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

Day 83: Father Forgive Them

March 24th, 2025  |  16 mins 18 secs

ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholicism, crucifixion, death, father mark mary, father mark-mary, forgive, forgiveness, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, jesus, lectio, lectio divina, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries

In the midst of the most tragic of circumstances, his crucifixion and death, what does Jesus say? Jesus prays for all of us, asking the Father to forgive. Today, Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in lectio divina, focusing on these words of Jesus, thanking Jesus for his mercy and incredible love. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Crucifixion and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 82: Simon’s Choice

March 23rd, 2025  |  15 mins 47 secs

ascension, carrying of the cross, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholicism, cross, decisions, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, jesus, lectio, lectio divina, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, simon, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, suffering

During Jesus’ passion, the gospel tells us that a man named Simon was compelled to carry Jesus’ cross. In this moment, Simon was given a decision: to fight back against this injustice, or to make the choice to carry this cross and draw close to Jesus. We are all given difficult or even unjust crosses to carry, and Fr. Mark-Mary calls us to reflect upon how we react to these in today’s lectio divina. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Carrying of the Cross and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 81: Behold Your King

March 22nd, 2025  |  15 mins 34 secs

ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholicism, crowning, crowning with thorns, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, jesus, king, kingship, lectio, lectio divina, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacrifice, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, thorns, true king

Although the Roman soldiers mockingly hail Jesus as king, Fr. Mark-Mary explains that in this mystery we see the reality of Jesus’ true kingship and dignity. In our prayer of lectio divina, we meditate on Jesus’ incredible sacrifice for us, and we receive the good news that we worship the true king. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Crowning with Thorns and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 80: His Blood For You

March 21st, 2025  |  15 mins 3 secs

ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholicism, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, jesus, lectio, lectio divina, love, passion, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sacrifice, scourging, scourging at the pillar, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, worth

Jesus freely endured the suffering of the scourging because of his great love for us. Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in lectio divina, meditating on the depth of Jesus’ love for us and how he wants us to receive the gift of his love. We allow ourselves to behold the sign of our worth: Jesus giving everything to save us. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Scourging at the Pillar and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 79: Trust like Jesus

March 20th, 2025  |  15 mins 41 secs

agony, agony in the garden, ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholicism, father mark mary, father mark-mary, fidelity, fr. mark mary, fr. mark-mary, jesus, lectio, lectio divina, obedience, passion, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, trust

When Jesus is sorrowful in the Garden of Gethsemane, he stays in relationship with the Father, trusting in the Father’s plan. Fr. Mark-Mary invites us to sit with Jesus, trusting in the Father when we are sorrowful and afraid, following the Son’s example. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Agony in the Garden and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.

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

Day 59: The Nature of Sin

February 28th, 2025  |  10 mins 20 secs

agony, agony in the garden, catholic, catholic church, catholicism, faith, inheritance, parables, prodigal son, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sin, sin’s effects, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries

As we begin journeying through the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, Fr. Mark-Mary uses the parable of the Prodigal Son to illustrate how Jesus’ Agony in the Garden reveals humanity’s rejection of God’s gift. However, despite this rejection we find salvation in Jesus’ incredible love for us. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Agony in the Garden and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 43: The Veil is Torn

February 12th, 2025  |  9 mins 44 secs

cross, crucifixion, heaven, historical context, hope, old testament, pope benedict xvi, psalm 22, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, salvation, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries

Are Jesus’ last words on the cross from Psalm 22, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me,” a cry of despair, or a revelation of hope? Fr. Mark-Mary shares a meditation on God’s response to Jesus in the mystery of the Crucifixion, expressing the certainty of salvation that we too can hope to share in. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Crucifixion, 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 42: Sent into Exile

February 11th, 2025  |  9 mins 48 secs

2 corinthians, carrying of the cross, cross, hebrews, historical context, old testament, riy, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, scapegoat, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries

In the Old Testament, the scapegoat was led outside of the city, bearing the sins of the people. In a striking parallel, the fourth Sorrowful mystery of the Rosary features Jesus being led outside of the city, bearing the people’s sins. Fr. Mark-Mary dives into this parallel, leading us in a meditation for our Rosary. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Carrying of the Cross, 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 41: The Victorious King

February 10th, 2025  |  7 mins 44 secs

crowning, crowning with thorns, historical context, isaiah, old testament, riy, romans, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, suffering, suffering servant

In the mystery of the Crowing with Thorns, we see both the effects of sin on the world, but also the truth that Jesus is conquering death. Fr. Mark-Mary continues drawing connections between the prophecy of the Suffering Servant from Isaiah and the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Crowning with Thorns, and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Day 40: Suffering Servant

February 9th, 2025  |  10 mins 18 secs

historical context, isaiah, old testament, riy, romans, rosary, rosary in a year, rosary-in-a-year, scourging, scourging at the pillar, sorrowful, sorrowful mysteries, suffering, suffering servant

Fr. Mark-Mary explains the historical context behind the mystery of the Scourging at the Pillar, and reveals how this mystery fulfills prophecies within the Old Testament book of Isaiah. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Scourging at the Pillar, and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.