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…

  1. Read the ENTIRE Catechism of the Catholic Church in 365 days
  2. Understand the essentials of the Catholic Faith and why they matter
  3. Understand how Church teaching is rooted in Sacred Scripture
  4. Absorb over 2,000 years of Sacred Tradition
  5. 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

  • Day 189: Worship of the Eucharist

    July 8th, 2023  |  18 mins 16 secs
    adoration, eucharist, paschal banquet, sacraments, true presence, worship

    We continue our examination of the sacrament of the Eucharist, specifically how we worship the Eucharist. Fr. Mike examines how we, as Catholics, worship the true and real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. He emphasizes how incredibly important the worship of Christ in the Eucharist is, specifically in Adoration. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1378-1383.

  • Day 188: Christ’s Presence in the Eucharist

    July 7th, 2023  |  18 mins 59 secs
    blood, body, bread, eucharist, sacraments, transubstantiation, true presence, wine

    Together, with Fr. Mike, we explore the reality of Christ’s true presence in the Eucharist. Fr. Mike unpacks what actually happens during the celebration of the sacrifice of the Eucharist, specifically, transubstantiation. He explains that during the Consecration, the whole substance of bread and wine becomes the whole substance of the Body and Blood of Christ. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1373-1377.

  • Day 187: The Church’s Sacrificial Unity

    July 6th, 2023  |  18 mins 18 secs
    apostolic succession, eucharist, faithful departed, sacraments, sacrifice, sacrificial unity, st. ignatius of antioch, st. monica, unity

    Together, we continue our exploration of the sacrificial memorial of the sacrament of the Eucharist. Fr. Mike reiterates that the whole Church, both visible and invisible, is united in the Sacrifice of the Eucharist. He also further unpacks the importance of a quote from St. Ignatius of Antioch, which states that the offering of the sacrifice of the Eucharist must be united with the apostolic succession of our Pope and bishop. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1369-1372.

  • Day 186: The Sacrificial Memorial

    July 5th, 2023  |  17 mins 48 secs
    christ’s passion, eucharist, mass, memorial, sacraments, sacrifice, sacrificial memorial

    We continue our examination of the sacrament of the Eucharist. Fr. Mike emphasizes that every element of Christ’s passion, the whole thing, is one, single sacrifice, and when we celebrate the Mass, we are participating in that same sacrifice. He also reiterates that the Eucharist is both a noun and a verb. It “re-presents” the sacrifice of the Cross. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1362-1368.

  • Day 185: Thanksgiving, Memorial, Presence

    July 4th, 2023  |  14 mins 13 secs
    eucharist, exodus, genesis, memorial, presence of christ, sacrifice, sacrificial memorial, thanksgiving

    Together with Fr. Mike, we continue our examination of the sacrament of the Eucharist. Fr. Mike takes us back to the Book of Genesis, the sacrifices of Cain and Abel, and the Book of Exodus, the story of Moses and Pharaoh. He emphasizes that the point of freedom in life is to be led to the freedom to worship God and that it matters to God that we freely choose to attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1356-1361.

  • Day 184: The Movement of the Mass

    July 3rd, 2023  |  17 mins 22 secs
    celebration of the mass, eucharist, high priest, liturgy, melchizedek, worship

    There is great depth to the movement of the celebration of the Mass. Fr. Mike highlights the role of Christ as the head and high priest and the role of the laity as the body of Christ at Mass. Fr. Mike also emphasizes the importance of the altar at Mass, reminding us that the heart of religion is worship, and the heart of worship is sacrifice. Lastly, Fr. Mike explains how God’s love requires a response from each of us, making it both inclusive and exclusive love. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1348-1355.

  • Day 183: The Mass of All Ages

    July 2nd, 2023  |  16 mins 37 secs
    body and blood of jesus, body of christ, church father, eucharist, holy mass, mass, mass of all ages, paschal lamb, road to emmaus, st justin martyr

    Celebrating the sacrament of the Eucharist has been part of the Tradition of the Catholic Church for 2,000 years. Fr. Mike unpacks the citation from St. Justin Martyr's First Apology, which beautifully describes the structure of the Mass in AD 155 and captures how the Early Church had the same understanding of the Eucharist as we do today. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 1341-1347.

  • Day 182: The Signs of Bread and Wine

    July 1st, 2023  |  21 mins 10 secs
    body and blood of jesus, daily bread, eucharist, last supper, manna, mass, multiplication of loaves, passion, passover meal, signs of bread and wine

    Fr. Mike breaks down the various ways the Eucharist fulfills the sacrifices of bread and wine of the Old Covenant and explains why the Eucharist is central to God’s plan of salvation. We learn that the Eucharist is a pledge of God’s love for each one of us and a tangible reminder that Jesus is always with us. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1333-1340.

  • Day 181: The Sacrament of the Eucharist

    June 30th, 2023  |  15 mins 3 secs
    breaking of bread, eucharist, holy communion, holy liturgy, holy mass, holy sacrifice, last supper, lords supper, sacrifice, thanksgiving, worship

    The sacrament of the Eucharist has many different names, and "each name evokes certain aspects of it." Fr. Mike explains the meaning behind this sacrament's various titles, including; thanksgiving to God, the Lord's Supper, Breaking of Bread, the Holy Sacrifice, Holy Mass, and others. All the names of this sacrament ultimately remind us that the Eucharist is both a noun and a verb. It is the Son's great sacrifice to the Father and Jesus Christ himself. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 1328-1332.

  • Day 180: The Source and Summit

    June 29th, 2023  |  12 mins 32 secs
    body of christ, eucharist, heavenly liturgy, paschal lamb, sacraments, sacrifice of the mass

    The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” Today, we begin our journey into the mystery of the Eucharist. Fr. Mike emphasizes that the Eucharist is particularly unique in relation to the other sacraments because it unites us to the heavenly liturgy and draws us into communion with God. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1322-1327.

  • Day 179: Summary of Confirmation

    June 28th, 2023  |  18 mins 5 secs
    confirmation, intention, sacraments, sacraments of initiation, state of grace

    Together, with Fr. Mike, we have arrived at the conclusion and nugget day for the section on the sacrament of Confirmation. Fr. Mike reiterates the idea that, “What God has done in me cannot stop with me.” We receive God’s gifts at Confirmation, and it is now up to us to use these gifts. He also emphasizes the importance of having the desire for the sacrament of Confirmation when the sacrament is received. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1315-1321.

  • Day 178: Who Receives Confirmation

    June 27th, 2023  |  17 mins 3 secs
    age of discretion, bishop, confirmation, minister, sacraments, sacraments of initiation, sponsor

    We continue our examination of the sacrament of Confirmation, specifically both who should receive Confirmation and who can act as the minister of the sacrament. Fr. Mike reiterates that every baptized person, not yet confirmed, should receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Without Confirmation, Christian initiation remains incomplete. He also emphasizes the importance of choosing someone who can help you grow in the Faith as a sponsor. Fr. Mike concludes with an examination of who the minister of Confirmation is, and how its minister ties us to the apostolic succession. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1306-1314.

  • Day 177: The Celebration of Confirmation

    June 26th, 2023  |  21 mins 13 secs
    actions, confirmation, holy spirit, rite of confirmation, sacraments, words

    We continue our examination of the sacrament of Confirmation, specifically the celebration and effects of the sacrament of Confirmation. Fr. Mike explores the different elements of the rite of Confirmation and the ways in which Confirmation increases and deepens our baptismal graces. He emphasizes, in particular, the special strength of the Holy Spirit that we receive to spread and defend the Faith by our words and actions. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1297-1305.

  • Day 176: Traditions and Signs of Confirmation

    June 25th, 2023  |  17 mins 26 secs
    anointing, confirmation, east, oil, sacraments, sacraments of initiation, tradition, unity, west

    Together, with Fr. Mike, we continue our examination of the sacrament of Confirmation, specifically the two Traditions and different signs of Confirmation. Fr. Mike unpacks the differences in the two Traditions, East and West, in the celebration of Confirmation. He also explores the different signs that oil and anointing in the sacrament of Confirmation can signify. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1290-1296.

  • Day 175: Introduction to Confirmation

    June 24th, 2023  |  12 mins 25 secs
    apostles, baptismal grace, confirmation, economy of salvation, pentecost, sacrament, salvation

    We begin our examination of the sacrament of Confirmation. Fr. Mike emphasizes that the reception of Confirmation is necessary for the completion and strengthening of baptismal grace. He also highlights the vital importance of the reception of Confirmation because it gives us the power to be a witness to God’s grace on earth, just as the Apostles received that same power at Pentecost. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1285-1289.

  • Day 174: Summary of the Sacrament of Baptism

    June 23rd, 2023  |  12 mins 46 secs
    baptism, baptismal grace, baptize, fruit of baptism, in brief, indelible spiritual sign, nugget day, sacraments of initiation

    In this summary of the Church’s teachings on Baptism, the Catechism relays the heart of the sacrament. If you needed to quickly explain Baptism to someone on the street—Fr. Mike says—this would be your guide. Fr. Mike hones in on the fact that Baptism is “a grace and a gift of God that does not presuppose any human merit.” Today’s readings are paragraphs 1275-1284.