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

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.

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.

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.

Day 214: Priests and the Presbyterate (2024)

August 1st, 2024  |  18 mins 45 secs

co-workers, episcopal college, eucharistic assembly, eucharistic cult, holy orders, ordination, presbyterate, presbyterium, priest, priesthood, rite of ordination, sacerdotal, sacerdotal college, sacrament, sacrament of order, sacramental brotherhood, synaxis, the gospel

Day 213: Bishops and the Episcopacy (2024)

July 31st, 2024  |  16 mins 37 secs

acme, bishop, bishop of rome, college, collegial, consecration, deacon, diaconate, episcopacy, episcopal, hierarchical communion, high priesthood, holy orders, in eius persona agant, minister, ministry, ordination, presbyterate, priest, sacerdos, sacrament, summa, three degrees

There are three degrees within the sacrament of Holy Orders: the episcopacy (bishops), the presbyterate (priests), and the diaconate (deacons). The Catechism begins unpacking ordination with the bishops. Fr. Mike speaks on the special role that bishops play in the life of the Church. Today’s readings are from Catechism paragraphs 1554-1561.

Day 212: In Persona Christi (2024)

July 30th, 2024  |  20 mins 3 secs

baptismal priesthood, bishop, boys adrift, caput et membra, common priesthood, hierarchical priesthood, high priest, holy orders, in persona christi capitis, king, mediator, minister, ministerial priesthood, ordained minister, priest, priesthood, priestly, prophet, sacrament, sacred power, two participations in the one priesthood of christ, typos you patros

The Catechism unpacks—by way of comparison—the “two participations in the one priesthood of Christ”: the common priesthood of all the faithful and the ministerial (or hierarchical) priesthood of the bishops and priests. Fr. Mike hones in on the ministerial priesthood as a means for Jesus to minister to his Church. His ministers act on his behalf in persona Christi Capitis: in the person of Christ, the Head. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1546-1553.

Day 211: The One Priesthood of Christ (2024)

July 29th, 2024  |  17 mins 8 secs

bishops, chosen people, consecration, consecratory, deacons, economy of salvation, levi, levites, mediator, melchizedek, ministers, ministry, new covenant, new testament, old covenant, old testament, ordination, prefigure, prefigured, prefigurement, priesthood, priesthood of aaron, priesthood of christ, priests, sacrament of holy orders, true priest, type, typology

The priesthood of the Old Covenant among the people of Israel is fulfilled in the one priesthood of Christ. The Catechism compares the Old Testament priesthood, “powerless to bring about salvation,” with the ordained ministry in the New Covenant. Fr. Mike unpacks the reality that there is only one true priest—Jesus Christ. His “priests” on earth are humble ministers. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1539-1545.

Day 210: The Sacrament of Holy Orders (2024)

July 28th, 2024  |  17 mins 23 secs

apostles, apostolic ministry, article 6, chapter 3, consecrated, consecratio, consecration, diaconate, episcopate, holy orders, laying on of hands, marriage, matrimony, ordinatio, ordination, ordo, presbyterate, sacra potestas, sacraments at the service of communion, sacraments of holy orders, sacred power

The Catechism enters Chapter Three on the “Sacraments at the Service of Communion” which include both Holy Orders and Matrimony. As it introduces the sacrament of Holy Orders, Fr. Mike reminds us that every vocation is a gift, and that—no matter what state of life we are in or have been called to—we should read this chapter with an open heart and a grateful spirit. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1533-1538.

Day 209: Summary of the Anointing of the Sick (2024)

July 27th, 2024  |  13 mins 8 secs

death, forgiveness, healing, heaven, hope, sickness, strength

This summary of the Catechism’s teaching about the Anointing of the Sick is concise and rich. This holy anointing brings us hope and courage as we endure illness and the difficulties of old age. While we pray for healing of body and soul, this sacrament also prepares us for death. Fr. Mike ends this episode by explaining three practices of the Church that help her members prepare for death. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1526-1532.

Day 208: Completing the Earthly Pilgrimage (2024)

July 26th, 2024  |  16 mins 36 secs

death, healing, heaven, life, pilgrimage, resurrection, sickness

The effects of the Anointing of the Sick are numerous and deeply transformative. In times of great need and temptation, this sacrament brings us strength, courage, peace, and the forgiveness of sins. Fr. Mike explains that these effects aren’t only for the individual recipient but for the whole ecclesial community. We learn that when a person approaches the threshold of death, joining this anointing with Reconciliation and the Eucharist as viaticum constitute “the sacraments that complete the earthly pilgrimage.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1520-1525.

Day 207: Celebrating the Anointing of the Sick (2024)

July 25th, 2024  |  11 mins 8 secs

anointing, death, eucharist, healing, illness, sacrament, sickness

The Anointing of the Sick is not just for those on the verge of death but for any faithful suffering from a grave illness. Fr. Mike explains that because of this, we don’t have to put this sacrament off to the very end; instead, we can enjoy the graces it confers as often as is fitting throughout a lifetime. This section also discusses how we can celebrate the Anointing of the Sick. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1514-1519.

Day 206: Healing the Sick (2024)

July 24th, 2024  |  18 mins 31 secs

anointing, healing, hope, physician, redemption, sacrament, sickness

By taking up our cross and following Christ, we gain a new way of seeing sickness and frailty. Along with this newness of vision, the Church is given the command from her founder to heal the sick. Since its beginning, the Church has anointed the sick among us, praying for their healing and salvation. Amid their sufferings, the suffering can endure, uniting themselves to Christ’s own afflictions for the sake of the Church. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1506-1513.

Day 205: Christ the Physician (2024)

July 23rd, 2024  |  21 mins 46 secs

comfort, compassion, healing, illness, physician, redemption, sickness, suffering

Sickness and suffering bring us face-to-face with our fragility and limitations. While they might cause some to lose hope and become bitter, we can also endure them in such a way as to grow in maturity and trust in God. Jesus not only heals the sick in the Gospels but also plunges into suffering’s depths. In this redemptive work, we know Jesus as the physician of soul and body. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1499-1505.

Day 204: Summary of Sacrament of Reconciliation (2024)

July 22nd, 2024  |  12 mins 57 secs

confessing sins, forgiveness of sin, healing, mercy, penance, reconciliation, sacrament of confession

In today’s nugget day, Fr. Mike reviews the major themes of the sacrament of Reconciliation. Fr. Mike emphasizes the six spiritual effects of this sacrament and reminds us of the great gift of Confession because, as the Catechism states, “to the eyes of faith, no evil is graver than sin.” We conclude today’s article with humble gratitude for God’s unfathomable mercy. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1485-1498.

Day 203: The Purpose of Indulgences (2024)

July 21st, 2024  |  23 mins 31 secs

celebration of confession, communion of saints, confession, forgiveness of sins, general absolution, indulgences, partial indulgence, plenary indulgence, reconciliation

Fr. Mike expands on the purpose of indulgences and clarifies why the Church has the authority to provide indulgences. We also learn about the role of the Communion of Saints in our strive for holiness and the different liturgical forms and elements of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1474-1484.

Day 202: How Confession Heals (2024)

July 20th, 2024  |  24 mins 36 secs

confession, double consequences of sin, eternal consequence, eternal punishment, forgiveness of sins, healing, indulgences, reconciliation, restoration, temporal consequence, temporal punishment

What happens to us when we go to Confession? Fr. Mike explains the powerful ways the Sacrament of Reconciliation spiritually restores and perfects us. We also learn about the eternal and temporal consequences of sin, and finally, Fr. Mike discusses the four aspects to an indulgence and how these aspects require our cooperation with God's grace. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1468-1473.