The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames) - Episodes Tagged with “Nativity”

Day 91: Cause For Joy

Ascension — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 03:15:00 -0400

Is the Nativity a cause for joy in your life? Reflecting on a sermon from St. Leo the Great, Fr. Mark-Mary tells us that sometimes when we don’t feel the joy of the Nativity, we’re actually being called deeper into our relationship with God. We meditate on the Nativity’s personal impact on our lives as we lean into deeper conversion. 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.

Day 71: Behold God

Ascension — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 03:15:00 -0400

What was the experience of the shepherds, called by angels to the birth of God? How would we react to seeing the newborn Christ? Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in lectio divina, drawing us into the experience of the Nativity, as we behold the innocence and humility of the baby Jesus. We ask for the grace to not be afraid to draw close to God. 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.

Day 51: Moved With Awe (2026)

Ascension — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 03:15:00 -0500

How would we feel if we could experience the Nativity the way Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and Magi did? Fr. Mark-Mary shares the story of a visitor who truly experienced the awe and wonder of Christmas, revealing what an incredible gift Jesus is for all of us. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Nativity 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 31: No Other Savior (2026)

Ascension — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 03:15:00 -0500

Sometimes it’s difficult to see how God can work through the hard situations in our lives. In the Mystery of the Nativity, the Holy Family was faced with an incredibly hard situation: traveling 90 miles to participate in a Roman census right before Jesus’ birth. However, Fr. Mark-Mary explains how God was working with these struggles to fulfill an Old Testament prophecy, reading from the book of Micah. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Nativity and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 363: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 03:15:00 -0500

As we come together to pray the Joyful Mysteries, Fr. Mark-Mary calls us to place our lives before the Lord with the same trust and openness shown by Mary. He reflects on how God brings life to what feels empty or lifeless, choosing humble hearts as His dwelling place. We are encouraged to persevere in prayer, to seek Jesus with renewed desire, and to allow Him to gather our scattered hearts into a deeper love for the Father. Today’s focus is the Joyful Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 361: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 03:15:00 -0500

Today, Fr. Mark-Mary invites us to bring our worries, our smallness, and our longing into God’s presence with confidence that nothing is impossible for Him. He reflects on the way God is drawn to humility, lifting us where we cannot lift ourselves, and in the quiet peace that comes from beholding Christ with a childlike heart. Even moments of spiritual dryness, he notes, can lead us into deeper relationship as we seek the Lord anew. Today’s focus is the Joyful Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 356: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 03:15:00 -0500

We journey again through the Joyful Mysteries, stopping to meditate with Jan van Eyck’s depiction of the Annunciation and its reminder to keep in conversation with God. Fr. Mark-Mary reminds us of St. Joseph’s essential role in the Nativity. We meditate on Mary’s sacrifice revealed in the Presentation in the Temple, and the call to turn to God in the Finding in the Temple. Today's focus is the Joyful Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 354: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Sat, 20 Dec 2025 03:15:00 -0500

Today, Fr. Mark-Mary prays with the Joyful Mysteries, beginning with the Annunciation and the beautiful tension St. Bernard describes as all of heaven awaiting Mary’s “yes.” In the Visitation, he reminds us that although we don’t know every detail of our future, God gives enough light for each step. At the Nativity, he encourages us to bring our whole hearts—joys and sorrows alike—to the newborn Christ. He then reflects on the Presentation through Anna’s long waiting and God’s tender gaze. Finally, in the Finding in the Temple, we learn from Mary’s calm, confident pondering as she receives everything in love. Today’s focus is the Joyful Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 349: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 03:15:00 -0500

We return to Fra Angelico’s painting of The Annunciation and Giulio Campi’s fresco of the Presentation in the Temple as Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in meditation on the reverence and faith revealed in the Joyful Mysteries. Our prayer explores themes of humility, God’s love for us, and the importance of keeping our eyes on Jesus. Today's focus is the Joyful Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 347: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 03:15:00 -0500

Our meditations for today’s Rosary remind us of how God so often moves in unexpected ways. Fr. Mark-Mary reminds us of the prophecy shared with Zechariah and Elizabeth, concurrent with the Annunciation. Instead of the Messiah coming to a priest in the Temple, the Messiah is given to a hidden, lowly woman. Similarly, the Holy Family’s journey to Bethlehem was surely difficult, yet God was working through this to fulfill Micah 5:2. Today's focus is the Joyful Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 342: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 03:15:00 -0500

As we enter into today’s meditation, Fr. Mark-Mary guides us through the Joyful Mysteries with reflections on grace, trust, and the hidden beauty of God’s work in our lives. We reflect on Mary’s humble courage at the Annunciation, the transforming joy of her encounter with Elizabeth, and the gentle invitation to draw close to Christ in the Nativity. We’re called to seek Jesus with the same relentless love shown by Mary and Joseph in the Finding in the Temple. God meets us in our littleness and invites us into deeper trust and wonder. Today’s focus is the Joyful Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 340: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 03:15:00 -0500

Journeying through the Joyful Mysteries, Fr. Mark-Mary shares meditations on Mary’s yes to a person, not a plan, the sheer joy of the Nativity, and the importance of seeking Jesus. The Joyful Mysteries can remind us of God’s faithfulness to his promises, revealed through Mary’s Visitation, Simeon and Anna in the Temple, and the finding of Jesus. Today's focus is the Joyful Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 332: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 03:15:00 -0500

Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in prayer with five decades of the Rosary, as we utilize the meditation "muscles" we've built up in each phase of the Rosary in a Year. You can find more resources for meditation on each of the mysteries, including Sacred Art, Saint Reflections, and Bible Verses under each episode in the Ascension App, to aid in your meditation. Today's focus is the Joyful Mysteries: the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Presentation in the Temple, and the Finding in the Temple.

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

Day 328: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 03:15:00 -0500

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

Day 324: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 03:15:00 -0500

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

Day 320: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 03:15:00 -0500

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

Day 316: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 03:15:00 -0500

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Day 312: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 03:15:00 -0500

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

Day 308: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 03:15:00 -0500

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

Day 304: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 03:15:00 -0400

Today we begin praying five mysteries, our final step of building up the decades before we move to the full rosary. As we walk through each set of mysteries, we use our now-strengthened meditation muscles, moving from one mystery to the next, following the story of Jesus’ childhood and Mary’s fiat. Today’s focus is the Joyful Mysteries. We will be praying five decades of the Rosary.

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

Day 299: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 03:15:00 -0400

Today we pray through four Joyful Mysteries that draw us into the beauty of God’s plan unfolding through Mary and the early life of Jesus. We begin with the Annunciation, when Mary humbly accepts God’s call to bear His Son. We then move to the Visitation, reflecting on her loving service to Elizabeth and the joy that fills their encounter. Next, we celebrate the Nativity, rejoicing in the birth of Christ, the Light of the world. Finally, we meditate on the Presentation in the Temple, where Mary and Joseph offer Jesus to the Father, fulfilling the law with faith and devotion. These mysteries invite us to enter into Mary’s trust, her obedience, and the deep joy that comes from saying yes to God. 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.

Day 294: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 03:15:00 -0400

The Joyful Mysteries reveal the nearness of God’s love. Mary’s faith and obedience open the way for the Savior. Through her service, joy spreads from one heart to another. Because of her humility and perseverance, our Savior is born. And in her devotion, the promise of redemption begins to unfold. May we, like Mary, open our hearts to God’s will and share His light with the world. 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.

Day 289: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 03:15:00 -0400

Fr. Mark-Mary offers us a word of encouragement, reminding us to continue to draw our prior meditation topics into our prayer of the Rosary, grounding ourselves in true meditation from our mental archives. Beginning again with the Joyful mysteries, we walk through the beginning of Jesus’ life and the story of the holy family. The Joyful mysteries provide us a beautiful foundation of joy for our lives, teaching us how to journey through all of our mysteries, luminous, sorrowful, and joyful. 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.

Day 284: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 03:15:00 -0400

We enter the Joyful Mysteries, rejoicing in the wonder of the Incarnation. At the Annunciation, Mary receives the angel’s message and responds with her humble “yes,” and the Word becomes flesh within her. In the Visitation, she carries Christ to Elizabeth, and His presence brings joy and blessing even before His birth. At the Nativity, the Savior is born in humility yet shines forth as the Light of the World. In the Presentation at the Temple, Mary and Joseph offer the Child to the Father, and Simeon and Anna rejoice to see God’s promise fulfilled. They invite us to welcome Christ with faith, to proclaim His joy, and to live each day as an offering to the Father. 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.

Day 279: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 03:15:00 -0400

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.

Day 274: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 03:15:00 -0400

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.

Day 268: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 03:15:00 -0400

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.

Day 261: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 03:15:00 -0400

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.

Day 254: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 03:15:00 -0400

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.

Day 248: The Joyful Mysteries

Ascension — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 03:15:00 -0400

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.

Day 240: The Nativity and the Presentation

Ascension — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 03:15:00 -0400

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.

Day 220: Lingering in the Words

Ascension — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 03:15:00 -0400

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.

Day 191: Unworthy Yet Welcomed

Ascension — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 03:15:00 -0400

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.

Day 171: Worship the Newborn King

Ascension — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 03:15:00 -0400

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.

Day 151: St. Joseph’s Protection

Ascension — Sat, 31 May 2025 03:15:00 -0400

If St. Joseph had not been present at the Nativity, could the adoration of the shepherds have happened? Fr. Mark-Mary continues our focus on St. Joseph’s role, highlighting the goodness of God in bringing Mary and Joseph together to raise the Savior. 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 for free in the Ascension App. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy.

Day 131: Worship and Warmth

Ascension — Sun, 11 May 2025 03:15:00 -0400

What will be true in heaven is already true in the manger at Bethlehem. Already, heaven and earth bend the knee in worship of Jesus to the glory of God the Father. Fr. Mark-Mary draws our attention to the gaze of Mary, Joseph, and the angels, fixed on Jesus, in Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini’s painting of the Nativity. 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.

Day 111: Manifest in Humility

Ascension — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 03:15:00 -0400

God so profoundly wants us to have confidence to approach him, that he veils his glory and clothes himself in humble humanity, saying, “Come to Me.” Fr. Mark-Mary meditates on a reading from St. Bernard, observing the grandeur of God’s creation and the humility of his Incarnation. 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.

Day 91: Cause For Joy

Ascension — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 03:15:00 -0400

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

Day 71: Behold God

Ascension — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 03:15:00 -0400

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

Day 51: Moved With Awe

Ascension — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 03:15:00 -0500

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

Day 31: No Other Savior

Ascension — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 03:15:00 -0500

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