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

Day 68: Fancy Friends

March 9th, 2025  |  10 mins 40 secs

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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.

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

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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 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.

Day 14: Blessed Are You

January 14th, 2025  |  8 mins 18 secs

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Everytime we say the Hail Mary, we express a cry of joy in honor of the Blessed Mother. Fr. Mark-Mary reveals the Biblical celebration at the center of the Hail Mary that we too can participate in, sharing a story of the Franciscan Friars delight in God’s creation that we can emulate as we pray the Rosary. Today’s focus is “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus,” and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 13: Full of Grace

January 13th, 2025  |  8 mins 38 secs

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As we pray the rosary, we can focus on the words of the prayers we’re saying, especially the words of the Hail Mary. Fr. Mark-Mary explains the Biblical roots of the Hail Mary, leading us in a meditation of love for Mary. Today’s focus is “Hail Mary, full of grace,” and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.