The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Day 225: Total Fidelity in Marriage (2024)

August 12th, 2024  |  20 mins 13 secs

covenant, divorce, fidelity, love, marriage, reconciliation, separation

“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 is a sign of God’s irrevocable covenant with humanity. This fidelity is both beautiful and challenging. Fr. Mike addresses painful separation and divorce situations and how the whole ecclesial community should respond with truthful love. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1646 through 1651.

Day 224: The Grace of the Sacrament of Marriage (2024)

August 11th, 2024  |  21 mins 19 secs

catholic marriage, conjugal love, faithfulness, fertility, grace of marriage, husband, indissoluble bond, marriage bond, marriage roles, married love, matrimony, one flesh, spouses, unity in marriage, wives

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 covers the characteristics of the marriage bond and the different roles of husbands and wives. He explains what it means to “be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.” We also learn that indissolubility, faithfulness, and openness to fertility are requirements of conjugal love. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1638-1645.

Day 223: Differences in Religion in Marriage (2024)

August 10th, 2024  |  17 mins 35 secs

catholic marriage, differences in religion in marriage, disparity of cult, marriage, marrying non-catholics, mixed marriages

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 Catechism teaches us that while a difference in religion “does not constitute an insurmountable obstacle for marriage,” it can often be a source of tension in marriage and present significant challenges when raising a family. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1625-1632.

Day 222: Matrimonial Consent (2024)

August 9th, 2024  |  22 mins 45 secs

annulling marriage, annulment, catholic marriage, marriage, marriage formation, marriage preparation, married in a church, martial embrace, 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 their consent freely and why in the Church’s eyes, “if consent is lacking, there is no marriage.” Fr. Mike also guides us through the Church’s teaching on annulment and clarifies why it can be complex. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1625-1632.

Day 221: The Celebration of Marriage (2024)

August 8th, 2024  |  16 mins 8 secs

catholic marriage, catholic wedding, celebration of marriage, celibacy, eunuchs, marriage liturgy, marriage prayers, matrimony, sacrament of marriage, virginity for the sake of the kingdom

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 fruitful. Additionally, we briefly cover virginity for the sake of the Kingdom and how this particular call highlights the beauty and goodness of marriage. Fr. Mike emphasizes that those called to celibacy can truly live joyful and fulfilling lives. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 1618-1624.

Day 220: Marriage in the New Covenant (2024)

August 7th, 2024  |  22 mins 7 secs

catholic marriage, christian marriage, covenant of marriage, jesus teaching on marriage, marriage, marriage bond, marriage in the bible, new covenant, sacrament of marriage, union of man and woman

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 restores the original order of this powerful union between man and woman. Fr. Mike explains why marriage looked different in the Old Covenant and how God was preparing his chosen people throughout time to accept Christ’s law of marriage. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1609-1617.

Day 219: Marriage in God’s Plan (2024)

August 6th, 2024  |  20 mins 50 secs

education, family, holy matrimony, marriage, offspring, partnership, procreation, sacraments, spouses

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 creation and marriage under the regime of sin. Fr. Mike emphasizes that marriage is a partnership between man and woman that is oriented towards the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1601-1608.

Day 218: Summary of Holy Orders (2024)

August 5th, 2024  |  15 mins 8 secs

bishops, celibacy, deacons, holy orders, ordination, presbyters, priests, sacraments

Together, with Fr. Mike, we reach the conclusion and “nugget day” for the section on the sacrament of Holy Orders. Fr. Mike reiterates that all three degrees of the sacrament are a longed for element of the “priestly people.” They are those called to go before God and before his people as a mediator. Fr. Mike also explains that for those who are not called to either “sacrament of service”, Holy Orders or Matrimony, we are all called “to be able to rejoice with those who have received gifts.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1590-1600.

Day 217: The Effects of Holy Orders (2024)

August 4th, 2024  |  18 mins 27 secs

effects, grace of strength, holy orders, indelible spiritual character, indelible spiritual mark, sacraments

Together, with Fr. Mike, we examine the effects of the sacrament of Holy Orders. Fr. Mike emphasizes that once a man is ordained a priest, he is always a priest because he receives an indelible spiritual mark. He also emphasizes that Holy Orders is a sacrament of service. The effects of the sacrament configure him in such a way that he is best able to serve the Church. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1581-1589.

Day 216: Who Receives Holy Orders (2024)

August 3rd, 2024  |  24 mins 49 secs

bishop, celibacy, deacon, holy orders, men, priest, sacraments, vocations

We continue our examination of the sacrament of Holy Orders. Specifically, we explore exactly who can receive the sacrament of Holy Orders. Fr. Mike emphasizes that only a baptized man can receive the “sacred ordination”. He then unpacks exactly why the ordination of women is not possible. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1577-1580.

Day 215: Deacons and the Diaconate (2024)

August 2nd, 2024  |  13 mins 31 secs

bishop, deacons, diaconate, holy orders, ordination, permanent diaconate

Together, with Fr. Mike, we examine the ordination of deacons and the diaconate. Fr. Mike unpacks each of the essential elements of the rite of the ordination of deacons as well as each of the tasks of the deacon. He emphasizes that only a validly ordained bishop can validly confer the sacrament of Holy Orders. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1569-1576.

Day 214: Priests and the Presbyterate (2024)

August 1st, 2024  |  18 mins 45 secs

co-workers, episcopal college, eucharistic assembly, eucharistic cult, holy orders, ordination, presbyterate, presbyterium, priest, priesthood, rite of ordination, sacerdotal, sacerdotal college, sacrament, sacrament of order, sacramental brotherhood, synaxis, the gospel

Day 213: Bishops and the Episcopacy (2024)

July 31st, 2024  |  16 mins 37 secs

acme, bishop, bishop of rome, college, collegial, consecration, deacon, diaconate, episcopacy, episcopal, hierarchical communion, high priesthood, holy orders, in eius persona agant, minister, ministry, ordination, presbyterate, priest, sacerdos, sacrament, summa, three degrees

There are three degrees within the sacrament of Holy Orders: the episcopacy (bishops), the presbyterate (priests), and the diaconate (deacons). The Catechism begins unpacking ordination with the bishops. Fr. Mike speaks on the special role that bishops play in the life of the Church. Today’s readings are from Catechism paragraphs 1554-1561.

Day 212: In Persona Christi (2024)

July 30th, 2024  |  20 mins 3 secs

baptismal priesthood, bishop, boys adrift, caput et membra, common priesthood, hierarchical priesthood, high priest, holy orders, in persona christi capitis, king, mediator, minister, ministerial priesthood, ordained minister, priest, priesthood, priestly, prophet, sacrament, sacred power, two participations in the one priesthood of christ, typos you patros

The Catechism unpacks—by way of comparison—the “two participations in the one priesthood of Christ”: the common priesthood of all the faithful and the ministerial (or hierarchical) priesthood of the bishops and priests. Fr. Mike hones in on the ministerial priesthood as a means for Jesus to minister to his Church. His ministers act on his behalf in persona Christi Capitis: in the person of Christ, the Head. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1546-1553.

Day 211: The One Priesthood of Christ (2024)

July 29th, 2024  |  17 mins 8 secs

bishops, chosen people, consecration, consecratory, deacons, economy of salvation, levi, levites, mediator, melchizedek, ministers, ministry, new covenant, new testament, old covenant, old testament, ordination, prefigure, prefigured, prefigurement, priesthood, priesthood of aaron, priesthood of christ, priests, sacrament of holy orders, true priest, type, typology

The priesthood of the Old Covenant among the people of Israel is fulfilled in the one priesthood of Christ. The Catechism compares the Old Testament priesthood, “powerless to bring about salvation,” with the ordained ministry in the New Covenant. Fr. Mike unpacks the reality that there is only one true priest—Jesus Christ. His “priests” on earth are humble ministers. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1539-1545.

Day 210: The Sacrament of Holy Orders (2024)

July 28th, 2024  |  17 mins 23 secs

apostles, apostolic ministry, article 6, chapter 3, consecrated, consecratio, consecration, diaconate, episcopate, holy orders, laying on of hands, marriage, matrimony, ordinatio, ordination, ordo, presbyterate, sacra potestas, sacraments at the service of communion, sacraments of holy orders, sacred power

The Catechism enters Chapter Three on the “Sacraments at the Service of Communion” which include both Holy Orders and Matrimony. As it introduces the sacrament of Holy Orders, Fr. Mike reminds us that every vocation is a gift, and that—no matter what state of life we are in or have been called to—we should read this chapter with an open heart and a grateful spirit. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1533-1538.