Rejoice! An Advent Pilgrimage into the Heart of Scripture

I have a great friend who is going through RCIA and I'm going to be her sponsor. I wanted to help her on her way and got her the "Rejoice" for this year. She kept up with it, even used the audio stuff on Asscention's App, and we talked about it. Overall this is a magnificent way to learn about how to get closer to Jesus's birth, and I highly recommend it to all sponsors and godparents to consider this for of those who want to learn more about our faith.

This was my first time doing rejoice. Reading it every morning. Gave focus to my crazy, busy days. It help me prioritize, what was most important and not waste my time with trivial matters. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and would love to do the Linton version.

Each time I think that it is unlikely that Fr. Mark will open any new doors for me, I am blessedly wrong! It is difficult for me to fully express the awe, wonder and immense gratitude that I have for the Rejoice series-both Advent and Lent. Fr. Mark has been a major game changer in my spiritual journey. He has been uniquely instrumental so that I might come to know my self better; to be open to the light revealing places within me that I had never fully and honestly acknowledged. Fr. Mark and the Rejoice series is a true testament to what can happen when the gifts God has bestowed on those especially called to teach and to guide are embraced and made available to everyone who wants eyes to see and ears to hear-especially if what they see and hear is totally unexpected!

Lived this version of Rejoice as I have previous years. Fr. Tours is a great narrator. Being in the scene is moving and actually works. Advent was truly better with this program.

Thoughtful and contemplative writing for a very faith filled advent journey. Father Toups has done it again! I am so grateful to have his advent reflections for the last three years. He has inspired my life, attitude, and work. Thank you!

The content was compelling and challenging but doable for a daily meditation, the Litany of Waiting
Brought me to tears and to reconciliation. It made my Christmas. Couldn’t get the videos but that was probably user error. I heard they were excellent. Thank you.

With so much demanding our attention during Advent, it is easy to become distracted and anxious. Rejoice! is a wonderful journey towards the mystery of the Incarnation. Rejoyce! keeps me grounded and focused and deeply live the season.

I began my Advent journey with a need for a deep interior quietness. Week after week Fr. Toup's offered me ways, through people and words, along my journey to the crib in Bethlehem. In the fourth week of advent, I was struck by Elizabeth and Mary as they sang, "Emmanuel is with us." It brought peace to me, God is with us I said over and over as my daughter was going through an illness and in the hospital. Then my journey took me to Christmas eve and I heard Joseph singing the name Emmanuel, "just as Mary and Elizabeth did." After Christmas I went to the Shrine of St. Anthony and knelt in front of the manager and my heart began to sing, Emmanuel, Emmanuel, God is with us. Looking at the crib and Emmanuel and felt a new peace and quietness.

The book was easy to follow. I especially liked the imagery and encouragement to put myself in those readings and experience the readings. It was truly my best Advent as I felt closer to God through this program. Thank you!

Read along and get ready for Christmas!

I really liked the book and especially the guided meditations for the last week.

I would have liked some videos in my email to coincide or help guide my prayer journey however (maybe one a week). Maybe I needed to order the videos or search for them on You-Tube? Also, I was a little confused with the layout of the book at first, thinking that there was only about 3-4 days of reflections, because part of the week was a preparation for the following week!

Rejoice Advent helped me to focus on what is truly important this busy season, it warmed my soul. Fr. Tours is wonderful, so insightful and easy to listen to. He really helps me look deep inside and take a spiritual journey like no other. It’s like having chicken soup for my soul! Thank you and May God bless you!

My Advent journey would not be the same without the Rejoice! Advent reflections! This year I ordered my copy late and began almost 2 weeks behind, but God´ s timing is perfect and each prayer and reflection touched my heart just when I needed it. I love the beauty of this series so much-- the one word focus, the Scripture references, the prayers, the videos, the journal prompts, the artwork and the imaginative prayer-- that I order the journals in bulk and pass them out to my friends in the faith. During one of the busiest times of the year for me, Rejoice! helps me remain focused, reflective and centered on what truly matters. I come to understand my own heart better and listen more attentively to the Lord speaking to me. This is truly a Gift to us all!

The Rejoice Advent devotional was exactly what my soul needed. Thank you ♥️

The advent journey opened up my eyes and ears to a new way of listening to scripture. New insights to Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth and John the Baptist made me think about things differently. Living in the moment helped bring the scriptures to life. Directed me to quiet time and reflection was perfect. Enjoyed it very much and felt I had some spiritual growth.

I really enjoyed the meditations during the last week of Advent. It helped me open up my imagination.
Thank you!

This was my first Rejoice Advent journal.I am so sorry, I didn’t order the previous year’s topics. I have read Fr. Toups , before with his Prayer Study workbook and videos. I forgot how good he is. Believe me, when I say I am not a journal type of person, but his daily reflections and meditations made it so easy to pour out my heart on those blank pages. The Mary one was at my Catholic bookstore recently and I bought it. Might not even wait for next Christmas . Can’t wait for Lent and get that one too

This was my first experience with the Rejoice guides from Ascension and I am very pleased. My small group liked the short video clips with different presenters. We found the guided meditations helpful and enjoyed the discussions. I particularly liked the way the guide used the days before and immediately after for each weekends readings.

A tremendously supportive and helpful book as you prepare to celebrate the Christmas event and season. The presentation is lucid and helpful in a day by day basis.

I was not able to fully get the result I would of liked==the DVD was not working- I needed a new DVD so that I could watch and further enrich the series. Can you send me a new DVD Thank you for all you do to keep us connected with our Lord

I was inspired with this devotional. Every Advent and Lent I work through a devotional but I never stopped to consider why, or that I’m on a journey or better yet, a pilgrimage. What is my destination, where am I journeying, or why. Fr. Mark has caused me to ponder this moving forward and it has truly made a difference in my spiritual life. Thank you so much 😊.

I found the program very confusing, especially when I had to miss a session. It also seemed like the video content was not integrated with the content of the journal.

I was the leader of a small group during advent. We all really enjoyed the book and especially loved the videos!
My hope is that there will be a similar study guide for a Lenten group!

"Rejoice" helped me to keep my focus on what is important during the Advent season. The videos were thought-provoking and inspiring. The only reason for holding back one star is that the arrangement seemed awkward with having the following .Sunday’s readings in the middle of the week, but I realize this is just a small thing. God bless you and your work.

Fr. Mark provided out of the ordinary perspectives beginning with his focus on John the Baptist. But what I appreciated the most was his simple focused approach, returning again and again to the same theme and just building upon it. I am trained in Ignatian spirituality and found his simple focused approach very Ignatian. Sometimes when you pick up a book like this that leads you through a mini retreat, too much material is presented and if you can’t do it everyday you start feeling the stress of getting behind. Not so here. I will definitely return to Rejoice in future years. Very well done. Thank you and God bless your continued ministry.

This Advent has been special for me as I implemented the Rejoice! Advent journal. I cannot begin to describe how each day's reflections allowed me to grow deeper into my preparation for Christmas. To be honest, this is the first year that I felt Advent was a time of preparation for Christmas. It helped me to experience deeper prayer times each day where I allowed myself to be happy, to cry, and to pray. The past couple of years have been challenging for me and although those challenges are still present, this Advent I felt like I was no longer alone.

Another wonderful Advent journal. I am always sad when Advent is over & this journal is finished. Truly took me on a prayerful prayer journey. Thanking God for your gifts!

Since childhood the Christmas story has been a favorite of
mine. The Advent daily exercises in Rejoice! brought me
into the story as if I was living it. The anticipation of every
day communion with Jesus, Mary and Joseph, John the
Baptist went straight to the heart. Journey, Prepare, Await,
Depth all were great. I enjoyed my quiet time every morning
with Rejoice. Thank you Fr. Mark.