The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Episode Archive
Episode Archive
698 episodes of The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) since the first episode, which aired on October 7th, 2022.
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Day 166: Introduction to Baptism
June 15th, 2023 | 18 mins 43 secs
baptism, enlightenment, new covenant, old covenant, prefigurement, regeneration, renewal, sacraments, sacraments of initiation
Together, we begin the chapter on the sacraments of initiation, specifically the section on the sacrament of Baptism. Fr. Mike unpacks the different names that the Church employs when discussing Baptism, such as the “washing of regeneration and renewal” and “enlightenment.” He concludes with a reflection on the prefigurations of Baptism in the Old Covenant. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1210-1222.
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Day 165: Summary of Liturgical Diversity
June 14th, 2023 | 13 mins 38 secs
catholic, culture, diversity, liturgical diversity, liturgy, universal
Together, with Fr. Mike, we arrive at the conclusion and “nugget day” for the section on liturgy and culture. Fr. Mike reiterates the importance of the fact that the Church does not abolish culture, but redeems and fulfills it. He also emphasizes that even though the Church welcomes liturgical diversity, there are still some things that are incompatible with the Faith and, therefore, unable to be incorporated into Catholic liturgy. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1204-1209.
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Day 164: Liturgical Diversity and Unity
June 13th, 2023 | 10 mins 49 secs
alexandrian rite, armenian rite, ascension, bible, byzantine rite, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, chaldean rite, coptic rite, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, latin rite, liturgical diversity, maronite rite, mission, roman rite, scripture, syriac rite, tradition, traditions
Did you know that there is more than one liturgical rite in the Catholic Church? Fr. Mike reviews the different liturgical Traditions that are part of the Catholic Church. All of the different rites are rooted in the same mission of Christ, reminding us that the diversity of liturgical Traditions does not take away from the unity of the Faith. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1200-1203.
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Day 163: Summary of the Liturgy
June 12th, 2023 | 11 mins 25 secs
ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, churches, eucharist, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, litrugy of the hours, liturgical celebration, liturgy, mass, nugget day, prayer, sacrifice of the mass, scripture, tradition, worship
In today’s “nugget day”, we review the main takeaways from our readings on the liturgy. Fr. Mike invites us to remember that every time we participate in the liturgy, we are participating in the heavenly worship of the Father. We also learn that in times of discouragement, we can unite ourselves to Christ our high priest by praying the Liturgy of the Hours. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1187-1199.
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Day 162: Where the Liturgy Is Celebrated
June 11th, 2023 | 13 mins 46 secs
altar, ascension, assembly of the faithful, baptistry, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, cathedra, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, churches, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, house of prayer, house of worship, jesus, lectern, sacred chrism, scripture, tabernacle, tradition, visible churches
Where is the liturgy celebrated? The Catechism offers us overarching principles as well as specific details about the spaces in which the liturgy is celebrated. Fr. Mike highlights the importance of endowing dignity and respect to these physical spaces because they are sacred places of encounter with our Lord. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1179-1186.
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Day 161: The Liturgy of the Hours
June 10th, 2023 | 18 mins 31 secs
ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, daytime prayer, devotions, divine office, evening prayers, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, liturgy of the hours, morning prayer, night prayer, office of readings, praying, scripture, tradition
The Liturgy of the Hours is known as the “public prayer of the Church.” Fr. Mike explains how praying the Liturgy of the Hours sanctifies time and gives God the opportunity to speak to us throughout our day. Fr. Mike encourages us to see the Liturgy of the Hours as a great gift from the Church that can powerfully transform our prayer lives when it takes root in our hearts. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1174-1178.
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Day 160: The Liturgical Year
June 9th, 2023 | 10 mins 16 secs
ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, easter, father mike, father mike schmitz, feast days, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, liturgical celebrations. jesus, liturgical year, martyrs, paschal mystery, saint feast days, scripture, solemnities, the sanctoral, tradition
Fr. Mike reviews the major solemnities and feast days that make up the liturgical year and explains why they are important to celebrate. We learn that the liturgical year highlights key moments of the Paschal Mystery and commemorates the life of our Blessed Mother and the lives of the saints and martyrs. The feasts and solemnities of the liturgical year ultimately point us to Christ’s sacrifice and strengthen our faith. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1168-1173.
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Day 159: When the Liturgy Is Celebrated
June 8th, 2023 | 14 mins 53 secs
liturgical seasons, liturgy, sabbath, sunday, the lord’s day, today
Together, with Fr. Mike, we examine the question of when the liturgy is celebrated. The Catechism states that there is a word that marks Christian prayer, and that word is “today.” Fr. Mike emphasizes that our liturgy and worship happens “today,” not in the past and not in the future, but right now in this present moment. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1163-1167.
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Day 158: Holy Images in the Liturgy
June 7th, 2023 | 12 mins 7 secs
holy images, iconography, icons, images, liturgy, word made flesh, worship
We continue our examination of the different elements of the liturgy, specifically holy images in the liturgy. Fr. Mike highlights that because the Word was made visible in the flesh, Christians now can use images of Christ to pray. Liturgical art is a symbol that points to a greater reality than itself. It is meant to lift our hearts and minds to the Lord in a way that words cannot. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1159-1162.
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Day 157: God’s Word and Sacred Music
June 6th, 2023 | 16 mins 9 secs
actions, celebration, celebration of the liturgy, homily, liturgy, music, signing, words
Fr. Mike examines the words, actions, music, and singing involved in how we celebrate the Liturgy. He discusses how, at many Masses, there are signs that accompany the Word of God to emphasize the importance of the Word being proclaimed. He further explains that sacred music is a combination of music and words drawn chiefly from Sacred Scripture. When we sing during the Liturgy, we are making art out of God’s Word, itself, and that art forms a necessary part of the Liturgy. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1153-1158.
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Day 156: How the Liturgy Is Celebrated
June 5th, 2023 | 17 mins 13 secs
celebration, invisible, liturgy, saint pope john paul ii, signs, symbols, visible
We continue to examine the celebration of the liturgy and sacraments. In the context of how the liturgy is celebrated, Fr. Mike explains that we are both body and spirit, and so signs and symbols are the way in which we communicate with and understand the world around us. God communicates spiritual realities in the same way. The signs and symbols which are utilized in the liturgy not only point to spiritual realities, but also make them present. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1145-1152.
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Day 155: Who Celebrates the Liturgy
June 4th, 2023 | 18 mins 13 secs
baptismal priesthood, celebration, celebration of the liturgy, liturgy, sacraments
Together, with Fr. Mike, we examine “who celebrates the liturgy.” Fr. Mike emphasizes that when we celebrate the sacraments, the whole Christ, not just the body on Earth, but also the body in Heaven, celebrates with us. The Church enables us to participate in the eternal liturgy through the sacraments, and our baptismal priesthood allows us to have full, conscious, and active participation in the liturgy. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1135-1144.
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Day 154: Sacraments of Eternal Life
June 3rd, 2023 | 13 mins 9 secs
efficacious signs of grace, eschatalogical, eschatology, eternal inheritance, eternal life, everlasting life, heaven, in brief, inheritance, marana tha, maranatha, nugget day, sacrament, sacrament definition, sacramental, sacraments, sacraments of eternal life, spirit and the bride
We’ve seen how the sacraments re-present what Christ worked for us in his Passion and death, but the Catechism also explains to us how the sacraments prefigure our eternal inheritance in heaven. Fr. Mike uses this “nugget day” as an opportunity to ensure we understand what the sacraments are and what they’re for. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1130-1134.
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Day 153: Sacraments Save
June 2nd, 2023 | 14 mins 11 secs
divine nature, efficacious, ex opere operato, necessary for salvation, sacramental, sacramental grace, sacramental life, sacraments, sacraments of salvation
Jesus uses his sacraments to save his people. The Catechism proclaims that the sacraments are “efficacious”, the sacraments are “wrought…by the power of God” alone, and the sacraments are “necessary for salvation”. Fr. Mike doubles down on the reality that sacraments cause what they signify. They are not merely signs pointing to an already present reality—Jesus, himself, is at work in each and every expression of the sacraments throughout time and in all places. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1127-1129.
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Day 152: Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
June 1st, 2023 | 16 mins 42 secs
baptism, baptizing, evangelization, evangelize, law of faith, law of prayer, lex credendi, lex orandi, make disciples, sacrament, sacramental mission, sacraments, sacraments of faith
The Catechism makes clear to us that evangelization and the sacraments go hand in hand. An ancient saying is highlighted, linking the two: lex orandi, lex credendi—or, the law of prayer is the law of faith. Fr. Mike illustrates this connection by showing us that, when you change the sign that points to an invisible reality, you risk changing where it’s pointing. This is why “no sacramental rite may be modified or manipulated at the will of the minister or the community.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1122-1126.
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Day 151: The Seven Sacraments
May 31st, 2023 | 14 mins 37 secs
anointing of the sick, article 2, baptism, baptismal priesthood, church’s sacraments, confirmation, eucharist, holy orders, masterworks of god, matrimony, ministerial priesthood, new covenant, ordained priesthood, paschal mystery, penance, sacraments of christ, sacraments of faith, sacraments of the church, seven sacraments
The Catechism introduces the seven sacraments that Christ offers the Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. The Catechism highlights the fact that the sacraments are “by the Church” because the Church is “Christ’s action at work”, and they are “for the Church” because they “manifest and communicate to men…the mystery of communion with the God who is love.” Fr. Mike focuses on the fact that while ministerial priests administer many of the sacraments, their priesthood is at the service of the baptismal priesthood, into which all of the baptized are ordained. Today’s readings are from Catechism paragraphs 1113-1121.