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

Day 52: My Eyes Have Seen Salvation (2026)

February 21st, 2026  |  10 mins 31 secs

catholic, catholic church, catholicism, faith, joy, joyful, joyful mysteries, meditation, presentation, presentation of jesus, presentation of the lord, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, simeon

Simeon’s words at the Presentation of the Lord, “Now let your servant depart in peace according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation,” are said around the world every day by religious and lay people alike in Compline, also known as Night Prayer. Fr. Mark-Mary shares the story of a blind man who truly knew what it meant to see his savior with the eyes of faith, inviting us to pray our Rosary for true sight like Simeon. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 32: A Total Offering (2026)

February 1st, 2026  |  14 mins 14 secs

anna, historical context, isaiah, joy, joyful, joyful mysteries, jp2, meditation, old testament, pope john paul 2, presentation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, simeon

The Mystery of Jesus’ Presentation signifies an important moment of fulfillment between the Old and New Covenant. Fr. Mark-Mary leads us through this mystery, pointing out parallels between Simeon’s words to Mary and Old Testament prophecies in Isaiah, giving us a meditation on entrusting our lives to God through the Rosary. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 363: The Joyful Mysteries

December 29th, 2025  |  28 mins 28 secs

annunciation, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fiat. st. elizabeth, finding, finding in the temple, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, joyful, joyful mysteries, manger, mary, meditating, meditation archive, meditation muscles, meditative prayer, monstrance, nativity, poco a poco, prayer, praying together, presentation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, simeon, visitation

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

December 27th, 2025  |  30 mins 35 secs

ana, angel gabriel, annunciation, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, dryness, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding, finding in the temple, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, joyful, joyful mysteries, magnificat, mary, meditating, meditation archive, meditation muscles, meditative prayer, nativity, persevering, poco a poco, prayer, praying together, presentation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, savior, seek, simeon, visitation

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

December 22nd, 2025  |  30 mins 59 secs

annunciation, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, conversation, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding, finding in the temple, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, jan van eyck, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, meditating, meditation archive, meditation muscles, meditative prayer, nativity, poco a poco, prayer, praying together, presentation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, st. joseph, trust, visitation

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

December 20th, 2025  |  31 mins 30 secs

anna, annunciation, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding, finding in the temple, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, meditating, meditation archive, meditation muscles, meditative prayer, nativity, poco a poco, prayer, praying together, presentation, rembrandt, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, st. bernard of clarivaux, st. leto the great, visitation

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

December 15th, 2025  |  28 mins 34 secs

actor, annunciation, ascension, blessed, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, director, faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding, finding in the temple, focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, humility, imaginative prayer, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, meditating, meditation archive, meditation muscles, meditative prayer, nativity, obedience, poco a poco, prayer, praying together, presentation, reverence, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, trust, visitation

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

December 13th, 2025  |  28 mins 59 secs

annunciation, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding, finding in the temple, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, meditating, meditation archive, meditation muscles, meditative prayer, nativity, poco a poco, prayer, praying together, presentation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, visitation

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

December 8th, 2025  |  28 mins 14 secs

annunciation, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding, finding in the temple, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, henry ossawa tanner, imaginative prayer, joyful, joyful mysteries, magnificat, mary, meditating, meditation archive, meditation muscles, meditative prayer, nativity, poco a poco, prayer, praying together, presentation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, visitation

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

December 6th, 2025  |  27 mins 31 secs

annunciation, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding, finding in the temple, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, joyful, joyful mysteries, mary, meditating, meditation archive, meditation muscles, meditative prayer, nativity, poco a poco, prayer, praying together, presentation, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, visitation

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.