Symbols of the Season: Frankenstein
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You’ve probably already heard of The Bible in a Year podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz, produced by Ascension Press. This podcast shot to the top of the charts in 2021, ultimately recording over 750 million downloads.
Following the huge success of The Bible in a Year podcast, Ascension Press next offered The Catechism in a Year, also with Fr. Mike. Once again, this podcast found a home among listeners, generating over 100 million downloads since its launch in 2023.
Now, Ascension Press is getting ready to release its next podcast, with the same high quality content and production values that have made them a trusted name for those seeking to learn more about the Catholic faith.
Ascension Press’ new podcast, The Rosary in a Year, is set to kick off on January 1st, 2025. The podcast was created with the intention that “from the words of the “Hail Mary” to the Scripture passages describing each mystery, listeners will have their relationship with the Rosary permanently transformed, storing spiritual insights to meditate on for the rest of their lives.”
The Rosary in a Year will be hosted by Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, a familiar face to many due to his popular YouTube videos. Fr. Mark-Mary is a member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and was the executive producer for Poco a Poco, the latest music album featuring beloved artist Br.Isaiah, CFR. He is also the author of both Habits for Holiness: Small Steps for Making Big Spiritual Progress and The Father: 30 Meditations to Draw You Into the Heart Of God. Fr. Mark-Mary began sharing his insights on the rosary at the end on 2021, and the response to his videos was so positive that his insights have now been transformed into a year-long journey of prayer, understanding and formation.
Much more than simply praying along with the rosary, The Rosary in a Year podcast will guide subscribers into a more profound relationship with God by walking them through six phases, each one building on the stage before it. The first phase focuses on building a relationship with God by practicing the presence of Jesus and Mary. The next phase unpacks the Biblical roots of the rosary, while the third stage meditates on the mysteries themselves, using the practices of Lectio and Visio Divina. Engaging, thought-provoking quotes from the saints are also included and studied, to remind us that we do not pray alone. Other stages invite us to pray the rosary personally, with a newer, expanded understanding of its roots and the mysteries themselves, and then to pray together with a community of listeners. Additionally, along the journey, listeners will learn more about the core prayers of the rosary, the Our Father and the Hail Mary, understanding them more deeply and coming to see why they are so spiritually important.
Just as there was a year-long reading plan for The Bible in a Year, to help listeners dive more deeply into the Bible, there is also a coordinating 365 day Prayer Plan available for free at www.AscensionPress.com/RosaryInAYear, to assist The Rosary in a Year subscribers in growing in prayer. The Prayer Plan starts small and builds up over the course of the year.
Besides the free Prayer Plan mentioned above, Ascension Press has also created several more resources to assist subscribers in experiencing a year of hope and growth. New videos will be available in January, similar to those produced for The Catechism in a Year. There are also other resources for parishes and small groups who want to revitalize their rosary praying or discover it for the first time
This podcast will be a perfect companion for those who already like praying the rosary, since it will deepen and expand our appreciation for this powerful prayer. But the podcast is also suited for people on the other end, for those who may not know how to pray the rosary, or even why it should be prayed.
Fans of Fr. Mike Schmitz will be happy to hear that he will be making some guest appearances in The Rosary in a Year podcast. Daily episodes of The Rosary in a Year will be posted to the Ascension App, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify beginning in January 2025, but you can listen to an introduction podcast today. Download your copy of the free Prayer Plan now, and get ready to pray the rosary like never before.
A life-long Catholic, Sarah has worked for the Catholic church for close to 20 years, helping parents, grandparents, godparents and children of all ages learn about and live their Catholic faith. A big believer in integrating reason with imagination, she especially loves using stories, particularly the stories of C.S.Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and the Inklings, as well as symbols and physical "stuff" to catechize and ponder over.
She earned her undergraduate degree in English from the University of Dallas, then went on to complete a Master's in Language and Literature at St. Mary's University and years later, while living on a farm in rural Indiana with kids, dogs, chickens and ducks, she earned a Master's degree in Theology from Franciscan University of Stuebenville. She is getting close to finishing a doctoral degree in Romantic Theology, and would love for you to follow her writing on Substack, as well as here at Catholic365.
