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

Day 98: An Abyss of Love

April 8th, 2025  |  11 mins 49 secs

ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, christian mysticism, communion, eucharist, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, institution of the eucharist, last supper, love, luminous, luminous mysteries, mysticism, passover, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, st. catherine, st. catherine of siena

Aided by a meditation from St. Catherine of Siena’s Dialogue, we reflect on the profound gift of the Eucharist. Jesus tells each and every one of us how deeply he loves us as he says,  ”I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you,” a love we partake of each time we approach the Eucharist. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Institution of the Eucharist and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 96: A New Love

April 6th, 2025  |  12 mins 30 secs

ascension, augustine, call to conversion, call to repentance, catholic church, catholic faith, conversion, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, luminous, luminous mysteries, new kingdom, new law, new love, proclamation, proclamation of the kingdom, repentance, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, sermon on the mount, st. augustine

Jesus is raising the stakes during his ministry and proclamation of the kingdom. St. Augustine tells us that there’s a new kingdom, a new law, and a new love. Fr. Mark-Mary explains what these new teachings mean, how they impact us, and how we can respond with our new love. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Proclamation of the Kingdom and Call to Conversion and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 95: Moms are Special

April 5th, 2025  |  11 mins 30 secs

ascension, cana, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, luminous, luminous mysteries, mary, mom, moms, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, st. alphonsus, st. alphonsus liguori, wedding, wedding feast at cana

Would Jesus have turned the water into wine if someone other than Mary had asked him? Fr. Mark-Mary, reading from  St. Alphonsus Liguori, reflects on the point that Jesus’ initial words to Mary at the Wedding at Cana have special symbolism. This short conversation tells us that Mary is special to Jesus, and her requests are special too. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Wedding Feast at Cana and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 94: No Doubt

April 4th, 2025  |  10 mins 51 secs

ascension, baptism, baptism in the jordan, belief, catholic church, catholic faith, doubt, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, luminous, luminous mysteries, revelation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, st. ambrose, trust, truth

Is there any room left for doubt in the mystery of the Baptism? No, say Fr. Mark-Mary and St. Ambrose, as we meditate on the confidence with which we can believe in God’s revelation. We step into the waters of the Jordan with Jesus, resting in the truth of his divine sonship. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Baptism in the Jordan and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 78: Given for You

March 19th, 2025  |  15 mins 28 secs

ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholicism, communion, eucharist, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, institution of the eucharist, jesus, last supper, lectio, lectio divina, luminous, luminous mysteries, passion, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

At the last supper, Jesus tells his disciples that he earnestly desires to eat the Passover with them. Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in lectio divina, meditating on Jesus’ longing, his earnest desire, to give himself to us. We place ourselves in the scene of the Last Supper and hear Jesus tell us, “this is for you.” Today’s focus is the mystery of the Institution of the Eucharist and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 77: Have No Fear

March 18th, 2025  |  15 mins

ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholicism, confidence, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fear, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, jesus, lectio, lectio divina, luminous, luminous mysteries, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, transfiguration

When we experience fear and doubt, we can turn to the Father’s revelation that Jesus is the one we have been looking for. Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in lectio divina as we meditate on Jesus' gentle reassurance to the Apostles, telling them to rise and have no fear. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Transfiguration and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 76: The Shepherd is Shepherding

March 17th, 2025  |  12 mins 56 secs

ascension, call to conversion, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholicism, conversion, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, kingdom, lectio, lectio divina, luminous, luminous mysteries, proclamation of the kingdom, repent, repentance, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, shepherd

The mystery of the Proclamation of the Kingdom and the Call to Conversion reveals to us that the time is now. God is here, and he desires to shepherd you. As we pray lectio divina, Fr. Mark-Mary asks us, are we ready to allow Jesus to shepherd us? Are we ready to allow God to shape our lives? Today’s focus is the mystery of the Proclamation of the Kingdom and Call to Conversion and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 75: Jesus and Mary See You

March 16th, 2025  |  15 mins 37 secs

ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholicism, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, jesus, lectio, lectio divina, luminous, luminous mysteries, mary, new wine, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, wedding, wedding at cana, wine

At the Wedding Feast at Cana, Mary notices first that the wine has run out. Fr. Mark-Mary explains that this means Mary and Jesus are invested in us. They are looking for our areas of need, so that Jesus can give us the new wine. We pray lectio divina, meditating on the truth that we are not alone. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Wedding Feast at Cana and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 74: Beloved of the Father

March 15th, 2025  |  15 mins 27 secs

ascension, baptism, baptism in the jordan, baptism of jesus, beloved, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholicism, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, lectio, lectio divina, love, luminous, luminous mysteries, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

We know Jesus is the beloved of the Father, but today Fr. Mark-Mary tells us that we too should see ourselves as beloved through the grace of our Baptisms. As we pray lectio divina, we meditate on how we are not only beloved, but can become pleasing to the Father. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Baptism in the Jordan and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 58: Creativity of Love

February 27th, 2025  |  10 mins 12 secs

catholic, catholic church, catholicism, communion, eucharist, faith, god’s love, homily, institution of the eucharist, love, luminous mysteries, meditation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

When you love someone, you create a way to be with them. Fr. Mark-Mary tells us that if you love Jesus, you’ll create time to be with him. However, our love for God is a response to God’s love for us. This beautiful reciprocity means the creator of the universe has found a creative way to remain with us in all times and places, revealed through the fifth Luminous mystery, the Institution of the Eucharist. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Institution of the Eucharist and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.