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

Day 13: A Single Deposit of Faith

January 13th, 2023  |  16 mins 12 secs

authority, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catholic church, catholicism, deposit of faith, divine revelation, father mike schmitz, fr mike, magisterium, sacred scripture, sacred tradition, word of god

In today’s “In Brief'' section, Fr. Mike reviews the relationship between Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture, emphasizing that both make up the single deposit of Faith. He also explains how the Magisterium is able to interpret authentically and authoritatively the Word of God. Lastly, he reminds us that the way the Church prays and lives, reveals who the Church is. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 96-100.

Day 12: Receiving Dogmas

January 12th, 2023  |  15 mins 33 secs

belief, binding truths, catechism, divine revelation, dogmas, faith, magisterium, salvation of souls, teachings of the church, truth

How do we come to accept the binding truths of the Faith? Fr. Mike explains how the dogmas of the Faith are boundaries designed to help us know God and ourselves accurately. He invites us to see these boundaries as lights along our path that enable us to love God and fully do his will. If we can understand that these dogmas are guided by love, we can come to receive them as gifts for the salvation of our souls. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 88-95.

Day 11: Sources of Divine Revelation

January 11th, 2023  |  19 mins 25 secs

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Fr. Mike breaks down the Catechism’s teaching that divine revelation consists of both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition and emphasizes why both sources are of equal importance in the Faith. He also clarifies the difference between Apostolic Tradition and ecclesial traditions. Lastly, Fr. Mike encourages us to receive with docility the teachings and directives of the Magisterium of the Church, trusting in the authority of the Pope and the bishops. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 80-87.

Day 10: The Apostolic Tradition

January 10th, 2023  |  16 mins 48 secs

apostolic succession, catholic church, divine teaching, faith, god’s word, handing on the faith, holy spirit, revelation, scripture, teaching authority, tradition

The Gospel was handed on in two ways — orally and in writing. Both Scripture and Tradition are sources of Divine Revelation. Fr. Mike describes how the first apostles left bishops as their successors, passing down to them their teaching authority, and this apostolic succession is preserved until the end of time. The passing on of the Faith isn’t something reserved for bishops but something we are all called to participate in. Through the Holy Spirit, God’s Word is present and active in the Church today. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 74-79.

Day 9: The Fullness of Revelation

January 9th, 2023  |  18 mins 24 secs

covenant, fullness of revelation, fullness of truth, god the father, god the son, god’s word, jesus, jesus christ, revelation, word made flesh

In our Catechism reading today we learn how out of love, God has fully revealed himself by sending his Son, Jesus Christ who established God’s covenant forever.

Day 8: God Forms His People

January 8th, 2023  |  16 mins 35 secs

abraham, chosen people, christian joy, holy men, holy women, hope, hope in the lord, israel, jesus, prophets, redemption, saints, salvation

God chose Abraham and made him the “father of a multitude of nations.” Then God formed Israel as his people, freeing them from slavery in Egypt. Fr. Mike explains why God reveals himself in stages, and through the prophets who are honored as saints, he continues to form his people in the hope of salvation. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 59-64.

Day 7: God Reveals Himself

January 7th, 2023  |  16 mins 30 secs

creation, creation of man, fullness of truth, god’s plan for man, grace, knowing god, love of god, loving god, meaning of life, promise of salvation, redemption, revelation, seeking truth, truth, understanding god, unity

God reveals himself to man and gives us the capacity to know and love him beyond our own natural abilities. From the very beginning, even after the first sin of Adam and Eve, God made himself known to human beings and gave us a promise of redemption. Fr. Mike explains how God’s covenant with Noah offers hope for salvation and unity that are only made possible in Christ. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 50-58.

Day 6: Knowing God With Certainty

January 6th, 2023  |  18 mins 44 secs

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Today’s reading is a summation of what we have learned so far. Man is made for God, and we are born with a capacity for knowing God. Using our senses, listening to our consciences, and employing our gift of reason, we can know with certainty that God exists. Fr. Mike explains how we live freely only in communion with our Creator, even if we are limited in our capacity of comprehension. Knowing this compels us to share our faith in God with those who do not yet believe. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 44-49.

Day 5: How We Know God

January 5th, 2023  |  12 mins 48 secs

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What can we know about God? The Catechism tells us three important things: 1) We can know God with our human reason, but 2) that knowledge will always be limited, and 3) we rely on God to reveal himself to us. Fr. Mike warns us that learning who God is requires self-surrender and abnegation, for the human heart struggles to recognize the infinite gap between Creator and created. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 36-43.

Day 4: Our Capacity for God

January 4th, 2023  |  18 mins 16 secs

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The Catechism begins to explore what it means “to believe” by examining our innate desire for God and all the ways we can come to know him. Fr. Mike grounds us in a refrain he promises to repeat throughout the year—God loves you. Not in an abstract way, but in a concrete, unique way. God knows you, and he wants you to know him. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 26-35.

Day 3: What We Believe (Part 1 Introduction with Jeff Cavins)

January 3rd, 2023  |  47 mins 55 secs

jeff cavins, part 1, part one, pillar 1, pillar one, the apostles creed, the nicene creed, the profession of faith, what we believe

Part 1 of the Catechism—the first pillar—is the longest part of the four parts of the Catechism, and arguably the most foundational. Fr. Mike sits down with Jeff Cavins to discuss the big picture behind this important pillar and prepare us for the journey ahead.

Day 2: How the Catechism Works

January 2nd, 2023  |  14 mins 49 secs

above all charity, adaptations, catechism directions, cross references, four pillars, how to use the catechism, in brief, intended readership of the catechism, life of faith, numbers in the margin, profession of faith, quotations, sacraments of faith, second vatican council, small print, structure of the catechism, vatican ii

The Catechism reveals to us its intended readership, structure, and some practical directions for use. Fr. Mike and the Roman Catechism remind us that—above all—”the works of perfect Christian virtue spring from love and have no other objective than to arrive at love.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 11-25.

Day 1: To Know and Love God

January 1st, 2023  |  16 mins 27 secs

1 timothy 2, acts 4, beginning, catechesi tradendae, catechesis, council of trent, doctrine, education in the faith, extraordinary synod of bishops, handing on the faith, john 17, john paul ii, make disciples, mark 16, matthew 28, proclaim the gospel, proclamation of the gospel, prologue, the good news, the life of man, to know and love god

Welcome to Day 1 of the Catechism in a Year! Today, we begin our journey with Fr. Mike through the Catechism from the very beginning: the Prologue. The Catechism tackles some big questions right out of the gate. Why did God make us? How can we know him? How do we help others understand him as well? Fr. Mike invites us to discover God’s plan for us and accept the challenge he has placed before us. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1-10.

BONUS: How Do We Trust in Church Authority? (with Bishop Cozzens)

November 22nd, 2022  |  33 mins 14 secs

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In this special bonus pre-launch episode, Bishop Andrews Cozzens joins Fr. Mike Schmitz to talk about his role as a bishop of the Catholic Church, his involvement in the Catechism in a Year podcast, and why we can continue to trust in the authority of the Church despite the brokenness of its leaders at times.

BONUS: Why Scripture and Tradition? (with Jeff Cavins)

November 7th, 2022  |  37 mins

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In this bonus episode of The Catechism in a Year, Jeff Cavins joins Fr. Mike to share the connection between Scripture and Tradition, and provide the background on the origin, development, and structure of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

BONUS: Pray with Fr. Mike

October 25th, 2022  |  1 min 45 secs

Fr. Mike asks for your prayers and intercession as he sits down to record The Catechism in a Year.