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

In the Old Testament, God sent Noah the sign of the rainbow to promise he would never flood the earth again. Pietro Gagliardi’s fresco of the Crucifixion also depicts a rainbow above this sorrowful scene, signifying that this is the fulfillment of God’s promise. As we meditate, Fr. Mark-Mary tells us that this symbolism can remind us that death will not have the last word. Today’s focus is the mys...

Pieter Bruegel’s painting, The Procession to Calvary , is distinctly filled with Roman soldiers. Fr. Mark-Mary leads us in a meditation focusing on the Roman soldiers observing the carrying of the cross, and relates it to his modern day experience of different reactions to Jesus in New York. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Carrying of the Cross and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary....

As  we see the bust of Tiberius Caesar at the top of today’s painting, Christ Crowned with Thorns by Titian, the phrase “render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and render to God what is God’s” may come to mind. Fr. Mark-Mary asks us to consider whether we are rendering our worship and love unto God, or unto the world. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Crowning with Thorns and we will be praying one...

St. Paul’s letter to the Romans tells us, “if God is for us, who is against us?” Reflecting on a fresco of the Scourging, Fr. Mark-Mary draws our attention to Jesus’ strength and glory shining through despite his suffering. 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...

In today’s painting by Vicente Masip, Judas is pictured with a gold and black halo. Even as Judas leads the soldiers to arrest Jesus, Fr. Mark-Mary explains that this halo shows Judas has the chance to return to Jesus. We too can always return to Jesus, seeking his forgiveness as Peter does. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Agony in the Garden and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. Al...

Even at the Last Supper, anticipating his passion, Jesus is at peace, as depicted in today’s mosaic by Giacomo Raffaelli. Jesus can be at peace because he knows who he is and he knows who his Father is. In this mystery, we’re invited to find rest in Jesus through trust and surrender to the Father. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Institution of the Eucharist and we will be praying one decade of...

Jesus is the light of the world, shown so clearly through the mystery of the Transfiguration. Fr. Mark-Mary draws on the symbolism found in today’s art medium, stained glass, to meditate on Jesus who illuminates the world for us. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Transfiguration 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 Ro...

In today’s painting, The Healing of the Lepers at Capernum , Jesus has healed ten lepers, but only one returns to give thanks. In this mystery, the Kingdom of God is proclaimed to us, but just like the lepers, we have the option to receive and return with thanks or to ignore Jesus’ proclamation. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Proclamation of the Kingdom and the Call to Conversion and we will...

Why does Jesus perform miracles? Fr. Mark-Mary, meditating with help from a painting by Carl Bloch, says that Jesus doesn’t just do miracles as a sign or as a magician. Jesus does miracles as acts of love, motivated by true compassion. We take a moment to rest in this sign of love at the Wedding Feast with Jesus and Mary. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Wedding Feast at Cana and we will be pra...

The first Luminous mystery is a mystery of profound joy, but a fresco of Jesus’ Baptism, featured in the Church of San Benedetto in Padua, reveals that the cross is never far from Christ. Fr. Mark-Mary reminds us that Jesus’ “yes” at his Baptism, is also a “yes” to his passion. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Baptism of Jesus and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. All of the Sacred A...

How would you react if you saw 12-year old Jesus preaching in the temple? Fr. Mark-Mary points out the varied reactions of onlookers in the mosaic of the Finding in the Temple in the Rosary Basilica at Lourdes. Those surrounding Jesus react with human admiration, amazement, curiosity, and even rejection. Yet Mary looks upon him filled with divine grace. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Finding...

Giulio Campi’s fresco of The Presentation in the Temple , is filled with people and commotion. Two women converse, a child looks towards the viewer, Simeon leans backwards, his eyes closed. Yet in all this chaos, Fr. Mark-Mary notices, Mary’s eyes remain focused on the child Jesus. We meditate on fixing our own eyes on Jesus. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Presentation in the Temple and we wi...

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...

So often, our futures are shrouded in mystery and darkness. It can be hard to see where God’s plan is leading. Fr. Mark-Mary highlights the dynamics of light and darkness in Rembrandt’s painting, The Visitation , revealing two women who may not see every step of God’s plan, but trust in him regardless. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Visitation and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary....

Fr. Mark-Mary begins our visio divina episodes with a meditation on The Annunciation by Fra Angelico. We contemplate the reverence and solemnity depicted in Mary and the Angel, and consider the parallels to Genesis shown in the mystery of the Annunciation. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Annunciation and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. All of the Sacred Art we’ll be meditating wit...

Mary  is the general of an angelic army, and her aim is fighting for us, protecting us from harm. Fr. Mark-Mary, with help from St. John Henry Neumann, explores the authority vested in Mary’s title of Queen of Heaven and Earth. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Coronation of Mary and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy .

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...

God desires the fire of his love to burn always in our hearts, says St. Alphonsus Liguori. Fr. Mark-Mary explains that we can kindle this fire of the Holy Spirit through the  wood of the cross and the oxygen of prayer. We meditate on the Holy Spirit’s ability to transform us and growing our receptivity to his love. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Descent of the Holy Spirit and we will be prayi...

As Jesus ascends to heaven, St. Augustine tells us to hold fast to Christ. Fr. Mark-Mary explains that we can do this through works of charity, using Matthew 25 and a personal anecdote to share how everyone can hold fast to Christ. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Ascension and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary. For the complete prayer plan, visit https://ascensionpress.com/riy .

 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...

St.  Bridget's Revelations tells us of the crucifixion through Mary’s eyes. Fr. Mark-Mary explains that by meditating through Mary, we see Our Lord’s passion magnified, expressing the true depth of the sorrow in this moment. However, not only is our sorrow magnified, but our gratitude too can be magnified as we see through Mary’s eyes. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Crucifixion and we will be...

Carrying the cross was meant to be a dishonor, but Jesus carried his cross as a sign of his glory, as a victory carries his trophy. Fr. Mark-Mary reveals how we too can turn our sufferings into trophies of glory, as he reads from St. Thomas Aquinas.  We may not experience the victory immediately, but we can trust that Jesus will bring victory. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Carrying of the Cr...

Pilate tried to compromise on truth. His concern was not justice, but instead self-preservation. Fr. Mark-Mary reads from Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, emphasizing that we must not compromise on Jesus. We have to commit to the truth. 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/...

Jesus suffered tremendously to show his love for us and to win us for himself. And yet, many of us don't receive this gift and continue to live our lives as if Jesus’ passion never happened. Fr. Mark-Mary reads from St. Faustina, who tells us that Jesus found consolation in her sincere sorrow for his passion. Today, we are called to be like St. Faustina, to be the one who remembers the depths of J...

 In the final moments before his arrest, Jesus is praying for the apostles. This is the movement of love when it encounters suffering and difficulty, says Fr. Mark-Mary. Drawing from St. Hilary of Poitiers, we meditate on bringing our suffering to the Father, so that it might become a grace for others. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Agony in the Garden and we will be praying one decade of the...