Shows / The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
In Ascension’s The Catechism in a Year podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz guides you through the entire Catechism of the Catholic Church in 365 episodes, providing explanation, insight, and encouragement along the way. Unlike any other Catechism podcast, The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) podcast follows a reading plan inspired by Ascension’s Foundations of Faith approach, a color-coded approach that reveals the structure of the Catechism, making it easier to read and understand. With this…
Episodes
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 278: The Second Commandment
We begin our examination of the second commandment, to not take the Lord’s name in vain. Fr. Mike emphasizes that God has revealed his sacred name to us, and…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 277: Agnosticism and Graven Images
As we reach the conclusion of the section on the first commandment, we end by taking a closer look at agnosticism and graven images. Fr. Mike unpacks the…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 276: Irreligion and Atheism
We continue our examination of the first commandment, unpacking irreligion and atheism. Fr. Mike highlights the different elements of irreligion, namely…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 275: Superstition, Idolatry, and Magic
Superstition, idolatry, divination, and magic are all things we can encounter in our daily lives, and, with Fr. Mike, we unpack how they break the first…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 274: Social Duty of Religion
The social duty of religion and the right to religious freedom are presented to us in the Catechism. We examine what it means to have respect for other…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 273: Him Only Shall You Serve
How can we serve God? The Catechism identifies ways in which we can keep the first commandment through adoration, prayer, sacrifice, and promises and vows. Fr…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 272: You Shall Worship the Lord Your God
“You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” Taking a look at the first commandment, we see how we are called to love and worship God…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 271: Love of God
We continue our overview of the Ten Commandments by looking at the two parts: love of God and love of neighbor. Together they form a “coherent whole,” and…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 270: The Ten Commandments
God reveals himself and his glory through the Ten Commandments. We begin exploring the Ten Commandments as shown in the Catechism and learn about how these…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 269: Our Missionary Witness
The Church’s mission of evangelization depends on the faithful witness of her members. Christian goodness and fidelity authenticate the Gospel. As Fr. Mike…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 268: The Precepts of the Church
God has given the Church his law as “the way of life and truth.” We, therefore, have the right to be taught and guided while maintaining a spirit of docility…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 267: The Church as Mother and Teacher
“The moral life is spiritual worship,” says the Catechism. From the Church, we receive moral guidance, with the Magisterium safeguarding and passing down…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 266: The Gift of Grace
In this summary of the Catechism’s teaching on holiness, justification, and merit, we briefly consider the work of God’s grace and mercy. His grace moves us…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 265: The Call to Holiness
Each of us is called to holiness. As Fr. Mike puts it, we’re all called to the “heights of holiness.” No matter our station in life, we’re meant for ever…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 264: Man’s Merit
Knowing that our good actions begin and end in Christ, we recognize that man’s merit is due to God. Fr. Mike explains that charity in Christ is the source of…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 263: Responding to Grace
God’s free initiative demands man’s free response. We continue our discussion of grace today by examining how grace and our free will interact in our lives…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 262: Habitual and Actual Grace
Without God’s help, we can do nothing. The Catechism delves into grace today, explaining how grace works and helps us achieve our supernatural vocation to…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 261: Justification
What does it mean to be justified? The Catechism teaches us today about the grace of the Holy Spirit and its power to justify us. Fr. Mike explains how…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 260: Summary of the Moral Law
In today’s “Nugget Day,” Fr. Mike reviews the significant takeaways that the Catechism teaches us about the moral law. Fr. Mike highlights that God has written…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 259: The New Commandment
We continue our examination of the New Law or Law of the Gospel, specifically the Golden Rule and New Commandment of Jesus. Fr. Mike emphasizes that the New…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 258: The New Law
Together, with Fr. Mike, we examine the New Law or the Law of the Gospel. Fr. Mike emphasizes that the New Law “fulfills, refines, surpasses, and leads the Old…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 257: The Old Law
We continue the section on moral law, specifically focusing on the Old Law. Fr. Mike emphasizes that the Old Law is the first stage of Revealed Law. He also…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 256: The Natural Moral Law
Together, we begin the section on moral law, starting with natural moral law. Fr. Mike begins by emphasizing that we need both the law that guides us and God’s…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 255: Human Solidarity
Together, with Fr. Mike, we reach the conclusion of the article on Social Justice. Fr. Mike emphasizes that although we have a right to private property, we…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 254: Social Justice
We begin to look at social justice as outlined by the Catechism by diving into two aspects: respect for the human person and equality and differences among…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 253: Participation in Public Life
The Catechism has shown us how the common good begins with the good of the individual. It further shows us that each individual can participate in the pursuit…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 252: The Common Good
The Catechism sets up a pair of definitions for us that, at first glance, appear circular, but upon close examination, reveal profound interdependence: “The…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 251: Authorities in Society
The Catechism shows us that, in order for any good in society to last and flourish, legitimate authority must be instituted and respected by all. Furthermore…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 250: Conversion in Society
Before we can see outward changes for the good in society, there must be inward conversion in the hearts of its members, so says the Catechism. Fr. Mike…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 249: The Person in Society
Man is made for communion. God created man in his triune image, making us naturally social and communal beings. We learn that various societies weave us…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 248: The Spread of Sin
We close the section on human dignity and goodness by learning how sin engenders vice. Our readings today discuss the proliferation of sin and how capital…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 247: The Weight of Sin
We can consider the variety of sins in light of their gravity or seriousness. In doing so, we see that some sins weaken charity while others destroy it. The…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 246: Mercy and the Mystery of Sin
Jesus reveals God’s offer of loving mercy to sinners. To accept this gift, we must identify and admit our failings. Recognizing our sins enables us to further…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 245: Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit
As we end our exploration of the virtues, we learn about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These gifts perfect our virtues and increase our ability to respond to…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 244: The Virtue of Charity
The greatest of all the theological virtues is charity. Fr. Mike explains that charity, or love, is to love God above all things for his own sake and to love…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 243: The Virtue of Hope
A desire for the Kingdom of heaven and eternal life is at the heart of the virtue of hope. Fr. Mike breaks down the definition of the theological virtue of…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 242: The Virtue of Faith
The origin, motive, and object of the theological virtues are God himself. Today, we dive into the theological virtues, beginning with the virtue of Faith. Fr…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 241: The Cardinal Virtues
A virtuous person is someone who consistently chooses the good. Fr. Mike unpacks the four human or cardinal virtues that are essential in helping us become…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 240: Erroneous Judgment of Conscience
It is possible for our moral conscience to remain in ignorance for a variety of reasons. Fr. Mike delves into the sources of errors of judgment in moral…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 239: The Formation of Conscience
Together, with Fr. Mike, we unpack the formation of our conscience. Fr. Mike emphasizes that a well-formed conscience is one that is both “upright and…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 238: Our Moral Conscience
Together, with Fr. Mike, we explore the moral conscience. Fr. Mike emphasizes that even though our intellect has been weakened by sin, we still have some…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 237: The Morality of the Passions
Together, we examine The Morality of The Passions. Fr. Mike unpacks and explores the different elements of the definition of “passions”. He emphasizes that…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 236: The Morality of Human Acts
Together, with Fr. Mike, we examine the article on the morality of human acts. Fr. Mike unpacks the three “sources” of morality: the object chosen, the end in…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 235: Human Freedom in Salvation
Together, with Fr. Mike, we examine the reality of our human freedom in the economy of salvation. Fr. Mike emphasizes that the right to freedom does not imply…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 234: Freedom and Responsibility
The Catechism gives us an overview of what it means for humans to have freedom, as well as some of the ramifications of that freedom. It introduces us to the…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 233: The Beatitudes
“The Beatitudes are at the heart of Jesus’ preaching,” the Catechism tells us. Jesus’ proclamation in Chapter 5 of the Gospel of Matthew purifies our hearts…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 232: Man Is Made in the Image of God
We enter a new chapter examining the dignity of the human person, and Article 1 shows us that we have dignity because we are made in the image and likeness of…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 231: Our Calling
As we step into Part Three of the Catechism on How We Live, we begin with an overview of our high calling as sons and daughters of God. Truly our “first and…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 230: How We Live (Part 3 Introduction with Dr. Mary Healy)
The third part of the Catechism tells us how to live—how God has revealed that we are made to act toward him, toward each other, and toward ourselves. Fr. Mike…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 229: Christian Funerals
In this final episode of Pillar 2, we learn about the Christian funeral rite. Fr. Mike explains how the new life begun in Baptism comes to greater fulfillment…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 228: Blessings, Sacramentals, and Popular Piety
Sacramentals are sacred signs that resemble the sacraments. Blessings of people, places, and objects are foremost among the various sacramentals found in the…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 227: Summary of the Sacrament of Matrimony
This summary of the Catechism's teaching on the sacrament of Matrimony pulls together several beautiful themes regarding marriage and family. Fr. Mike…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 226: The Supreme Gift of Marriage
“Children are the supreme gift of marriage,” says Vatican II. Marriage is directed by its very nature toward the procreation of children. Beyond this, parents…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 225: Total Fidelity in Marriage
“Love seeks to be definitive,” the Catechism tells us in this section on marital fidelity. The faithfulness of husband and wife in the sacrament of Matrimony…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 224: The Grace of the Sacrament of Marriage
The grace of the Sacrament of Marriage provides husbands and wives the strength to love one another with supernatural, tender, and fruitful love. Fr. Mike…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 223: Differences in Religion in Marriage
Can a Catholic marry a baptized non-Catholic or a non-baptized person? Fr. Mike breaks down the Church’s teaching on mixed marriages and disparity of cult. The…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 222: Matrimonial Consent
Matrimonial consent is an indispensable element of the Sacrament of Marriage. Fr. Mike explains why it is essential for those entering marriage to express…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 221: The Celebration of Marriage
What does a Catholic wedding look like? Today, we dive into the liturgical celebration of marriage and learn that the celebration must be valid, worthy, and…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 220: Marriage in the New Covenant
How is the meaning of marriage different in the New Covenant? The Catechism teaches us today that Christ elevates the gift of marriage to a sacrament and…
- The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 219: Marriage in God’s Plan
Together, with Fr. Mike, we begin the section on the sacrament of holy Matrimony. We unpack two elements of the sacrament, namely marriage in the order of…