament prophecy, reading from the book of Micah. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Nativity and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 30: The New Ark (2026)

January 30th, 2026  |  12 mins 44 secs

arc of the covenant, covenant, elizabeth, historical context, joy, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, meditation, old testament, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, visitation

In the Old Testament, God met his people, dwelt with them, and brought them victory through the Arc of the Covenant. As we explore the Biblical roots of the Mysteries of the Rosary, Fr. Mark-Mary reveals how Mary is the new Arc of the Covenant, drawing parallels between the Visitation and the book of 2 Samuel. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Visitation and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 29: Something Unexpected (2026)

January 29th, 2026  |  13 mins 33 secs

faith, historical context, joy, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, meditation annunciation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

All of Jesus’ story was unexpected, as a very different Messiah than the people anticipated. Fr. Mark-Mary walks us through the historical and Biblical context of the mystery of the Annunciation, revealing how this mystery of the Rosary is something new, different, and deeper than we might expect. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Annunciation and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 28: Be Joyful, Be Free (2026)

January 28th, 2026  |  9 mins 38 secs

apostles creed, creed, eternal life, faith, forgiveness, freedom, glorious mysteries, incarnation, joy, joyful, life everlasting, resurrection, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, trust

Do you fully believe in the forgiveness of sins professed in the Creed? Fr. Mark-Mary tells us that so often we receive forgiveness but continue to carry the internal burden of sin. Drawing from the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, Fr. Mark-Mary encourages us to recall that we have been freed from sin. In praying the Rosary, we can set down our burdens as the Father accepts us into his home. Today’s focus is “The forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen,” and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

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 192: A Renewed “Yes”

July 11th, 2025  |  16 mins 30 secs

ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, freedom, hope, independent meditation, joy, joyful mysteries, joyful mystery, meditation, offering, practice, prayer, presentation, presentation in the temple, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, simian, the canticle of simian, trust, yes

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 191: Unworthy Yet Welcomed

July 10th, 2025  |  15 mins 2 secs

adoration, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, independent meditation, joy, joyful mysteries, joyful mystery, meditation, nativity, practice, prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, unworthy, worship

Fr. Mark-Mary reflects on the Nativity, emphasizing the overwhelming joy and sense of unworthiness that can accompany encountering the gift of Jesus. We are invited to contemplate the transformative love offered through the birth of Christ. Using Scripture, sacred imagery, and prayer, we are drawn into an intimate encounter with Jesus, who offers not only salvation but also warmth and affection. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Nativity and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 155: More than Meets the Eye

June 4th, 2025  |  12 mins 29 secs

art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, celebration, double, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, intentional, joy, luminous, luminous mysteries, miracle, miracles, multitasking, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, visio divina, wedding, wedding feast at cana

Jesus is a divine multitasker, intentionally and perfectly. Fr. Mark-Mary explains that while we might struggle to multitask, God works on multiple levels at all times. As Jesus turns water into wine in Gérard David’s painting, The Wedding at Cana, he is both continuing the joy of the celebration and revealing himself as the divine bridegroom. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Wedding Feast at Cana 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.