“The Bible in a Year” Nears One Billion Downloads

Last updated on: December 19, 2025 at 6:37 pm by William Hemsworth

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“The Bible in a Year” Nears One Billion Downloads 2025-12-19T18:37:16-07:00 William Hemsworth

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[Exton, PA – December 18, 2025] In 2026, The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) celebrates its fifth anniversary, marking a global movement of daily Scripture reading that is nearing one billion downloads worldwide.

Since its January 2021 launch, The Bible in a Year has guided millions of people through the Bible, helping them encounter God’s Word daily. The podcast topped the overall Apple Podcast charts in 2021 and 2022, and has consistently ranked #1 on Apple’s Religion & Spirituality charts, becoming the most successful religious podcast of all time. What began as a simple invitation from host Fr. Mike Schmitz to “listen to the Bible for 20 minutes a day” has drawn people worldwide into daily prayer with Scripture.

“I get quite emotional,” said Fr. Mike. “I never imagined in my entire life that I would get the chance to read the Bible with and to so many people. Hearing how God’s Word has transformed people’s lives blows me away. This is God’s work; I just got to be the narrator.”

Exclusive Anniversary Content

To mark the milestone, new bonus commentary from Fr. Mike for Days 1-5 will be released free in the Ascension app, offering fresh insights into the “Early World” readings and answering questions listeners ask year after year. The anniversary celebration will also feature exclusive video conversations about Scripture and faith with Fr. Mike and special guests—including The Chosen actor Jonathan Roumie, The Bible Timeline creator Jeff Cavins, and author Dr. Arthur Brooks—beginning Sunday, December 28, on the Ascension Presents YouTube channel.

A Global Renewal of Scripture

The Bible in a Year has broken barriers for Catholic media, consistently topping global podcast charts in Religion & Spirituality and drawing attention from major media outlets including CBS, FOX, New York Times Magazine, and The London Times. The podcast has ranked annually on Apple’s Top 10 “Most Shared” podcasts since 2022, reflecting how listeners actively invite family, friends, and parish communities to join the journey.

Grounded in the Church’s call that “easy access to Sacred Scripture should be provided for all the Christian faithful” (Dei Verbum, 22), The Bible in a Year embodies Pope Leo XIV’s vision that the faithful are called “to hear the Word of God with reverence and to proclaim it with faith” (Dei Verbum, 1). By guiding millions through the entire Bible in daily, approachable segments, the podcast provides precisely this access, helping Catholics encounter God’s Word prayerfully and allowing Scripture to transform their lives.

“God’s Word is inexhaustible,” Fr. Mike said. “There’s always more. When you finish, press play again. God’s Word is alive, and He has something for you.”

Listeners Hail Podcast as Life-Changing Experience

Ascension’s website and social media pages are awash in profound testimonials from listeners, including the more than 50,000 5-star reviews on Apple Podcasts:

“My daughter was killed in a car accident…. My heart was shattered. Listening to the trusted voice of Fr. Mike and the words of God come to life each morning in a safe place built that hope and joy back. I completed the year, and I am listening again this year!” -Anna Maria
“After many years of God slowly bringing me in, 12 years married to a Catholic husband, and a year of reading, studying, going to Mass and RCIA, last night I was welcomed into the Catholic Church. Fr. Mike’s explanations in the Bible in a Year helped me see things in a new light. I really am home.” -Cheryl C.
“I just finished Bible in a Year! I have NEVER read the entire Bible before now. A coworker had planted the seed and mentioned the podcast to me. I believe it was God who hit the play button for me, as I was planning on listening to music that day on the way home from work, but I hit the wrong podcast by “accident”. Thank you Fr. Mike and all those at Ascension Press who put this together for me, for all of us!” -Heidi S.

Celebrities have also publicly shared their appreciation for the podcast, including actor Chris Pratt, who has spoken on social media about listening to The Bible in a Year as part of his own faith journey, along with other public figures who encourage others to read Scripture. Fr. Mike even shared that he listens to the podcast at 2x speed. For him, the impact is both global and deeply personal.

“That first year, my mom and dad listened all the way through,” Fr. Mike shared. “The people who taught me how to read—I got to read God’s Word to them. It’s one thing to hear stories from people you’ve never met. It’s another thing to bring Scripture to the people you love most. I t has been one of the coolest things in my priesthood, to be able to walk with so many people through God’s Word.”

To join The Bible in a Year, anyone can download the free reading plan and listen at: www.AscensionPress.com/BIY.

About The Bible in a Year

The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)® is the world’s #1 religion podcast. Since its 2021 debut, listeners worldwide have been guided through the entire Catholic Bible in 365 daily episodes using The Great Adventure Bible Timeline learning system. With over 900 million downloads and over 50,000 five-star reviews on Apple Podcasts, The podcast has transformed how Catholics engage with Scripture and sparked a global movement of daily Bible reading.

About Fr. Mike Schmitz

Father Mike Schmitz is a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Duluth and one of the most trusted voices in Catholic media today. Host of the #1 religion podcast The Bible in a Year, Father Mike has guided millions of listeners through Scripture with his approachable teaching style and genuine passion for helping people encounter Jesus. Click here to see full author biography.

About Ascension

Ascension is a multimedia network and the leader in Catholic faith formation and digital content. Over the past 25 years, Ascension has helped nurture the faith of over 20 million Catholics through award-winning books, the chart-topping Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)® podcast, more than 50 unique faith formation programs, and the Ascension Presents media and YouTube platforms.

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