The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Episode Archive
Episode Archive
697 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 230: How We Live (Part 3 Introduction with Dr. Mary Healy) (2024)
August 17th, 2024 | 59 mins
3rd part, contraception, dr. mary healy, how we live, intro episode, life in christ, live in the spirit, moral theology, morality, our calling, part 3, part three, sexual ethics, sexual morality, third part
The third part of the Catechism tells us how to live—how God has revealed that we are made to act toward him, toward each other, and toward ourselves. Fr. Mike and Dr. Mary Healy dive deep into moral theology, the state of our culture, and some of the stumbling blocks readers are bound to encounter in this part of the Catechism (as well as how to overcome them).
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Day 229: Christian Funerals (2024)
August 16th, 2024 | 20 mins 50 secs
death, funeral, hope, kingdom, mourning, resurrection, reunion
In this final episode of Pillar 2, we learn about the Christian funeral rite. Fr. Mike explains how the new life begun in Baptism comes to greater fulfillment as the Christian passes over from this earthly life into the fullness of the Kingdom. The Church, who has sacramentally nourished her children throughout their earthly pilgrimage, upon their death commends them to the Father and places their bodies in the earth to await the resurrection in hope. Each funeral is to end with a farewell to the beloved dead, knowing that we still share communion in Christ and will reunite in our heavenly home. Today’s readings are Catechism, paragraphs 1680-1690.
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Day 228: Blessings, Sacramentals and Popular Piety (2024)
August 15th, 2024 | 22 mins 45 secs
blessed, blessing, culture, exorcism, liturgy, pilgrimage, rosary
Sacramentals are sacred signs that resemble the sacraments. Blessings of people, places, and objects are foremost among the various sacramentals found in the life of the Church. Among these blessings are those of exorcism, in both its simple and solemn form. Fr. Mike notes that sacramentals and the many forms of popular piety, such as the Rosary, are noble expressions of faith that prepare us to participate in the Liturgy but can never replace the Liturgy. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1667-1679.
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Day 227: Summary of the Sacrament of Matrimony (2024)
August 14th, 2024 | 13 mins 29 secs
education, family, home, kids, love, marriage, wedding
This summary of the Catechism's teaching on the sacrament of Matrimony pulls together several beautiful themes regarding marriage and family. Fr. Mike emphasizes the family as the Domestic Church, that community where parents and children grow in charity, forgiveness, prayer, and self-giving. We're reminded that the communion of love shared by husband and wife in marriage is a sacramental sign of the union between Christ and his Church. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 1659 through 1666.
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Day 226: The Supreme Gift of Marriage (2024)
August 13th, 2024 | 15 mins 40 secs
family, home, infertility, kids, love, marriage, single
“Children are the supreme gift of marriage,” says Vatican II. Marriage is directed by its very nature toward the procreation of children. Beyond this, parents are the primary educators of their children, responsible for their holistic formation. Sadly, many couples suffer from infertility. Even in their struggle, they can provide a powerful witness of love, sacrifice, and fidelity. In all this and more, we see the family as the Domestic Church. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1652-1658.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.