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

Day 34: The Anointed One (2026)

February 3rd, 2026  |  13 mins 28 secs

baptism, day of atonement, historical context, jordan river, lamb, lamb of god, luminous, luminous mysteries, meditation, messiah, old testament, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacrifice, scapegoat, sin

Each of the Luminous mysteries reveal an aspect of Jesus’ nature and mission. Fr. Mark-Mary draws on the history of the Jordan River and the Jewish Day of Atonement, historical details that reveal Jesus as Messiah and sacrifice in this mystery of the Rosary. Today’s focus is the mystery of The Baptism of Jesus and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 364: The Sorrowful Mysteries

December 30th, 2025  |  30 mins 12 secs

agony, agony in the garden, ascension, carrying, carrying of the cross, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, crowning, crowning with thorns, crucifixion, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, gift, imaginative prayer, love, mary, meditating, meditation archive, meditation muscles, meditative prayer, mother, persevere, poco a poco, prayer, praying together, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, scourging, scourging at the pillar, sin, son, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries

We are called to remain close to Jesus in moments of sorrow, learning from His choice to meet suffering with trust in the Father rather than isolation. Fr. Mark-Mary reflects on the Passion as a costly gift of love, revealing how deeply Christ desires to save and remain with us. Through perseverance in prayer, we are reminded that Jesus never stops seeking us, even when the road is heavy. At the foot of the Cross, we receive Mary as our Mother, finding consolation in her faithful and tender care. Today’s focus is the Sorrowful Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 353: The Sorrowful Mysteries

December 19th, 2025  |  33 mins 25 secs

agony, agony in the garden, ascension, carrying, carrying of the cross, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, crowning, crowning with thorns, crucifixion, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, imaginative prayer, love, mary, meditating, meditation archive, meditation muscles, meditative prayer, poco a poco, prayer, praying together, prodigal son, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, scourging, scourging at the pillar, sin, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries

Guiding us through the Sorrowful Mysteries, Fr. Mark-Mary ponders these mysteries through the lens of the Prodigal Son. In the Agony in the Garden, he highlights that just as the prodigal son demanded his inheritance, sinful humanity grasped at Christ, prompting us to consider the ways we, too, take matters into our own hands. During the Scourging and the Crowning with Thorns, he reveals both the cost of sin and the unshakable truth of our identity as beloved sons and daughters of the Father. As we arrive at the Carrying of the Cross and the Crucifixion, Fr. Mark-Mary emphasizes the Father’s relentless pursuit of us—running toward us in our weakness and answering every doubt with unwavering love. Today’s focus is the Sorrowful Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 339: The Sorrowful Mysteries

December 5th, 2025  |  27 mins 8 secs

agony, agony in the garden, aquinas, ascension, carrying, carrying of the cross, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, crowning, crowning with thorns, crucifixion, decades, eden, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, garden of eden, glory, imaginative prayer, mary, meditating, meditation archive, meditation muscles, meditative prayer, poco a poco, prayer, praying together, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, scourging, scourging at the pillar, sin, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, st. thomas aquinas, victor, victory

We return to the Sorrowful Mysteries, and Fr. Mark-Mary shares meditations on the relationship between the Garden of Gethsemane and the Garden of Eden, reminding us of the relationship between sin and the Sorrowful Mysteries. As we witness Jesus crowned with thorns and carrying the cross, we’re also reminded of the glory that can be found in Christ’s passion. Today's focus is the Sorrowful Mysteries, and we’ll be praying the full Rosary.

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

Day 236: The Crucifixion and the Resurrection

August 24th, 2025  |  12 mins 23 secs

ascension, building, building up the decades, catholic church, catholic faith, contemplative prayer, crucifixion, death, decades, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, glorious, glorious mysteries, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, love, meditating, meditative prayer, poco a poco, prayer, rejoicing, relational prayer, resurrection, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sin, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, sorrowful mystery, st. thomas, suffering, two decades, victory

We pray with the fifth Sorrowful Mystery, the Crucifixion and Death of Jesus, and the first Glorious Mystery, his Resurrection. At the Cross, we witness Christ’s total self-gift, his mercy toward the repentant thief, and the sorrow of Mary who remains faithfully at His side. Then we move to the empty tomb, where light bursts from darkness and Jesus, risen and still bearing his wounds, offers hope that God is working for good even through suffering. These mysteries invite us to deeper trust in Jesus’ victory over death. 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 199: What the Garden Reveals

July 18th, 2025  |  15 mins 38 secs

agony, agony in the garden, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, connection, father mark mary, father mark-mary, finding focus, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, independent meditation, inheritance, judas, meditation, nature of sin, practice, prayer, relationship, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sin, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, truth

The Agony in the Garden reveals deep truths, shared by Fr. Mark-Mary, as we return to three prior meditation topics. The nature of sin is unveiled, as we draw the connection to the prodigal son. Jesus sets an example for us, staying in dialogue with the Father despite his suffering. And finally, through the example of Judas, we’re reminded that Jesus is always calling us back, no matter how dim we think our halos are. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Agony of the Garden and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 160: Choose Your Side

June 9th, 2025  |  13 mins 45 secs

anger, apathetic, apathy, art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, daughters, father mark mary, father mark-mary, flagellation, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, lukewarm, pride, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, scourging, sin, sons, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, vengeance, visio divina

We are in a war with darkness, and we must choose to take up the side as sons and daughters of God. Fr. Mark-Mary describes Caravaggio’s painting, The Flagellation of Christ, relating each of Jesus’ assailants to a personification of sin. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Scourging at the Pillar 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 159: Surrender Your Suffering

June 8th, 2025  |  11 mins 37 secs

agony, agony in the garden, alessandro maganza, art, art meditations, ascension, catholic church, catholic faith, doctor, doubt, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, healing, pain, prayer, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, sin, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, suffering, surrender, visio divina

As we meditate with the painting entitled Prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane Garden by Alessandro Maganza, Fr. Mark-Mary notices that all of the movement, lines, and action in the painting points towards Jesus. Sharing a story about one of his fellow friars, Fr. Mark-Mary explains how we can direct ourselves to Jesus and surrender our fears, worries, and pain. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Agony in the Garden 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 156: I Do Not Condemn You

June 5th, 2025  |  15 mins

art, art meditations, ascension, call to conversion, catholic church, catholic faith, condemnation, conversion, father mark mary, father mark-mary, forgiveness, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, luminous, luminous mysteries, proclamation, proclamation of the kingdom, repentance, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacred art, sin, visio divina

In Lorenzo Lotto’s painting, The Adulterous Woman, we are presented with an unforgettable moment from the Gospels. A group of accusers try to trap Jesus by asking for his judgement of a woman caught in sin. However, Fr. Mark-Mary explains, Jesus’ incredible response to the accusers and the woman is a response to all of us. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Proclamation of the Gospel and Call to Conversion 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 63: Even Unto Death

March 4th, 2025  |  11 mins 1 sec

calvary, catholic, catholic church, catholicism, crucifixion, effects of sin, faith, god’s love, love, prodigal son, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sin, sorrowful mysteries, suffering

Just as the father in the parable of the prodigal son does not merely wait to welcome his son back, but pursues to meet him on the way, Fr. Mark-Mary explains that God does not wait for us to return to him but instead pursues us, even to death on the cross. At Calvary, in the Crucifixion, we see the true nature of the heart of God, a heart filled with love for us. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.