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

Day 6: Knowing God With Certainty (2024)

January 6th, 2024  |  19 mins 26 secs

creation, creation of the universe, creator, creature, god in nature, god is real, god made the world, intelligent design, knowing god, made by god, meaning of life, naming god, objective reality, objective truth, proof of god, proving god, purpose of creation, seeking truth, speaking of god, truth, truth about god

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 (2024)

January 5th, 2024  |  13 mins 36 secs

dei filius, dei verbum, how can we speak about god, humani generis, knowing god, knowledge of god, pope pius xii, revelation from god, speaking about god, st. thomas aquinas, talking about god, the image of god, vatican council i, vatican council ii, what we know about god

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 (2024)

January 4th, 2024  |  19 mins 4 secs

belief, chapter 1, desire for god, divine revelation, faith, i believe, knowing god, man’s capacity for god, part 1, pillar 1, profession of faith, proofs for god, religious being, response to god, restless until we rest in you, st. augustine, st. thomas aquinas, the creed, the search, we believe

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) (2024)

January 3rd, 2024  |  48 mins 29 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 (2024)

January 2nd, 2024  |  15 mins 36 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 (2024)

January 1st, 2024  |  17 mins 14 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.

Day 365: So Be It

December 31st, 2023  |  15 mins 58 secs

ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, day 365, father mike, father mike schmitz, final amen, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, god is love, jesus, lords prayer, nugget day, our father, scripture, seven petitions, so be it, tradition

Congratulations, you have reached Day 365! We conclude our journey through the Catechism with the final “nugget day” as we review the seven petitions of the Lord’s prayer. In closing, Fr. Mike reminds us of the purpose of our time with the Catechism: recognizing that every part of our human experience matters to God simply because he loves us. It matters to God that we know him, worship him, live in his love, and draw near to him in prayer. We respond to God’s astounding love for each of us with our final “Amen- so be it.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2857-2865.

Day 364: Deliver Us from Evil

December 30th, 2023  |  23 mins 48 secs

ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, deliver us from evil, evil one, father mike, father mike schmitz, final doxology, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, lead us not into temptation, lords prayer, prayer, satan, scripture, temptation, tradition, trials

Toward the end of the Lord’s Prayer, we implore God to protect us from temptation and from the evil one. Fr. Mike clarifies what we mean when we ask God not to “lead us into temptation” and emphasizes the importance of discerning between trials and temptations. Lastly, we review the conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer, known as the final doxology. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2846-2856.

BONUS: How Do We Trust in Church Authority? (with Bishop Cozzens) (2024)

December 29th, 2023  |  33 mins 14 secs

"In this special bonus episode, Bishop Andrew 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. Bishop Andrew Cozzens is the Bishop of the Diocese of Crookston in northern Minnesota.  He currently serves as the chair of the
USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis where he has been tasked by the Bishops with leading a three-year National Eucharistic Revival."

Day 363: Forgive Us Our Trespasses

December 29th, 2023  |  25 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, confession, father mike, father mike schmitz, forgive us our trespasses, forgiveness, forgives, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, loving enemies, reconciliation, scripture, tradition

Forgiving those who have hurt us is a challenging call. Fr. Mike explains what it means to "forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." We learn that forgiveness and reconciliation are not the same thing and that we can transform our hurt into intercession with God's grace. We ask the Lord to soften our hearts so that they may remain open to loving and forgiving others. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 2838-2845.

Day 362: Our Daily Bread

December 28th, 2023  |  21 mins 10 secs

ascension, bible, bread of heaven, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, communion, daily bread, eucharist, father mike, father mike schmitz, feed the hungry, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, give us this day our daily bread, hunger, jesus, lords prayer, scripture, spiritual hunger, tradition

Asking God for our “daily bread” is a petition for him to fill our physical and spiritual hunger. Fr. Mike breaks down this simple yet profound petition that reminds us of our reliance on God for all our needs. In this part of the Lord’s prayer, we turn to God with childlike hearts, trusting that he will nourish us with all the appropriate material goods and, above all, with the Eucharist. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2828-2837.

Day 361: The Kingdom and Will of God

December 27th, 2023  |  22 mins 39 secs

christs return, gods will, kingdom of heaven, kingship of god, our father, the end times, the second coming of jesus, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, will of god

When we pray for God’s Kingdom to come and God’s will to be done, we are asking for the final coming of the reign of God and for his plan of salvation to come to fruition. This petition is most powerfully expressed in the Mass. Fr. Mike reminds us that anticipating Christ’s return should inflame our hearts to continue our mission here on earth and to carry out God’s will with perseverance. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2816-2827.

Day 360: Hallowing God’s Name

December 26th, 2023  |  18 mins 2 secs

glory, holiness, holy, name, prayer, recognize

What does it mean to hallow God’s name? We are not the source or cause of God’s holiness. As the Catechism says, we hallow God’s name so it may be glorified, loved, and known. Jesus instructs us in the Our Father to petition and desire that we be drawn into God’s plan of loving kindness. In time, God’s name is hallowed in how we live and how we pray. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2807-2815.

Day 359: The Seven Petitions

December 25th, 2023  |  12 mins 52 secs

In the Lord’s Prayer, we make seven different petitions to our Father in heaven. Together, we examine what makes each set of these seven petitions different. Fr. Mike unpacks how the first three petitions emphasize love of the Father, the next two concern us in the present world, and the final two concern the battle of prayer. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2803-2806.

Day 358: Who Art in Heaven

December 24th, 2023  |  14 mins 45 secs

heaven, prayer, presence, the lord’s prayer, the our father, thrice-holy

As we reach the conclusion of the article on the opening words of the Our Father, we take a closer look at the phrase, “Who Art in Heaven.” Fr. Mike emphasizes that God is not distant, but is imminently present all around us. He also emphasizes that while sin has exiled us from heaven, conversion of heart allows us to return to the Father in heaven. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2794-2802.

Day 357: God, “Our” Father

December 23rd, 2023  |  13 mins 28 secs

individualism, prayer, relationship, the lord’s prayer, the our father, unity

God’s love has no bounds, and neither should our prayer. Fr. Mike emphasizes that when we say “our” we are highlighting that we have become God’s people. We belong to God, not in a possessive way, but in an “entirely new relationship”. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2786-2793.