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

Day 47: The Angels

February 16th, 2023  |  17 mins 58 secs

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We learn that angels have been present throughout the history of salvation, and the life of Christ is surrounded by the adoration and service of angels.

Day 46: Heaven and Earth

February 15th, 2023  |  18 mins 12 secs

angels, ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, corporeal, creation, earth, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, heaven, jesus, scripture, spiritual, spiritual world, tradition

We learn that the earth is filled with men and many things we can see, but our faith tells us that there are many things on earth that we cannot see, including the presence of God and angels.

Day 45: Summary of Creation

February 14th, 2023  |  13 mins 45 secs

ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, creation, creator, evil, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, sacrifice, scripture, suffering, surrender, tradition, transform, trust, universe

In this “In Brief” section of the Catechism, we review that only God has the power to create, that is, to call into existence something from nothing.

Day 44: The Scandal of Evil

February 13th, 2023  |  17 mins 45 secs

ascension, bible, brokenness, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, evil, fallen world, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, physical evil moral evil, saints, scandal of evil, scripture, sin, suffering, tradition

If God is a good Father and creates a good world, why does evil exist? The Catechism addresses this profound and often painful question. Fr. Mike helps us understand how to reconcile sin, evil, and suffering with God’s loving Providence. He assures us that while God does not remove evil, he does redeem it, offering himself as the solution. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 309-314.

Day 43: Creation Is Good

February 12th, 2023  |  20 mins 7 secs

How does God create? We read about the reality that God creates an ordered and good world. Moreover, he is continually present in his creation, upholding and sustaining it. We also learn that God grants human beings the dignity of being causes, giving us the incredible power to share in his Divine Providence freely. Finally, Fr. Mike reminds us that because we can participate in God’s plan, our suffering is not meaningless. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 299-308.

Day 42: The Work of Creation

February 11th, 2023  |  17 mins 47 secs

ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, creation, existence, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, gods create, holy trinity, jesus, love, recreation, scripture, tradition, trinity, world

Why did God create? The Catechism today gives us a glimpse into the reason for our existence as we learn about God’s marvelous work of creation. Fr. Mike emphasizes that creation is ultimately a work of the Holy Trinity and a work of love that reveals the glory of God. He also reminds us that creation is not a work of the past; God is constantly forming and breathing new life into our lives and hearts. Today we read Catechism paragraphs 290-298.

Day 41: Origins and Ends

February 10th, 2023  |  17 mins 7 secs

deism, dualism, ends, gnosticism, manichaeism, origins, pantheism

Together with Fr. Mike, we examine some of the different explanations for God’s existence outside of the Catholic understanding, such as Pantheism, Dualism, Manichaeism, and Deism. Fr. Mike explains that while some understanding of man’s origin can be perceived through human reason and the natural world, we also need Revelation, as it answers many questions about creation we could never possibly hope to answer with reason alone. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 285-289.

Day 40: God Is the Creator

February 9th, 2023  |  18 mins 15 secs

creation, creator, earth, god, god the father, heaven, origins

Fr. Mike explores God’s role as “Creator” and the vital importance of understanding God as the Creator of all things: heaven and earth, seen and unseen. Together, we examine the questions of our origins, such as “Where do we come from?” and “Where are we going?” Fr. Mike emphasizes that man is created for a purpose because of the great and eternal love our Father in heaven has for every one of us. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 279-284.

Day 39: The Father Almighty

February 8th, 2023  |  20 mins 12 secs

almighty, evil, god, god the almighty, goodness, omnipotence, suffering

Together, with Fr. Mike, we explore the nature of God as Almighty. Fr. Mike discusses three important points to keep in mind about the reality of God’s power. The first is that God’s power is universal. God rules over everything; it is an infinite power. He is loving, he adopts us as his sons and daughters and shows us his mercy. Fr. Mike concludes with a reflection on God’s mysterious power in relation to the reality of the problem of evil and suffering in our world. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 268-278.

Day 38: Summary of the Trinity

February 7th, 2023  |  14 mins 46 secs

divine economy, divine works, father, holy spirit, son, trinitarian, trinitarian mission, trinity, unity

We have arrived at the “nugget day” or In Brief section for the paragraphs examining the nature of the Father in the Trinity. Fr. Mike reiterates some of the “nuggets” of wisdom from these past few days. He emphasizes the importance of how Baptism allows us to share in the life of the Holy Trinity. We conclude this section with a reflection on this profound call to share in the glory of the Trinity even though it exists “in the obscurity of faith.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 261-267.

Day 37: The Divine Economy

February 6th, 2023  |  14 mins 36 secs

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Fr. Mike continues to unpack the Church’s teachings on the Trinity. Today, we move into an examination of the divine economy or how God has revealed and communicated himself on earth. The divine economy is not just the work of the Father, but rather the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together as one. Fr. Mike concludes this episode with a reflection on the impactful words of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity who asks God to “make our hearts his heaven.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 257-260.

Day 36: The Nature of the Trinity

February 5th, 2023  |  17 mins 40 secs

divine persons, father, holy spirit, son, three persons, trinity, unity

Together, with Fr. Mike, we continue our exploration of the Church’s teachings on the nature of the Holy Trinity. We examine three main ideas. The first is the unity of the Trinity, that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all one God. The next is the Divine Persons as distinct from one another: one God, three distinct persons. As Fr. Mike states, “The Son is not the Father, the Father is not the Son, and the Holy Spirit is not either.” Finally, Fr. Mike discusses the relation between each person of the Holy Trinity. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 253-256.

Day 35: Formation of Trinitarian Dogma

February 4th, 2023  |  15 mins 45 secs

dogma, father, formation, holy spirit, son, trinitarian, trinity

Fr. Mike explores the formation of the Church’s dogma on the nature of the Trinity. He unpacks the terms used by the Church in an attempt to explain the nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. However, as Fr. Mike reminds us, with the story of St. Augustine and the child on the seaside, the Trinity is a mystery that none of us can fully comprehend. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 249-252.

Day 34: Unity in the Holy Spirit

February 3rd, 2023  |  19 mins 40 secs

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The Catechism introduces us to the Holy Spirit and describes how the Spirit reveals the Father and the Son to us. It also gives us some background and context regarding the way we describe the Holy Spirit in the Roman Catholic Church compared to the way that the Eastern Orthodox Church describes the Holy Spirit. Fr. Mike breaks it down for us and gives us some hope for a future reconciliation between Eastern and Western Churches. Today’s reading is Catechism paragraphs 243-248.

Day 33: God as Father

February 2nd, 2023  |  14 mins 17 secs

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The Catechism describes the various ways that God has revealed himself to us as Father over the ages, and gives us insight into God the Father “in relation to his only Son,” Jesus. Fr. Mike entreats us to examine our relationships with our earthly fathers and how they might be impacting our vision of God as Father. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 238-242.

Day 32: The Most Holy Trinity

February 1st, 2023  |  14 mins 56 secs

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Christians are baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” not the “names” of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Catechism explains this distinction by introducing us to the “central mystery of Christian faith and life”: the Trinity. Fr. Mike slows us down to meditate on what God reveals to us concerning his inner life, the very thing that “many prophets and righteous people longed to see… [and] hear.” Today’s reading is CCC 232-237.