The Bible in a Year podcast, hosted by Fr. Mike Schmitz of Ascension Press, guides listeners through the entire Catholic Bible in 365 days and invites them to “live life through the lens of scripture.” Fr. Schmitz serves as the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth and the Chaplain for the Newman Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Alongside him, Jeff Cavins, the developer of the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, joins in for special appearances. Each episode consists of two or three scripture readings, a short prayer, and a reflection from Fr. Schmitz, totaling to about 20-25 minutes in length.
Since its launch on January 1, 2021, the podcast has amassed over 20 million downloads and spent time as the #1 podcast in the United States on Apple Podcasts.
Rather than reading straight through the Bible, the podcast is based on the Great Adventure Bible Timeline which seeks to guide people through the Bible in a way that allows them to witness the arc of salvation history. In this program, the Bible is divided into 12 time periods that span from creation to the time of Christ and His early Church.
Each episode follows a similar structure. It begins with the reading of scripture: there is always a reading from one of the fourteen narrative books, often a second reading from a thematically related supplemental book, and always a reading from Proverbs or Psalms.
Following the reading, Fr. Schmitz says a prayer of thanksgiving with respect to the passages. Finally, Fr. Schmitz offers some context or his own reflections. This portion is especially helpful for those areas where listeners are less likely to be familiar with the customs presented or when particularly challenging passages arise, for example, Jewish rituals or discussions on slavery.
The concurrent reading of the narrative books with the supplemental reading allows Fr. Schmitz to point out connections between different books. For example, he draws parallels between narrative books, like Exodus, and books concerning the law, like Leviticus. As well as providing the framework for the reading plan, Jeff Cavins collaborates with Fr. Schmitz on several bonus episodes to introduce the podcast and each new time period. These episodes give listeners an overview of what to expect during each time period by identifying important individuals, themes, historical context, or connections to past readings.
The podcast is published daily, but Fr. Schmitz makes it clear that there is no right or wrong pace for listening. While many may choose to listen to the podcast everyday, Fr. Schmitz consistently reminds listeners that there is no “getting behind” and points out that he intentionally excludes the calendar date when introducing each episode, instead opting for the number of the episode. No matter if it takes one year or three years to follow the series, it is still an accomplishment.
In a time where many people are feeling isolated, the daily consistency of the Bible in a Year podcast provides structure. Additionally, listeners are encouraged to pray for each other throughout the journey. Even though listening to the podcast is a solitary activity for many, people may be comforted knowing that they are listening alongside many others. The Bible in a Year podcast is an opportunity for Catholics to deepen their understanding and appreciation of Scripture while growing closer to God.
- An Overview of Ascension and Pentecost - April 30, 2021
- Teaching in Catholic Schools - March 25, 2021
- Bible in a Year Podcast Tops Charts - February 25, 2021