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

Day 163: Through His Eyes

June 12th, 2025  |  14 mins 17 secs

art, art meditations, ascension, calvary, catholic church, catholic faith, cross, crucifixion, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, james tissot, mary, mother, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, sacrifice, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, visio divina, what our lord saw from the cross

What did Jesus see when He looked down from the cross? And what does He see in us now? Fr. Mark-Mary contemplates James Tissot’s painting, What Our Lord Saw from the Cross, which invites reflection on what Jesus might have seen and felt as He gave His life. Fr. Mark-Mary contrasts the indifference and mockery of some in the crowd with the sorrowful devotion of Mary, St. John, and Mary Magdalene. We are invited to place ourselves at Calvary and examine how we respond to Christ's sacrifice. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Crucifixion 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 149: Littleness Before the Lord

May 29th, 2025  |  12 mins 26 secs

art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, coronation, coronation of mary, daughter, diego velázquez, father, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, holy spirit, joyful, joyful mysteries, mother, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, son, spouse, the coronation of the virgin, trinity, visio divina

Henry Ossawa Tanner’s depiction of the Annunciation is distinctly unique. Fr. Mark-Mary directs our meditation to an observation of Mary’s youth and littleness before the Lord, contrasted with her complete trust and confidence. This, he says, can help us trust God despite our own littleness. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Annunciation 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 148: Daughter, Mother, Spouse

May 28th, 2025  |  12 mins 46 secs

art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, coronation, coronation of mary, daughter, diego velázquez, father, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, holy spirit, mother, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, son, spouse, the coronation of the virgin, trinity, visio divina

The Coronation of Mary can be seen in a distinctly Trinitarian sense, highlighted in Diego Velázquez’s painting, The Coronation of the Virgin. Fr. Mark-Mary explains Mary’s relationships to each member of the Trinity as daughter, mother, and spouse. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Coronation of Mary 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 112: All My Time is Free

April 22nd, 2025  |  13 mins 43 secs

ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, freedom, joyful, joyful mysteries, jp2, mary, mother, parenthood, pope john paul 2, presentation, presentation of jesus in the temple, recommit, renewal, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacrifice, saint, saint reflections,  st. alphonsus liguori

 Mary gave consent to Jesus’ sacrifice in the mystery of the Annunciation, but in the mystery of the Presentation, God asks her to recommit to this solemn sacrifice. Fr. Mark-Mary tells us that in every moment, God is asking us to recommit ourselves to him and be faithful, as Mary does at Jesus’ Presentation. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 108: Heights of Holiness

April 18th, 2025  |  12 mins 10 secs

ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, coronation, coronation of mary, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fiat, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, holiness, mary, mother, queen, queen of earth, queen of heaven, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, st. john,  st. john damascene

A Queen is set apart, but Mary, as Queen of Heaven and Earth is set apart so that as our mother she can draw us up to her son. When we are too little to reach the heights of holiness, she lifts us up, says Fr. Mark-Mary, reading from St. John Damascene. We ask Our Lady to help us echo her fiat and do the Father’s will. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Coronation of Mary and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 90: Consoling Mother

March 31st, 2025  |  13 mins 58 secs

ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholicism, consolation, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, mother, mother teresa, motherhood, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, st. alphonsus, st. alphonsus liguori, st. mother theresa, visitation

We read from St. Alphonsus Liguori’s On the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin, recognizing that Mary’s office as Mother means that she will console us. Fr. Mark-Mary shares a prayer from St. Mother Theresa, and guides us through a reflection on Mary’s motherhood. 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 68: Fancy Friends

March 9th, 2025  |  10 mins 40 secs

catholic, catholic church, catholicism, coronation of mary, faith, friendship, glorious, glorious mysteries, mary, mary as queen, mother, mother of god, queen, revelation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

Many of us have “fancy” friends in our lives, and sometimes we are the “fancy” friend: someone whose role, talents, or connections are able to help us out. However, Fr. Mark-Mary explains that we all have the best “fancy” friend in Mary, our Mother and Queen. Reading from the book of Revelation, he explores how we can have total confidence in Mary as we bring our petitions to her. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.