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

Day 48: Mother and Queen

February 17th, 2025  |  10 mins 52 secs

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How should we venerate Mary as the Queen of Heaven, and what does being Queen of Heaven mean? Fr. Mark-Mary explains that far from detracting from our worship of God, giving due veneration to Mary actually honors Jesus, her son and our Lord. In turn, Mary has a special role as our mother and queen, and can specially intercede for us to Jesus. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Coronation of Mary, and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

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

Day 47: Mary’s Return Home

February 16th, 2025  |  12 mins 36 secs

ark of the covenant, assumption, glorious, glorious mysteries, heaven, historical context, mary, mother of god, old testament, revelation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

What are the Biblical roots of the Assumption? Fr. Mark-Mary draws from both the Old and New Testament to explain the Biblical basis of Mary’s Assumption. Mary is the new Ark of the Covenant, and so just as David ensured the first Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem, Jesus would ensure that his mother was brought home to heaven, body and soul. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Assumption of Mary, and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

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

Day 30: The New Ark

January 30th, 2025  |  12 mins 44 secs

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In the Old Testament, God met his people, dwelt with them, and brought them victory through the Ark of the Covenant. As we explore the Biblical roots of the Mysteries of the Rosary, Fr. Mark-Mary reveals how Mary is the new Ark 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

January 29th, 2025  |  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 24: Still, Small Voice

January 24th, 2025  |  10 mins 48 secs

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The Holy Spirit chooses to do his greatest works and reveal his glory in still and quiet moments. While reflecting on the Apostles’ Creed, Fr. Mark-Mary uncovers the Incarnation as one of these silent movements of the Spirit: a pivotal event in salvation history that unfolded in the humble, quiet town of Nazareth. As we meditate on the prayers of the Rosary, this episode draws our attention to the quiet moments in which the Holy Spirit works in our lives. Today’s focus is “Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,” and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 21: Show Unto Us

January 21st, 2025  |  9 mins 28 secs

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When we call upon Mary, what does she say to us? As we pray the Rosary and ask Mary to show Jesus unto us, we hear her response through the story of the Wedding Feast at Cana in the Gospel of John. If you feel like you’re at the wedding and out of wine, Fr. Mark-Mary says, turn to Mary in the Rosary, and she will advocate for you to Jesus. Today’s focus is “And after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Oh, Clement. Oh, loving. Oh, sweet Virgin Mary,” and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, one Glory Be, and the Hail Holy Queen.

Day 20: Eyes of Mercy

January 20th, 2025  |  9 mins 46 secs

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You are enough for God. Fr. Mark-Mary contemplates Mary’s Magnificat, reminding us that Mary and Jesus look upon us with eyes of mercy, rejoicing in our offerings of love to them, no matter how small we think they are. As we slowly build up our Rosary, prayer by prayer, these sincere acts of love are pleasing offerings to God. Today’s focus is “Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us,” and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 19: Valley of Tears

January 19th, 2025  |  8 mins 51 secs

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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

January 18th, 2025  |  7 mins 23 secs

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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 15: Mother of God

January 15th, 2025  |  8 mins 45 secs

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You know the Mother of God. Fr. Mark-Mary contemplates this amazing gift, drawing from Biblical examples of the special relationship between mothers and children that is present in Mary’s relationship to Jesus. We meditate on the Rosary as a personal conversation with the mother of God, making it an incredible intercessory prayer. Today’s focus is “Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death,” and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.