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

Day 73: Seek Him

March 14th, 2025  |  14 mins 57 secs

ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholicism, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, joyful, joyful mysteries, lectio, lectio divina, prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, searching, seeking god, simeon, temple

How are we seeking Jesus? Are we aware that as we seek Jesus, he too is seeking us? Fr. Mark-Mary asks us the words Jesus asks Mary when she finds him in the Temple, “how is it that you sought me,” as we pray lectio divina, inspiring us to consider how we look for Jesus. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Finding in the Temple and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 72: You Don’t Wait in Vain

March 13th, 2025  |  14 mins 54 secs

anna, ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholicism, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, joyful, joyful mysteries, lectio, lectio divina, patience, presentation, promise, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, simeon, temple, waiting

Simeon and Anna spent their entire lives waiting in the Temple for the savior. We might feel like Simeon and Anna, waiting for God and his promises in our own lives. Fr. Mark-Mary tells us that the Presentation is a sign of hope for all of us: just as Simeon and Anna saw salvation, we too do not wait in vain. 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 71: Behold God

March 12th, 2025  |  16 mins 27 secs

ascension, baby jesus, bethlehem, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholicism, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, joseph, joyful, joyful mysteries, lectio, lectio divina, mary, nativity, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, savior

What was the experience of the shepherds, called by angels to the birth of God? How would we react to seeing the newborn Christ? Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in Lectio Divina, drawing us into the experience of the Nativity, as we behold the innocence and humility of the baby Jesus. We ask for the grace to not be afraid to draw close to God. 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 70: The Faith of Mary

March 11th, 2025  |  14 mins 38 secs

ascension, belief, blessed is she, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholicism, elizabeth, faith, faithfulness, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, god’s faithfulness, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, promises, receive, rejoice, request, respond, revelation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, visitation

In the Visitation, God is revealing that he keeps his promises. Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in lectio divina, meditating on finding blessedness in our faith in God, like Mary who believed in God’s promises. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Visitation and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 69: Nothing is Impossible

March 10th, 2025  |  19 mins 22 secs

annunciation, ascension, belief, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholicism, faith, faithfulness, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fiat, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, god’s faithfulness, impossible, joyful, joyful mysteries, lectio, lectio divina, mary, promises, receive, rejoice, request, respond, revelation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, trust, yes

Congratulations! You have made it to Phase 3 of the Rosary in a Year: Meditating on the Mysteries. We begin lectio divina with Fr. Mark-Mary, meditating on Mary’s yes to a person, not a plan. We’re reminded that even if we don’t understand God’s plan, we can fully trust in his goodness. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Annunciation and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 53: Our Perfect Director

February 22nd, 2025  |  9 mins 1 sec

catholic, catholic church, catholicism, faith, finding, finding in the temple, finding jesus, joy, joyful, joyful mysteries, meditation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, trust

Mary and Joseph knew that they had a special role when raising Jesus, but something unexpected happens in the mystery of the Finding in the Temple. Mary may not fully understand Jesus’ explanation that he would be “in his Father’s house”, but she continues to trust in God’s plan. We have all experienced times in which we cannot visualize God’s plan for us, but Fr. Mark-Mary reminds us that we have a perfect director who will make a masterpiece out of our stories. All we have to do is trust and say yes. 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 52: My Eyes Have Seen Salvation

February 21st, 2025  |  10 mins 31 secs

catholic, catholic church, catholicism, faith, joy, joyful, joyful mysteries, meditation, presentation, presentation of jesus, presentation of the lord, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, simeon

Simeon’s words at the Presentation of the Lord, “Now let your servant depart in peace according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation,” are said around the world every day by religious and lay people alike in Compline, also known as Night Prayer. Fr. Mark-Mary shares the story of a blind man who truly knew what it meant to see his savior with the eyes of faith, inviting us to pray our Rosary for true sight like Simeon. 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 51: Moved With Awe

February 20th, 2025  |  13 mins 2 secs

awe, catholic, catholic church, catholicism, christmas, faith, homily, joy, joyful, joyful mysteries, meditation, nativity, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, wonder

How would we feel if we could experience the Nativity the way Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and Magi did? Fr. Mark-Mary shares the story of a visitor who truly experienced the awe and wonder of Christmas, revealing what an incredible gift Jesus is for all of us. 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 50: Rejoice in the Beauty

February 19th, 2025  |  9 mins 33 secs

catholic, catholic church, catholicism, faith, joy, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, meditation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, st. elizabeth, visitation

God takes our ordinary and turns it into the extraordinary. Fr. Mark-Mary leads us through a meditation on the mystery of the Visitation, focusing on the Magnificat, describing how Elizabeth’s words of joy turn into song in Mary. Similarily, God enters the narratives of our lives, turning our prose into poetry and song, making our lives into something beautiful. 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 49: How Can This Be?

February 18th, 2025  |  11 mins 17 secs

catholic, catholic church, catholicism, faith, homily, joy, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, meditation annunciation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, trust, trust in god, understanding

How do we move forward when we can’t see God’s plan ahead of us? Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in a meditation on the mystery of the Annunciation, explaining how Mary can show us the way. She may not have had perfect understanding, but she had perfect faith, and can teach us this faith through the Rosary. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Annunciation and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.