For Catholics who want to finally read and understand the Bible — not just open it and hope for the best — the Ascension App puts 25 years of Catholic Scripture scholarship right in your pocket, built around the one tool that's helped hundreds of thousands crack the code of salvation history: Jeff Cavins' Bible Timeline® learning system.^1
At its core is the full text of The Great Adventure Catholic Bible with audio narration by Fr. Mike Schmitz, the priest whose "Bible in a Year" podcast became the most successful religious podcast of all time — officially surpassing one billion downloads worldwide on March 26, 2026, now adapted into Spanish, Malayalam, Hungarian, and Slovak.^2 To mark the podcast's 5th anniversary in 2026, Ascension released free bonus commentary from Fr. Mike for the opening days of the series, offering fresh insights even for returning listeners.^9 But the app goes far beyond a digital Bible. It's an entire Catholic faith formation ecosystem: daily Mass readings with video reflections from trusted presenters (including NAB translations from the USCCB), the complete Catechism of the Catholic Church with audiobook playback, 80+ study plans from voices like Dr. Edward Sri, Sarah Christmyer, and Jackie Francois Angel, guided Rosary recordings in English and Latin (over 2 million Rosaries prayed through the app), a Saint of the Day, lectio divina prompts, a Bible Commentary feature, and all of Ascension's podcasts — Bible in a Year, Catechism in a Year, Rosary in a Year, the "Called" podcast featuring Fr. Mike's interviews with ordinary people living extraordinary faith, and the "Mass in a Month" podcast where Dr. Edward Sri guides listeners step-by-step through every part of the Mass in 31 episodes.^1
Built by Ascension, a Pennsylvania-based Catholic multimedia network that has served more than 20 million Catholics over 25 years, the app launched on June 26, 2023, and immediately became the #1 Bible app in America's App Store. More than 1 million Catholics have downloaded it.^1 In June 2026, Ascension launched Season 5 of its Catholic Classics podcast — Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. and Rebecca Dougherty reading The Practice of the Presence of God, a spiritual classic that Pope Leo XIV has said shaped his own spirituality.^10 Ascension also announced "Invited: Your Journey into the Catholic Church," a groundbreaking new OCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation) program debuting in Summer 2026 to help parishes form disciples, not just deliver doctrine — with 28 sessions, companion guides, and video lessons (8–12 min each) that are 100% free in the Ascension app alongside more than 150 additional free resources.^11^15 On June 16, 2026, Ascension unlocked free access to the full video content of four of its award-winning sacramental preparation programs — Chosen (Confirmation), Invited (OCIA), Renewed (First Reconciliation), and Received (First Communion) — available through both the web and mobile versions of the app.^15 Ascension is also publishing its own edition of the Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition (the new USCCB English translation, available for preorder beginning July 1, 2026, shipping January 2027), and an in-app Liturgy of the Hours experience has been discussed by users as a hoped-for future addition.^13 Ascension's broader partnership with the USCCB as publisher of the forthcoming Catholic American Bible — a historic new Scripture translation approved for liturgical and personal use, anticipated for Ash Wednesday 2027 — includes plans to integrate it into future app editions.^6
Why Christians Love the Ascension App: "This app has everything! The Bible, daily readings, catechism, the videos and studies, lectio Divina, the podcasts, and they keep adding more tools and functions! My favorite Catholic app by far!"^4 An 80-year-old cradle Catholic shared: "The BIY, because of its organization around the narrative, Father Mike's and Jeff Cavins' insightful commentaries, and the loving prayers each day made the Scriptures truly become living words. This has been a deeply rich experience for me, and I am filled with gratitude."^4 Another user wrote: "I'm not even a Catholic Christian but I use this app because I love the daily short videos. Those nuggets of faith and wisdom really encourage me."^1
Notable- Bible in a Year officially surpassed 1 billion downloads (March 26, 2026)^3
- FREE sacramental prep videos unlocked (June 16, 2026): Chosen, Invited, Renewed, Received — full video content free in app and web^15
- iOS v1.15.2 (~July 21, 2026): redesigned Home screen and Calendar, email-link login (no password), in-app shopping for physical products, improved sharing of reflections and study-plan days
- Android update (July 18, 2026): fixes and improvements to Podcasts, Explore, subscription management
- 5th anniversary bonus commentary from Fr. Mike released free in the app (2026)^9
- "Mass in a Month" podcast with Dr. Edward Sri — 31-episode walk-through of the Mass (May 2026)^7
- "Called" podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz — powerful stories of ordinary people living extraordinary faith^8
- Catholic Classics Season 5: The Practice of the Presence of God — a book Pope Leo XIV says shaped his spirituality (premiered June 8, 2026)^10
- "Invited: Your Journey into the Catholic Church" — new OCIA program launching Summer 2026 (28 sessions; free 8–12 min video lessons + 150+ free resources in app)^11^15
- Ascension Edition of the Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition — preorders opened July 1, 2026; ships January 2027 (in-app LOTH experience discussed by users as a hoped-for future addition)^13
- "Rediscover Mass" free podcast series launched exclusively in the app (March 2026)^5
- Ascension partnering with USCCB to publish the Catholic American Bible (expected 2027)^6
- ChMeetings named it "Best Catholic Bible App of 2026"^14
- Bible audiobook available for offline download; Catechism audiobook recently added^4
- Bible Commentary feature for deeper verse-by-verse study^4
Platforms: iOS, Android Pricing: Freemium (free access to full Bible text, Catechism, daily Mass readings, Rosary, all podcasts, AND the four sacramental prep video programs; subscription for full content library: monthly, annually; free trial for new users)
