In this episode, we welcome Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR to talk about his podcast Rosary in a Year. He shares the inspiration behind his podcast and the importance of meditating on and understanding the mysteries of our faith. We also reflect on prayer being something received not produced, how the Rosary specifically answers the cry of our hearts to learn how to pray, and how Mary intercedes for us within this prayer. Our desire is that Fr. Mark-Mary’s podcast will be an aid as you take the next step deeper in your prayer life.

Heather’s One Thing - Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Basil Soup Recipe

Heather’s Other One Thing - Sharing the Gospel with Our Lives: A Relational Approach to Catholic Youth Ministry by Bob Rice

Sister Miriam’s One Thing - Creamy Chicken Rice Soup Recipe

Michelle’s One Thing - The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal

Fr. Mark-Mary’s One Thing - Christ in the City Missionaries

Other Resources Mentioned:

Rosary in a Year Podcast on Spotify, Apple, Ascension’s Website (or app)

Announcement:

Join us for our Lenten Study beginning March 5th, 2025 as we journey through “Jesus and the Jubilee: The Biblical Roots of the Year of God’s Favor“ by Dr. John Bergsma. We look forward to sitting at the feet of a leading scholar as we unpack what the Lord has in store for us in the year of Jubilee.

Order your copy at the St. Paul Center with promo code “ABIDE15” for 15% off. Amazon has very limited copies, so we recommend you order from St. Paul Center to ensure you receive your copy before Lent begins!

Journal Questions:

What has my relationship been with the Rosary?
Do I often perceive the Rosary to be a formulaic task or a channel of grace?
How have I experienced a strengthening of my “concentration muscle” in the past?
Do I see prayer as something I produce, or something I receive?

Discussion Questions:

How were you formed in how to pray the Rosary?
What obstacles do you experience when praying the Rosary?
What do you desire for your relationship with Our Blessed Mother?
How can I enter more fully into the Rosary during this Jubilee Year of Hope?

Quote to Ponder:

"Mary was the first person to take the 'way' to enter the Kingdom of God that Christ opened, a way which is accessible to the humble, to all who trust in the word of God and endeavor to put it into practice." (Pope Benedict XVI)

Scripture for Lectio:

“Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” (John 19:27)

Sponsor - Ascension:

Join Fr. Mark-Mary Ames and Ascension Press for a new installment of the “In a Year” series with the new Rosary in a Year podcast, which debuted in January as the #1 podcast in the U.S.!

The podcast’s host, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, takes listeners on a step-by-step journey that will change how they approach the Rosary—and prayer in general—no matter where they are in their spiritual life.

By starting small and adding on over time, listeners will find themselves falling more in love with this powerful Marian devotion, becoming a source of grace for the whole world.

In six different phases throughout the year, the podcast builds up from just an “Our Father", three “Hail Mary’s”, and a “Glory Be” at the beginning, to joyfully praying the entire Rosary together by the end.

Along the way, listeners will learn the basics of prayer, discover the Biblical roots of the Rosary, and learn to meditate on each mystery like never before with help from Sacred Scripture, the writings of the saints, and Sacred Art.

You can listen to the podcast and download the Rosary in a Year Prayer guide by visiting our website here.

Whether you’re already listening every day or this is your first time hearing about the podcast, it’s never too late to start and there is no better place to listen to Rosary in a Year than in the Ascension app.

You’ll get exclusive content and special features you won’t find anywhere else, like full transcripts of each episode, the full text of the prayers and litanies Fr. Mark-Mary shares in the podcast, references to Sacred Scripture and the Catechism, images of sacred art, and much more that help you dive even deeper into each reflection on the Rosary.

You can also pray all four mysteries of the Rosary with recordings from Fr. Mark-Mary, Fr. Mike Schmitz, and Jeff Cavins, all for free in the Ascension app.

Download the Ascension App on your smartphone or tablet from wherever you get your apps, or by visiting https://link.ascension-app.com/Abide15

Additionally, you can get 15% off the following Rosary in a Year resources by clicking the links and using the promo code ABIDE15 at checkout:

Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide (preorder)

How to Pray a Better Rosary

Rosary in a Year 5 Decade Gemstone Rosary (preorder)

Timestamps:

00:00 - Ascension

01:33 - Intro

02:26 - Welcome

03:20 - Fr. Mark-Mary

09:30 - Guiding Quote and Scripture Verse

09:59 - Inspiration for Rosary in a Year