Story Secrets - The Final Ascension

Story Secrets - The Final Ascension

Author: Fr. Roderick Vonhögen May 29, 2025 Duration: 18:08

Ascension Day is one of those quiet feasts that slips by unnoticed for many—forty days after Easter, Christ returns to His Father, and we're left looking at the sky, wondering what comes next.

That moment—of absence, silence, and waiting—has always fascinated me. It’s not the climax of the story. It’s the breath held between promise and fire.

Today’s short story was born from that space.

Set in a magical monastery tower where angels help scribes craft living stories, The Final Ascension follows three young story mages sent on an impossible mission: to speak a single story that everyone in a fractured world can understand.

They try music. Food. Healing. All fall short.

But what begins as failure becomes something more. A fire lights. Not just in a hearth, but in their hearts.

This tale is for anyone who’s ever struggled to be understood. For anyone who’s waited in silence, wondering if their voice mattered. And for anyone who hopes that—somehow—what we give with love is never lost.

Read the final version of the story on my Substack: https://fatherroderick.substack.com/p/the-ascent-of-the-scribe


Ever notice how a great film or television show can linger in your mind long after the credits roll? There’s often something more happening beneath the surface, a resonance that feels almost spiritual. Story Secrets is where we pull on those threads. Hosted by Fr. Roderick Vonhögen, this podcast sits at a unique crossroads, weaving together discussions on faith, popular culture, and pure entertainment. Each episode takes a familiar story-whether from a beloved movie, a gripping TV series, or even a timeless tale-and gently uncovers the themes of meaning, purpose, and humanity hidden within. You won’t find dry lectures here; instead, Fr. Roderick brings a conversational and insightful perspective, revealing how narratives we enjoy in our leisure time can unexpectedly illuminate deeper questions about life, virtue, and connection. It’s for anyone who loves a good story and has ever wondered why it sticks with them. Tuning into this podcast feels like joining a thoughtful friend for a coffee after seeing a fantastic film, where the conversation naturally drifts from plot points to the profound. You’ll come away with a richer appreciation for the craft of storytelling and, perhaps, a new lens through which to view your own journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Story Secrets
Podcast Episodes
The Quill & Candle — Episode 4: The Walk That Wrote a Novel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:50
This is the episode where it all comes full circle. Ten months ago, I came to Glendalough in Ireland and had an idea for a fantasy novel. Now, I’ve returned—after two weeks of hiking, dictating, and dreaming through the…
The Quill & Candle — Episode 3: A Writing Retreat in Ireland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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I’m back in Glendalough, where the idea for my fantasy novel was born. A year ago, I was walking along the ancient pilgrim paths here, and my imagination just ran wild. What if the old stories about saints and miracles w…
The Quill & Candle — Episode 2: Dragons, Protestors & Kittens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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The Quill & Candle — Episode 1: A New Weekly Show! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Welcome to the very first episode of The Quill & Candle, a weekly show where I share what it’s like to write fantasy stories as a Catholic priest—and what I’m learning along the way. In this launch episode, I reflect on…
Story Secrets - The Pie Runner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:47
Running has been a part of my life for years. I still remember the pure joy of crossing the finish line in my first half-marathon—and the wild mix of exhaustion and exhilaration when I completed a full one. But time marc…
Story Secrets - The Girl Who Drew The World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:33
What started as a simple idea—a girl who could draw anything into existence—quickly turned into one of the most emotional and layered fairy tales I’ve written so far. Honestly, I didn’t know where it was going when I beg…
Story Secrets - The Ratfather [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:50
🧀 I planned to write a cute squirrel story set in the Vatican Gardens. It turned into The Godfather. It was supposed to be a cozy little tale about nuts, teamwork, and helping your neighbor. But then… the rat showed up.…
Story Secrets - Of Dragons and Bedsheets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:14
This story came to me in the shower this morning. No pen. No notebook. Just me, soaked and wide-eyed, scrambling to dry off, throw on some clothes, and hit record on my phone before it vanished. Writers, you know the dri…
Story Secrets - The Better Quill [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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This story began on a rainy walk with an umbrella in one hand and my recorder in the other. It’s about a young monk named Ciarán, a humble chicken feather gifted by his mother, and a growing hunger for something better—m…
Story Secrets - The Rock and the Pebble [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:31
Did you know that during archaeological excavations beneath Saint Peter’s Basilica, researchers discovered not only human remains believed to be those of Saint Peter… but also the perfectly preserved skeleton of a tiny f…