The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)
Pray the Rosary Like Never Before
Displaying Episode 1 - 10 of 17 in total of The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames) with the tag “nativity”.
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Day 279: The Joyful Mysteries
October 6th, 2025 | 17 mins 2 secs
annunciation, ascension, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, four decades, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, meditating, meditative prayer, nativity, poco a poco, prayer, presentation, presentation in the temple, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, visitation
Fr. Mark-Mary leads us through the first four Joyful Mysteries. As we pray through the Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, and Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, the mystery of the Incarnation and God’s promises are fulfilled. These Joyful Mysteries reveal the humility of God made man, the faith and obedience of Mary, and the joy that Christ’s presence brings. They invite us to say “yes” to God’s will, to bring Christ to others, to welcome Him with open hearts, and to dedicate our lives to the Father in faith and love. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, and the Presentation in the Temple. We will be praying four decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 274: The Joyful Mysteries
October 1st, 2025 | 18 mins 15 secs
annunciation, ascension, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, four decades, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, meditating, meditative prayer, nativity, poco a poco, prayer, presentation, presentation in the temple, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, visitation
As we continue to move through our slow build, today we begin praying four mysteries of the Rosary. Fr. Mark-Mary draws the connection between our pace, and the pace of communal prayer, reminding us that as we listen, we pray together with the community of believers, those praying through the Rosary in a Year, religious orders who pray the Rosary in community, and all Catholics praying the Rosary. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, and the Presentation in the Temple. We will be praying four decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 268: The Joyful Mysteries
September 25th, 2025 | 15 mins 13 secs
ascension, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, christmas, contemplative prayer, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding, finding in the temple, foreshadowing, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, meditating, meditative prayer, nativity, poco a poco, prayer, presentation, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, three decades
Concluding the Joyful mysteries, we witness the complexity of joy in the Christian life. The Nativity brings us the joy of the Incarnation, as God becomes man, born to bring us salvation. In the Presentation and Finding in the Temple, we see the price of salvation foreshadowed, as Mary is told Simeon’s prophecy, and as Jesus is lost for three days, to be found in his father’s house. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Nativity, the Presentation, and the Finding in the Temple. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 261: The Joyful Mysteries
September 18th, 2025 | 13 mins 7 secs
ascension, birth, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, elizabeth, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, meditating, meditative prayer, nativity, poco a poco, prayer, presentation, presentation of jesus in the temple, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, three decades, visitation
As we continue with the Joyful Mysteries, we celebrate the saving presence of Christ among us. In the Visitation, Mary carries the Savior to Elizabeth, and His presence brings joy and blessing. In the Nativity, Christ is born in poverty yet shines forth as the Light of the World. In the Presentation in the Temple, Mary and Joseph offer Jesus to the Father, and the promise of salvation is proclaimed. In these mysteries, we are called to bring Christ joyfully to others, to welcome Him with humble hearts, and to dedicate our lives to the will of God. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Visitation, the Nativity, and the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 254: The Joyful Mysteries
September 11th, 2025 | 13 mins 20 secs
annunciation, ascension, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, joyful, joyful mysteries, meditating, meditative prayer, nativity, poco a poco, prayer, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, three decades, visitation
The Annunciation, Visitation, and Nativity are at the heart of today’s prayer. Together, they tell the story of God’s saving love entering the world through Mary’s faithful “yes” and the birth of Jesus. They reveal the humility of God becoming man, the joy that His presence brings, and the hope fulfilled in His coming. In these Joyful Mysteries, we are invited to meditate on Mary’s openness to God’s will, her loving service to others, and her joy in the gift of Christ. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Annunciation, the Visitation, and the Nativity. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 248: The Joyful Mysteries
September 5th, 2025 | 13 mins
ascension, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding in the temple, finding of jesus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, meditating, meditative prayer, nativity, poco a poco, prayer, presentation, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, three decades
We continue to immerse ourselves in the Joyful Mysteries. Today, we meditate on the birth and early life of Jesus through three mysteries: the Nativity, the Presentation in the Temple, and the Finding of Jesus in the Temple. These mysteries draw us into the wonder of the Incarnation and the humble, hidden years of Christ’s life, while foreshadowing his Passion. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Nativity, the Presentation, and the Finding of Jesus in the Temple. We will be praying three decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 240: The Nativity and the Presentation
August 28th, 2025 | 11 mins 44 secs
ascension, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, distracted, distraction, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, joyful, joyful mysteries, meditating, meditative prayer, mental archive, mental library, nativity, poco a poco, prayer, prayer tips, presentation, relational prayer, revisiting, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, two decades
We dive back into the joyful mysteries of the Nativity and the Presentation, drawing upon our mental archive and praying with Fr. Mark-Mary. Fr. Mark-Mary also explores distraction in prayer and how we can handle distractions while praying the rosary. With simplicity and encouragement, we return to the basics: surrendering, refocusing, and letting the repetition of prayer shape us from the inside out. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Nativity and the Presentation and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 220: Lingering in the Words
August 8th, 2025 | 11 mins 50 secs
ascension, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, daily bread, decades, deliver us, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, joyful, joyful mysteries, kingdom, meditating, meditative prayer, nativity, our father, poco a poco, prayer, presentation, relational prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, thy will, two decades, words
Fr. Mark-Mary invites us to pray with attentiveness to the words of the prayers and let the repetition become a space for deeper reverence, presence, and meditation. Resting in the words, we discover how they can carry us, form us, and lead us into a quiet intimacy with the mysteries of Christ. We focus on the intentions within the Our Father: our father, God’s revelation of himself as Father, thy will be done, thy kingdom come, daily bread, and deliver us. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Nativity and the Presentation, and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.
For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.
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Day 191: Unworthy Yet Welcomed
July 10th, 2025 | 15 mins 2 secs
adoration, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, independent meditation, joy, joyful mysteries, joyful mystery, meditation, nativity, practice, prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, unworthy, worship
Fr. Mark-Mary reflects on the Nativity, emphasizing the overwhelming joy and sense of unworthiness that can accompany encountering the gift of Jesus. We are invited to contemplate the transformative love offered through the birth of Christ. Using Scripture, sacred imagery, and prayer, we are drawn into an intimate encounter with Jesus, who offers not only salvation but also warmth and affection. 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.
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Day 171: Worship the Newborn King
June 20th, 2025 | 11 mins 59 secs
art, art meditations, ascension, born, caravaggio, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, joyful, joyful mysteries, manger, nativity, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, st. francis, st. lawrence, the praises of god, visio divina
Caravaggio’s Nativity with Saint Francis and Saint Lawrence offers a tender and grounded depiction of Christ’s birth, surrounded not only by the Holy Family but also by saints known for their deep love of poverty. Fr. Mark-Mary uses this scene to lead into the Praises of God by St. Francis, lifting our gaze from the humble manger to the majesty of the One who was born there. We’re invited into deeper awe, love, and surrender by recognizing the greatness of God who chose such lowliness. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Nativity 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.