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

Day 216: Overshadowed by the Spirit

August 4th, 2025  |  13 mins 9 secs

ascension, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, clous, contemplative prayer, decades, divine intimacy, dove, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fire, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, holy spirit, imaginative prayer, meditating, meditative prayer, paraclete, pentecost, poco a poco, prayer, relational prayer, resurrection, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, sorrowful mystery, two decades

We continue our review of relational prayer with the Trinity, turning our hearts to the Holy Spirit. Fr. Mark-Mary shares various aspects of the Spirit to start our meditation, inviting us to contemplate the promise of the Father, the fire of Pentecost, the breath of boldness, and the cloud of divine intimacy. Today’s focus is the mysteries of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, and we will be praying two decades of the Rosary.

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

Day 204: Transcending Death

July 23rd, 2025  |  14 mins 33 secs

ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, glorious mystery, healing, hope, independent meditation, light, meditation, new life, pope benedict xvi, practice, prayer, resurrection, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, st john chrysostom, thomas, trust, wounds

The Resurrection was a transformation of life that transcended death, bringing hope, healing, and renewal to all of creation. Fr. Mark-Mary emphasizes that this new reality is not just a return from death but a glorified existence that calls us into deeper trust and faith. Through this mystery, we can be confident in Christ’s pursuit of our hearts and His power to bring light even into our darkest moments. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Resurrection and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 184: Beyond the Tomb

July 3rd, 2025  |  13 mins 55 secs

annibale carracci, art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, love, mary, mother, pope john paul ii, resurrection, risen, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, tomb, visio divina, women

What if the first person to witness the Resurrection was Mary, the mother of Jesus? Fr. Mark-Mary explores this possibility through prayerful reflection on Annibale Carracci’s painting The Holy Women at Christ’s Tomb, highlighting the emotional depth and symbolism in the women's encounter with the angel. Drawing from Pope John Paul II’s insights, he invites us to imagine a tender, intimate reunion between the risen Christ and His mother, filled with healing, tears, and joy. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Resurrection 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 164: Guided by His Hand

June 13th, 2025  |  13 mins 37 secs

art, art meditations, ascension, belief, caravaggio, catholic church, catholic faith, doubt, doubting thomas, faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, good shepherd, jesus appearing to the disciples, lost sheep, resurrection, risen, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, thomas, trust, visio divina, wounds

Fr. Mark-Mary reflects on St. Thomas not as doubting and resistant, but as someone honestly expressing his need to see and believe because he is aware that if the Resurrection is true, everything must change. Caravaggio’s The Incredulity of St. Thomas captures this moment of intimate encounter, as the risen Jesus gently leads Thomas to touch His side, revealing a love that welcomes doubt and transforms it into belief. We are encouraged to acknowledge our own need for grace and trust that Christ will meet us there. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Resurrection 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 144: Done in Secret

May 24th, 2025  |  11 mins 53 secs

annibale carracci, art, art meditations, ascension, calm, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, prayer, resurrection, reward, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, secret, solitude, visio divina

Repeatedly in the Gospels, Jesus goes off alone to pray to the Father, telling us, “pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” While meditating on today’s painting, The Resurrection of Christ by Annibale Carracci, Fr. Mark-Mary draws out the hidden nature of the Resurrection. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Resurrection 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 127: Reunion into Heaven

May 7th, 2025  |  11 mins 54 secs

ascension, assumption, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, grace, heaven, mary, mother teresa, resurrection, reunion, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, st. bernard, st. bernard of clairvaux

What was it like in heaven the day Mary was assumed?  St. Bernard of Clairvaux describes the incredible joy that must have occurred, and Fr. Mark-Mary shares a story of Mother Theresa that mimics the joy of reunion to help us meditate on the mystery of the Assumption. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Assumption and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 124: Newness of Life

May 4th, 2025  |  13 mins 59 secs

ascension, baptism, catholic church, catholic faith, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, john paul ii, jp2, new life, paul, pope jp2, resurrection, riy, romans, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, st.  augustine

 We were buried with Christ by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead, we too might walk in newness of life. Fr. Mark-Mary, with a reading by St. Augustine, explains the integral connection between baptism and the mystery of the Resurrection. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Resurrection and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 104: Where is Your Sting?

April 14th, 2025  |  13 mins 33 secs

ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, death, eternal, eternity, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, resurrection, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, saint, saint reflections, temporary,  st. john chrysostom

Meditating on a reading from St. John Chrysostom, we recall that Jesus’ victory over death is eternal. Fr. Mark-Mary encourages us to take comfort in keeping eternal things eternal and temporary things temporary. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Resurrection and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 84: Do Not Be Afraid

March 25th, 2025  |  17 mins 39 secs

afraid, ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholicism, confidence, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fear, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, hope, joy, lectio, lectio divina, resurrection, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

In the mystery of the Resurrection, Jesus and the angels bring the same message: do not be afraid. This is a sign of the joy and confidence with which the Father wants us to encounter life. Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in lectio divina, encouraging us to find this hope and joy in the message of the Resurrection. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Resurrection and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 64: Christ is Risen

March 5th, 2025  |  10 mins 38 secs

catholic, catholic church, catholicism, christ is risen, easter, faith, glorious, glorious mysteries, hope, paschal candle, resurrection, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year

How do you celebrate Easter? Fr. Mark-Mary provides listeners with a challenge, reminiscing on the moment he realized just how important Easter is, and how much hope the truth that Christ is Risen can give us. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Resurrection and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.