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The number one podcast in the world it’s not Joe Rogan’s job to start a new year.
It doesn’t belong to Alex Cooper or Mel Robbins or any of the Kelsey clan.
It is owned by Father Mark-Mary Ames of Ascension Press. Or, actually, as he told Fox News Digital, it belongs to God.
At the time when Bible sales are seeing a sudden surge Amidst research showing that people are turning away from religiosity in general, it came as a surprise that A Year’s Rosary (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR) rose to #1 on Apple Podcasts to kick off the new year — holding the spot for three consecutive days before dropping to the noteworthy No. 2 on January 4.
Its humble owner is the Director of Communications and Director of Priestly Studies of the Franciscan Brothers of the Renewal (CFR), whose main mission is “to accept Jesus Christ and their Holy Father, St. Francis of Assisi”.
The author of “Habits for Holiness” sat down with Fox News Digital at SEEK25 DCa four-day event consisting of conference sessions, world-class Catholic keynote speakers, music, mass and adoration for all who seek their pillars of prayer, fellowship, inspiration and entertainment. There he explained everything from what encouraged him to live a virtuous life to what the rosary should actually be and how it indeed is enjoying the success of his podcast.
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Joe Rogan’s legendary podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience” is currently #3 on Apple’s top podcast shows, just behind Father Mark-Mary Ames’ “The Rosary in a Year,” which dropped to #2 on January 4 after three days in a row. tops the chart.
Father Mark-Mary Ames, who was born and raised in Orange County, Calif., to what he described as a “wealthy family,” said Mother Teresa inspired him to give up his privileges to serve others.
“I heard that there is a group of Franciscans in New York who are hardcore and sleep on the ground. And I looked at them, and I read our constitutions — what we’re talking about — and I said, if that’s true, that’s all I’m looking for.” So I was a very, very normal kid, on a normal path, and then God just made it happen.”
“I was created to give my life to the poorest of the poor,” he added. “The great, profound experience of my life is what God has done in generosity. And so there is nothing that I have left or sacrificed that has not been repaid a hundredfold. It is new and more profound.”
While it’s not the job he’s most proud of, the priest told Fox News Digital about being handed the baton from successful graduate of Ascension Press, Father Mike Schmitz for his podcast “The Rosary in a Year,” describing the rosary itself as “great medicine for our times.”
“There is something special about it God wants to do through Mary it continues even now. “So it’s interesting that even Maria keeps coming,” he said. “I think the number one thing is that there seems to be some special grace given by God to the Rosary, where He wants to do some special work. And the rosary is what unlocks it. It opens the door of grace.”
The Rosary in a Year podcast has been #1 on Apple in all categories, ahead of Joe Rogan, for 3 days since the start of 2025.
The rosary may confuse and even frighten some, but the priest claims that it is actually “perfect”.
“Praying the rosary… it’s like physical therapy for the soul.”
“It took hundreds of years to develop what it is as a perfect prayer that has our way of receiving and coming to God,” he said. “But it’s also good for our humanity. We’re all over the place. It’s really hard for us to concentrate and concentrate, and the human ability to focus on concrete for a long period of time is somewhat like the Foundation on which prayer is built, it’s going to be very difficult to hear God, to come to God, if you can’t pay attention at all as physical therapy for the soul, it really atrophies.
While his podcast serves to destroy of each of the Marian mysteries and the structure of this perfect prayer with pleasure in mind, offering both experienced meditators and beginners the opportunity to understand it more deeply, Father Mark-Mary showed that praying the Rosary can actually be a personalized experience that increases its perfection.
“(Praying the rosary) is not really a commandment, but you have to go to Mass on Sunday,” he said, explaining the difference between devotional and liturgical prayer. “So there are good, good things about spiritual worship. Whether it’s good for you or not, you actually have room for decision. There’s a lot more room for personalization.”
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Further, the expert on the rosary admitted that even he can lose focus during prayer.
“A million percent,” he admitted. “And it’s kind of like… it’s not supposed to be controversial to people or put them off. This is my own journey because I want to do better and grow deeper.”
It was the same motivation — or calling, as he described it — that led him to sign up for the right to lead The Rosary in a Year.
“I just try to be true to what’s in front of me. And if God wants to make this thing number one, amazing. If he wants to make all kinds of weird, that’s for him.”
Despite his success so far, the famous monk told Fox News Digital that there are “more beautiful” things going on in the world that the media doesn’t pay attention to:
“There are many, many people in my life who are doing things that are much more beautiful and touching than when the podcast became a number one hit. People just don’t know about it,” he said. “I’m very grateful for the podcast, its popularity, and it’s a source of grace for people and helps them pray. (But) it’s not the hardest thing I do. It’s not the most honorable thing I do. And it’s definitely not the most heroic or touching thing that my brothers and neighbors do.”
Readers can learn more about these beautiful things here.
