Face to Face: Preparing to Meet God Through the Four Last Things encourages Catholics to reflect on the choices they make today that are shaping their journey toward eternity.
[Exton, PA - August 19, 2026] In addition to his bestselling title, Unshakeable, Fr. Mike Schmitz has released his second full length Ascension trade book, Face to Face: Preparing to Meet God Through the Four Last Things.
Using relatable stories, insightful teaching, and practical reflections, the beloved priest, speaker, and host of hit podcasts Bible in a Year and Catechism in a Year, offers clear and accessible guidance to begin preparing now for the day we meet the Lord.
As readers follow along, they will walk away with:
- A deeper understanding of the four last things: death, judgment, heaven, and hell, and how they shape our daily decisions
- Guidance for overcoming the obstacles that keep them from being ready, including fear, regret, shame, and feelings of unworthiness
- Encouragement to examine their life honestly, receive the Lord’s healing, and respond to his invitation with hope
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Hope-filled guidance to help them live with greater freedom, purpose, and readiness for eternity
“If you have prepared to meet the Lord face-to-face, the day you meet him will not be a day of terror but of joy” says Fr. Mike. “The day of our death is not a day of destruction. It is the day of redemption and the day of hope. Everything you live for, including the happiness many of us spend our lives chasing, is already in your possession on the day of your death—if you are ready.”
Face to Face is the perfect companion to Fr. Mike’s other Ascension titles:
- Unshakeable: Building a Life of Virtue in a World of Chaos
- Are you Saved? The Catholic Understanding of Salvation
- Untroubled by the Unknown: Trusting God in Every Moment
- It’s Personal: Cultivating your Relationship with God
- Ordinary Time: Finding Holiness in Everyday Life
- What’s Next? Surrendering your Plans to Jesus
- Come to the Altar: Worshipping God with your Whole Heart
- Set Apart: Living for Heaven here on Earth
- Growing Through the Motions: Living your Faith with Intention
Face to Face: Preparing to Meet God Through the Four Last Things is available at www.AscensionPress.com/Prepare
About the Author
Fr. Mike Schmitz, a Catholic priest and evangelist well known for his social media videos and podcasts, hosted the 2021 breakout podcast The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)™, which became the #1 podcast on the Apple charts after its January 2021 launch, and is the most popular Catholic podcast of all time. The Bible in a Year was Chartable’s #1 global podcast in religion for several years, and was covered by news outlets including CBS, Fox, and The New York Times Magazine.
For the impact of The Bible in a Year podcast, Fr. Mike was recognized as one of Our Sunday Visitor’s 2021 Catholics of the Year as well as a recipient of the 2022 Cardinal John P. Foley Award for excellence and innovation in Catholic storytelling. He is an internationally beloved Catholic speaker, and has spoken to hundreds of crowds ranging from his local Catholic parish to the National Eucharistic Congress audience of 50,000.
Fr. Mike is the director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth as well as the chaplain for the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD). Fr. Mike attended St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was ordained for the Diocese of Duluth in 2003.
About Ascension
Ascension is one of the most trusted publishers of Catholic books and digital media today. For over 25 years, Ascension has helped nurture the faith of more than 20 million people through award-winning resources including the chart-topping The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) podcast, the groundbreaking The Great Adventure Bible study program, bestselling Bibles, over 50 faith formation programs, and Ascension Presents—one of the largest Catholic YouTube channels in the world. As the leader in faith formation, Ascension combines wide-reaching media, a commitment to quality, and a deep connection with the Catholic community to help millions encounter the truth and beauty of the Catholic faith.
Media Contact
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