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

Episode Archive

Episode Archive

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

  • Day 281: Keep Holy the Lord’s Day (2024)

    October 7th, 2024  |  20 mins 54 secs
    10 commandments, 3rd commandment, article 3, article three, commandments, how we live, life in christ, love of god, outward, part 3, part three, public, regular, rest, st ignatius of antioch, st justin martyr, sunday, ten commandments, the lord’s day, the sabbath day, the seventh day, third commandment, visible, worship

    We begin exploring the third commandment and learn about rest and worship concerning the Lord’s Day. The Catechism points out that God models what he wants for us as he also rested on the seventh day. Fr. Mike explains the importance of prioritizing rest for ourselves because we are free and no longer enslaved people. The Catechism describes how we are to keep the Lord’s Day holy with “outward, visible, public, and regular worship ‘as a sign of his universal beneficence to all.’” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2168-2176.

  • Day 280: The Christian Name (2024)

    October 6th, 2024  |  16 mins 48 secs
    10 commandments, 2nd commandment, article 2, article two, baptism, baptismal name, christian, christian name, commandments, how we live, in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit, life in christ, love of god, nugget, nuggets, part 3, part three, second commandment, sign of the cross, ten commandments, the lord’s name

    What does it mean to bear the Christian name? The Catechism reminds us that in Baptism, we are given our Christian name, which is sacred. Our name represents the dignity of each of us and depicts how God loves us each uniquely. Fr. Mike explains that each time we make the Sign of the Cross, we call upon the Lord to bear witness to what we are about to do. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2156-2167.

  • Day 279: False Oaths (2024)

    October 5th, 2024  |  16 mins 10 secs
    commandments, false oaths, oaths, perjury, second commandment, ten commandments

    Together, with Fr. Mike, we continue our examination of the second commandment. Fr. Mike emphasizes that an oath engages the Lord’s name, and the Lord is the Lord of truth. We, therefore, have a duty as Christians to respect God’s name in matters of truth. He also emphasizes that everything we say is either in conformity to truth or in opposition to truth. Today’s readings are paragraphs 2150-2155.

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    Day 278: The Second Commandment (2024)

    October 4th, 2024  |  18 mins 57 secs
    blasphemy, commandment, names, oaths, promises, second commandment, ten commandments

    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 it is our duty to treat that name with reverence. He also emphasizes just how easy it is for us to take the Lord’s name in vain in our day and age, and how vitally important it is for us to treat his holy name with respect. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2142-2149.

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    Day 277: Agnosticism and Graven Images (2024)

    October 3rd, 2024  |  15 mins 45 secs
    agnosticism, commandments, first commandment, graven images, iconoclasm, icons, indifferentism, ten commandments

    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 different forms that agnosticism can take. He also examines the veneration of images and their relation to the first commandment. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2127-2141.

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    Day 276: Irreligion and Atheism (2024)

    October 2nd, 2024  |  22 mins 40 secs
    atheism, commandments, irreligion, practical materialism, sacrilege, simony, tempting god, ten commandments

    We continue our examination of the first commandment, unpacking irreligion and atheism. Fr. Mike highlights the different elements of irreligion, namely tempting God in words or deeds, sacrilege, and simony. He emphasizes that the sin of tempting God is easy to fall into when we are deeply troubled or afraid. Fr. Mike also spends time unpacking the many different aspects of atheism, and its impact on our world today. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2118-2126.

  • Day 275: Superstition, Idolatry, and Magic (2024)

    October 1st, 2024  |  19 mins 33 secs
    commandments, divination, first commandment, idolatry, magic, superstition, ten commandments

    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 commandment. Fr. Mike reiterates that superstition represents an “excess of religion” and can affect the worship we offer to God. He points out that we can be superstitious even in our Catholic practices. He also explains that idolatry consists of divinizing anything that is not God. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2110-2117.

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    Day 274: Social Duty of Religion (2024)

    September 30th, 2024  |  17 mins
    civil liberty, evangelize, natural law, religious freedom, religious liberty, right to religious freedom, social duty of christians, social duty of religion, society

    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 religions and the freedom, within limits, to exercise our convictions. Fr. Mike makes it clear that it is our calling as Christians to evangelize and bring our Catholic Christianity to the public square. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2104-2109.

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    Day 273: Him Only Shall You Serve (2024)

    September 29th, 2024  |  20 mins 21 secs
    10 commandments, 1st commandment, act of the apostles, adoration, cannon law, charity, chastity, commandments, decalogue, deuteronomy, faith, first commandment, hope, justice, love, obedience, poverty, prayer, promises, sacrifice, st augustine, st francis desales, st paul, ten commandments, ten words, vows, worship the lord your god and 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. Mike relates these to us and identifies how we can truly worship and serve the Lord throughout our daily lives. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2095-2103.

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    Day 272: You Shall Worship the Lord Your God (2024)

    September 28th, 2024  |  25 mins 10 secs
    10 commandments, 1st commandment, acedia, apostasy, article 1, article one, chapter 1, chapter one, charity, commandments, decalogue, despair, faith, first commandment, hatred of god, heresy, hope, incredulity, indifference, ingratitude, love, love the lord your god with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, lukewarmness, presumption, schism, st justin, st paul, ten commandments, ten words, voluntary doubt, worship the lord your god and him only shall you serve

    “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 above all else. The Catechism also lists the ways in which we may potentially fall into sins against faith, hope, and charity. Fr. Mike elaborates on these violations and reminds us that while it may seem overwhelming, God loved us first, and we must trust in him. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2083-2094.

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    Day 270: The Ten Commandments (2024)

    September 26th, 2024  |  21 mins 14 secs
    10 commandments, commandments, covenant, decalogue, deuteronomy, exodus, love of god, love the lord your god with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, love your neighbor as yourself, section 2, section two, st irenaeus, ten commandments, ten words, the greatest commandment, theophany, traditional catechetical formula

    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 laws are not meant to limit us, but set us free from the slavery of sin. Fr. Mike reminds us that the Commandments are truly a gift from God and reflects his love for us. Today’s readings are the Ten Commandments and Catechism paragraphs 2052-2063.

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    Day 271: Love of God (2024)

    September 26th, 2024  |  20 mins 5 secs
    10 commandments, commandments, decalogue, deuteronomy, exodus, love of god, love of neighbor, love the lord your god with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, love your neighbor as yourself, natural law, obligation, st augustine, st bonaventure, st irenaeus, ten commandments, ten words, the greatest commandment, traditional catechetical formula, unity

    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 there is a unity between the two. While the Catechism shows us our obligation to follow the Commandments, it also reminds us that, “What God commands, he makes possible by his grace.” Fr. Mike emphasizes that even though it may be challenging at times, we are not alone. Jesus is here to help us keep his Commandments. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2064-2082.

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    Day 269: Our Missionary Witness (2024)

    September 25th, 2024  |  16 mins 8 secs
    authentic, church, faithful, fidelity, gospel, morality, 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 relates, people are attracted to admirable but everyday Christian witnesses. Through such lives of quiet holiness, the Church is built up and brought to greater fullness. This episode closes with a few summary “nuggets” about the moral life in the Church. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2044-2051.

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    Day 268: The Precepts of the Church (2024)

    September 24th, 2024  |  21 mins 35 secs
    church, conscience, generosity, law, morality, prayer

    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 in love. In this, Fr. Mike reminds us that the Church is our caring mother. Her care extends into the five precepts of the Church, those laws establishing the very minimum needed to remain an active member of the Body of Christ. These have to do with attending Mass, receiving the sacraments, fasting, and providing for the needs of the Church. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2037-2043.

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    Day 267: The Church as Mother and Teacher (2024)

    September 23rd, 2024  |  18 mins 54 secs
    church, consolation, morality, mother, natural law, teacher

    “The moral life is spiritual worship,” says the Catechism. From the Church, we receive moral guidance, with the Magisterium safeguarding and passing down authentic Christian moral teaching through the generations. This teaching reminds us who we are and how we should be, though it may sometimes deeply challenge us. In its prophetic role, Fr. Mike tells us, “the Church must both console and convict.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2030-2036.

  • Day 266: The Gift of Grace (2024)

    September 22nd, 2024  |  17 mins 10 secs
    conversion, freedom, grace, heaven, love, perfection, salvation

    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 from sin and toward him, making us his sons and daughters and bringing us into the very life of the Trinity. This gift of grace invites us to respond to his promptings and invitations freely. Finally, God offers “all the graces needed to attain eternal life.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2017-2029.