The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
A day-by-day walk through the transformative beliefs and teachings of the Catholic Church.
About the show
In Ascension’s The Catechism in a Year podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz guides you through the entire Catechism of the Catholic Church in 365 episodes, providing explanation, insight, and encouragement along the way.
Unlike any other Catechism podcast, The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) podcast follows a reading plan inspired by Ascension’s Foundations of Faith approach, a color-coded approach that reveals the structure of the Catechism, making it easier to read and understand. With this podcast, you’ll finally understand what it means to be Catholic and how the beliefs of the Catholic Faith come together.
Listen and…
- Read the ENTIRE Catechism of the Catholic Church in 365 days
- Understand the essentials of the Catholic Faith and why they matter
- Understand how Church teaching is rooted in Sacred Scripture
- Absorb over 2,000 years of Sacred Tradition
- Encounter God’s plan of sheer goodness for your life
Each 15-20 minute episode includes:
- A guided prayer to help you enter into each episode
- A reading from the Catechism of the Catholic Church
- An explanation from Fr. Mike Schmitz about the reading
The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Episodes
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Day 64: The Lord
March 5th, 2023 | 17 mins 16 secs
ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, jesus is lord, kyrios, lord, lord jesus, my lord and my god, name of jesus, scripture, the lord, titles of jesus, tradition, yhwh
As we wrap up our discussion of Jesus’ titles, we learn about the last title attributed to Jesus: The Lord. Fr. Mike explains that this title expresses the respect and honor we owe Jesus as God himself. We learn about the origin of this name in Scripture, and what this remarkable title means for us today in our personal relationship with God. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 446-455.
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Day 63: The Only Son of God
March 4th, 2023 | 15 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, divine son of god, divine sonship, eternal son of god, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, jesus the son of god, only begotten son of god, scripture, son of god, tradition
As we continue to learn about the name of Jesus and the titles given to him, we encounter in today’s readings the unique title that belongs to Jesus as the only “Son of God.” Fr. Mike clarifies how this title is different from the term “son of God” found in the Old Testament and explains the meaning of Jesus’ Divine Sonship. Lastly, Fr. Mike encourages us to profess with our lips and our lives this beautiful reality that Jesus is truly the only begotten Son of God. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 441-445.
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Day 62: The Christ
March 3rd, 2023 | 17 mins 40 secs
ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, christ the king, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, jesus christ, king, messiah, messianic fulfillment, priest, prophet, scripture, the name of jesus, tradition
Why is Jesus named “The Christ”? Today we discover the meaning behind this powerful title. We also learn about the three-fold ministry of Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. Fr. Mike explains the true meaning of the kingship of Jesus and how as followers of Christ, we have the opportunity to participate in his priestly, prophetic, and kingly ministry. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 436-440.
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Day 61: The Name of Jesus
March 2nd, 2023 | 16 mins 26 secs
in vain, jesus, jesus christ, reverence, the name of jesus
Together with Fr. Mike, we examine the name above every other name: Jesus Christ. We explore the importance of this name and our reverence for it. Fr. Mike emphasizes that Christians, unlike those practicing other religions, tend to use the name of our Father in heaven “in vain.” He explains how detrimental and tragic that can be. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 430-435.
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Day 60: God Sends His Only Son
March 1st, 2023 | 20 mins 32 secs
catechesis, jesus christ, only son of god, son of god
Fr. Mike emphasizes that God did not have to do anything for us after the Fall, yet he sent us his only Son, and through his Son, we have received grace upon grace. We learn that the transmission of the Christian faith consists of proclaiming Jesus Christ to lead others to faith in him. If we are called to teach him, we must first have a relationship with him. Just as the Apostles burned with a desire to spread the Good News, we too are called to catechize and deliver the word of Christ as his spokesmen on Earth. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 422-429.
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Day 59: Summary of The Fall
February 28th, 2023 | 14 mins 52 secs
adam, concupiscence, devil, envy, eve, father, original sin, the fall
We have arrived at the “nugget day” or the In Brief for the sections on The Father and Original Sin. Fr. Mike reiterates the important idea that every human person is good, but every human person is also broken. This brokenness and inclination towards sin is called concupiscence. However, as St. Paul reminds us “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Romans 5:20). Fr. Mike concludes with the sentiment of hope that we believe that the world has been established and set free by God’s love. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 413-421.
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Day 58: Man’s Spiritual Battle
February 27th, 2023 | 21 mins 58 secs
concupiscence, first sin, original sin, protoevangelium, sin, spiritual battle
Fr. Mike explores the hard battle which each and every one of us must face, the battle with sin. Together, we examine the mystery of us being both free and under the power of the Devil. Fr. Mike emphasizes that if we are unaware of our wounded nature, it can lead to grave errors in our own lives. If we have an attitude that, “since I’m made good, then everything I’m drawn to must be good,” we can fall into temptation and evil. We conclude on a hopeful note; however, that even after we sinned, God did not abandon us to the “domain of death,” and with God’s grace, evil will never have the last word. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 407-412.
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Day 57: Consequences of Adam’s Sin
February 26th, 2023 | 15 mins 34 secs
adam, concupiscence, eve, human nature, original sin, personal sin
Fr. Mike examines the consequences of the sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve. He discusses that even though they committed a personal sin, it affected all of human nature. As Fr. Mike states, “Original sin broke the world.” Additionally, we explore the idea that although we are good, we are still broken. Fr. Mike also discusses how each and every one of us has an inclination towards evil and sin known as concupiscence. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 402-406.
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Day 56: Man’s First Sin
February 25th, 2023 | 20 mins 57 secs
adam, eve, original sin, sin, the fall
Together, with Fr. Mike, we explore the nature of man’s first sin or our “freedom put to the test.” Fr. Mike unpacks the importance of us understanding that freedom is not the power to “do what we want,” but rather, the power to “do what I ought.” Though the story of the first sin is that of our first parents, Fr. Mike emphasizes that we still repeat the grave error of the first sin in our own lives by preferring our own perceived “goods” over the “goods” of our Creator and Father in heaven. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 396-401.
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Day 55: The Fall of the Angels
February 24th, 2023 | 18 mins 43 secs
angels, creation, disobedience, fall, fallen angels, satan
Fr. Mike explores the fall of the angels, and how their fall leads to our own “fall into death out of envy.” Together, we examine what caused some of the angels to fall, whether it be pride or envy, and how it affects humanity's reality within creation. Fr. Mike concludes with a commentary on the mystery of why Divine Providence permits evil and the actions of the fallen angels. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 391-395.
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Day 54: The Fall of Man
February 23rd, 2023 | 19 mins 2 secs
adam and eve, evil, evil in the world, fall of man, moral evil, mystery of lawlessness, original sin, paragraph 7, reality of sin, sin, the fall, where sin abounds
The Catechism introduces us to the Fall, beginning with the reality of sin and the mystery of evil. Fr. Mike highlights the fact that sin is not “a developmental flaw, a psychological weakness, a mistake, or the necessary consequence of an inadequate social structure,” but it is man saying, “not your will, but mine be done” to God. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 385-390.
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Day 53: Man in Paradise
February 22nd, 2023 | 16 mins 17 secs
adam and eve, concupiscence, friendship with god, harmony with creation, in brief, in-brief, labor, leisure, love, mastery of self, original justice, original sin, the garden, work
In the beginning, humans were in friendship with God and in harmony with creation. The Catechism unfolds this harmony and introduces us to the “original justice” that our first parents lost in sin. Fr. Mike reminds us that, although our original callings to leisure, love, and labor have been twisted by sin, they are renewed in Christ. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 374-384.
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Day 52: Male and Female
February 21st, 2023 | 15 mins 23 secs
bone of my bones, complementarity, difference, equality, father, feminine, flesh of my flesh, god’s image, helper, helpmate, husband, made for each other, male and female, masculine, men and women, mother, sexism, wife
The Catechism teaches about God’s plan and design for men and women—male and female—and their equality, complementarity, dignity, and destiny. Fr. Mike shows us how men and women can be both complete in themselves and yet made “for each other.” Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 369-373.
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Day 51: Unity of Soul and Body
February 20th, 2023 | 16 mins 52 secs
body and soul, body soul unity, corporeal, dualism, dualist, hylomorphic, image of god, spirit, spirit and matter, spiritual
The soul and the body “are not two natures united, but rather their union forms a single nature.” The Catechism introduces us to this profound mystery and begins to unpack our nature as a body and as a soul. Fr. Mike shows us how so much pain and confusion in modern times—and indeed throughout history—stems from an attempt to separate these two inseparable parts of our being. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 362-368.
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Day 50: The Dignity of Man
February 19th, 2023 | 16 mins 29 secs
brethren, charity, communion, dignity of life, dignity of man, friendship of god, god created man, human race, image of god, imago dei, male and female, man, paragraph 6, racism, self-knowledge, self-possession, sexism, solidarity, unity of persons
“God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). The Catechism teaches us about man’s God-given dignity and unique place in creation. Fr. Mike explains the unity that exists between all persons, and how this necessitates a “law of human solidarity and charity.” Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 355-361.
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Day 49: We Are Created For Worship
February 18th, 2023 | 20 mins 13 secs
ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, creation, creatures, earth, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, heaven, jesus, rest, sabbath, scripture, tradition, worship
There is a solidarity among all of God’s creatures because all are oriented to give glory to God. We learn that God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day, sanctifying it and blessing it.