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

Episode Archive

Episode Archive

727 episodes of The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) since the first episode, which aired on October 7th, 2022.

  • Day 67: The Humanity and Divinity of Christ

    March 8th, 2023  |  18 mins 4 secs
    ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, incarnation, jesus, salvation, scripture, son of god, tradition, word made flesh

    In this session, Father Mike teaches us more about the divine and human natures of the second person of the Holy Trinity, the Word that became flesh, Jesus Christ.

  • Day 66: True God and True Man

    March 7th, 2023  |  24 mins 43 secs
    ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, consubstantial, divinity, father, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, god, heresy, humanity, incarnation, jesus, person, scripture, son, tradition

    In this reading, we explore the truth that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man; he is one person with two natures, both Divine and human.

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    Day 65: Why the Word Became Flesh

    March 6th, 2023  |  19 mins 9 secs
    ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, divine nature, father mike, father mike schmitz, flesh, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, holiness, incarnation, jesus, love, salvation, scripture, son of god, tradition, word

    In this section of the Catechism, we learn that the Word became flesh to reconcile us with God, to manifest God’s love for us, to model holiness, and to make us partakers of the divine nature.

  • Day 64: The Lord

    March 5th, 2023  |  17 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, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, jesus is lord, kyrios, lord, lord jesus, my lord and my god, name of jesus, scripture, the lord, titles of jesus, tradition, yhwh

    As we wrap up our discussion of Jesus’ titles, we learn about the last title attributed to Jesus: The Lord. Fr. Mike explains that this title expresses the respect and honor we owe Jesus as God himself. We learn about the origin of this name in Scripture, and what this remarkable title means for us today in our personal relationship with God. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 446-455.

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    Day 63: The Only Son of God

    March 4th, 2023  |  15 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, divine son of god, divine sonship, eternal son of god, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, jesus the son of god, only begotten son of god, scripture, son of god, tradition

    As we continue to learn about the name of Jesus and the titles given to him, we encounter in today’s readings the unique title that belongs to Jesus as the only “Son of God.” Fr. Mike clarifies how this title is different from the term “son of God” found in the Old Testament and explains the meaning of Jesus’ Divine Sonship. Lastly, Fr. Mike encourages us to profess with our lips and our lives this beautiful reality that Jesus is truly the only begotten Son of God. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 441-445.

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    Day 62: The Christ

    March 3rd, 2023  |  17 mins 40 secs
    ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, christ the king, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, jesus christ, king, messiah, messianic fulfillment, priest, prophet, scripture, the name of jesus, tradition

    Why is Jesus named “The Christ”? Today we discover the meaning behind this powerful title. We also learn about the three-fold ministry of Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. Fr. Mike explains the true meaning of the kingship of Jesus and how as followers of Christ, we have the opportunity to participate in his priestly, prophetic, and kingly ministry. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 436-440.

  • Day 61: The Name of Jesus

    March 2nd, 2023  |  16 mins 26 secs
    in vain, jesus, jesus christ, reverence, the name of jesus

    Together with Fr. Mike, we examine the name above every other name: Jesus Christ. We explore the importance of this name and our reverence for it. Fr. Mike emphasizes that Christians, unlike those practicing other religions, tend to use the name of our Father in heaven “in vain.” He explains how detrimental and tragic that can be. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 430-435.

  • Day 60: God Sends His Only Son

    March 1st, 2023  |  20 mins 32 secs
    catechesis, jesus christ, only son of god, son of god

    Fr. Mike emphasizes that God did not have to do anything for us after the Fall, yet he sent us his only Son, and through his Son, we have received grace upon grace. We learn that the transmission of the Christian faith consists of proclaiming Jesus Christ to lead others to faith in him. If we are called to teach him, we must first have a relationship with him. Just as the Apostles burned with a desire to spread the Good News, we too are called to catechize and deliver the word of Christ as his spokesmen on Earth. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 422-429.

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    Day 59: Summary of The Fall

    February 28th, 2023  |  14 mins 52 secs
    adam, concupiscence, devil, envy, eve, father, original sin, the fall

    We have arrived at the “nugget day” or the In Brief for the sections on The Father and Original Sin. Fr. Mike reiterates the important idea that every human person is good, but every human person is also broken. This brokenness and inclination towards sin is called concupiscence. However, as St. Paul reminds us “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Romans 5:20). Fr. Mike concludes with the sentiment of hope that we believe that the world has been established and set free by God’s love. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 413-421.

  • Day 58: Man’s Spiritual Battle

    February 27th, 2023  |  21 mins 58 secs
    concupiscence, first sin, original sin, protoevangelium, sin, spiritual battle

    Fr. Mike explores the hard battle which each and every one of us must face, the battle with sin. Together, we examine the mystery of us being both free and under the power of the Devil. Fr. Mike emphasizes that if we are unaware of our wounded nature, it can lead to grave errors in our own lives. If we have an attitude that, “since I’m made good, then everything I’m drawn to must be good,” we can fall into temptation and evil. We conclude on a hopeful note; however, that even after we sinned, God did not abandon us to the “domain of death,” and with God’s grace, evil will never have the last word. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 407-412.

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    Day 57: Consequences of Adam’s Sin

    February 26th, 2023  |  15 mins 34 secs
    adam, concupiscence, eve, human nature, original sin, personal sin

    Fr. Mike examines the consequences of the sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve. He discusses that even though they committed a personal sin, it affected all of human nature. As Fr. Mike states, “Original sin broke the world.” Additionally, we explore the idea that although we are good, we are still broken. Fr. Mike also discusses how each and every one of us has an inclination towards evil and sin known as concupiscence. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 402-406.

  • Day 56: Man’s First Sin

    February 25th, 2023  |  20 mins 57 secs
    adam, eve, original sin, sin, the fall

    Together, with Fr. Mike, we explore the nature of man’s first sin or our “freedom put to the test.” Fr. Mike unpacks the importance of us understanding that freedom is not the power to “do what we want,” but rather, the power to “do what I ought.” Though the story of the first sin is that of our first parents, Fr. Mike emphasizes that we still repeat the grave error of the first sin in our own lives by preferring our own perceived “goods” over the “goods” of our Creator and Father in heaven. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 396-401.

  • Day 55: The Fall of the Angels

    February 24th, 2023  |  18 mins 43 secs
    angels, creation, disobedience, fall, fallen angels, satan

    Fr. Mike explores the fall of the angels, and how their fall leads to our own “fall into death out of envy.” Together, we examine what caused some of the angels to fall, whether it be pride or envy, and how it affects humanity's reality within creation. Fr. Mike concludes with a commentary on the mystery of why Divine Providence permits evil and the actions of the fallen angels. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 391-395.

  • Day 54: The Fall of Man

    February 23rd, 2023  |  19 mins 2 secs
    adam and eve, evil, evil in the world, fall of man, moral evil, mystery of lawlessness, original sin, paragraph 7, reality of sin, sin, the fall, where sin abounds

    The Catechism introduces us to the Fall, beginning with the reality of sin and the mystery of evil. Fr. Mike highlights the fact that sin is not “a developmental flaw, a psychological weakness, a mistake, or the necessary consequence of an inadequate social structure,” but it is man saying, “not your will, but mine be done” to God. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 385-390.

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    Day 53: Man in Paradise

    February 22nd, 2023  |  16 mins 17 secs
    adam and eve, concupiscence, friendship with god, harmony with creation, in brief, in-brief, labor, leisure, love, mastery of self, original justice, original sin, the garden, work

    In the beginning, humans were in friendship with God and in harmony with creation. The Catechism unfolds this harmony and introduces us to the “original justice” that our first parents lost in sin. Fr. Mike reminds us that, although our original callings to leisure, love, and labor have been twisted by sin, they are renewed in Christ. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 374-384.

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    Day 52: Male and Female

    February 21st, 2023  |  15 mins 23 secs
    bone of my bones, complementarity, difference, equality, father, feminine, flesh of my flesh, god’s image, helper, helpmate, husband, made for each other, male and female, masculine, men and women, mother, sexism, wife

    The Catechism teaches about God’s plan and design for men and women—male and female—and their equality, complementarity, dignity, and destiny. Fr. Mike shows us how men and women can be both complete in themselves and yet made “for each other.” Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 369-373.