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 20: Stepping in Faith
January 20th, 2023 | 15 mins 13 secs
abraham, ascension, belief, believing, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, faith, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, mans response to god, mary, obedience, revelation, scripture, stepping in faith, tradition
As we dive into a new chapter today, we learn about how we are called to respond to God’s Revelation. In particular, we discover that Mary and Abraham are models of faith who show us how to be obedient by submitting our intellect and will to God. Fr. Mike assures us that even though God doesn’t usually give us the whole picture of our lives, he gives us just enough light to take the next step in faith. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 142-149.
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Day 19: Summary of Sacred Scripture
January 19th, 2023 | 10 mins 32 secs
gospel, new testament, old testament, sacred scripture, scripture, unity
Today, we arrive, with Fr. Mike, at the In Brief section for Article III. Together, we revisit eight of the main ideas or “nuggets” from the readings of the past six days. Fr. Mike concludes this section by reminding us of the importance of the unity between and veneration of the 46 books of the Old Testament and the 27 of the New. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 134-141.
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Day 18: The Unity of the Testaments
January 18th, 2023 | 15 mins 43 secs
new testament, old testament, prefigurement, type, typology, unity
Fr. Mike unpacks the vital unity between the Old and New Testaments. Together, we examine prefigurements and types from the Old Testament being fulfilled in the New. We also examine the importance of the study of Scripture for each and every Catholic. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 128-133.
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Day 17: The Canon of Scripture
January 17th, 2023 | 18 mins 43 secs
canon, formation of gospel, gospel, marcionism, new testament, old testament, scripture
Fr. Mike explores the formation of the canon of Scripture. He emphasizes the importance of contemplating and venerating all 73 books of both the New and Old Testaments given to us through Sacred Tradition. Together, with Fr. Mike, we further examine the definition of the canon of Scripture throughout history, spanning from the late 4th to the mid-15th century. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 120-127.
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Day 16: Senses of Scripture
January 16th, 2023 | 13 mins 31 secs
allegorical sense, analogical sense, literal sense, moral sense, scripture, senses of scripture, spiritual sense
Fr. Mike examines the two senses of Scripture: the literal sense and the spiritual sense. Together, we further unpack the meaning of the literal sense of Scripture and the three subdivisions of the spiritual sense: the allegorical, the moral, and the anagogical senses. Fr. Mike provides us with scriptural examples of each of the four senses for us to fully comprehend the richness of God’s word. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 115-119.
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Day 15: Interpreting Scripture
January 15th, 2023 | 16 mins 32 secs
ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catholic, catholic church, catholicism, faith, father mike schmitz, fr mike schmitz, holy bible, holy spirit, interpretation of scripture, interpreting scripture, revelation, scripture, scriptures, tradition, word of god
How do Catholics interpret Scripture? Fr. Mike breaks down the three basic principles for interpreting Scripture: attentiveness to the content and unity of the whole Bible, reading Scripture within the living Tradition of the Church, and attentiveness to the analogy of Faith. These criteria allow the Church to interpret Scripture accurately and prevents us from taking Scripture out of context. Today’s readings are CCC 109-114.
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Day 14: The Eternal Word of God
January 14th, 2023 | 17 mins 8 secs
ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, eternal word of god, father mike schmitz, fr mike schmitz, free will, grace, living word of god, religion, revelation, sacredness of scripture, scripture, scriptures, tradition, truth, word of god
Fr. Mike reflects on the sacredness of Scripture and why the Church venerates Scripture with great reverence. He helps us understand the mystery behind the powerful reality that God speaks to us through human authors. Most importantly, Fr. Mike reminds us that the eternal Word of God is both living and true. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 101-108.
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Day 13: A Single Deposit of Faith
January 13th, 2023 | 16 mins 12 secs
authority, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catholic church, catholicism, deposit of faith, divine revelation, father mike schmitz, fr mike, magisterium, sacred scripture, sacred tradition, word of god
In today’s “In Brief'' section, Fr. Mike reviews the relationship between Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture, emphasizing that both make up the single deposit of Faith. He also explains how the Magisterium is able to interpret authentically and authoritatively the Word of God. Lastly, he reminds us that the way the Church prays and lives, reveals who the Church is. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 96-100.
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Day 12: Receiving Dogmas
January 12th, 2023 | 15 mins 33 secs
belief, binding truths, catechism, divine revelation, dogmas, faith, magisterium, salvation of souls, teachings of the church, truth
How do we come to accept the binding truths of the Faith? Fr. Mike explains how the dogmas of the Faith are boundaries designed to help us know God and ourselves accurately. He invites us to see these boundaries as lights along our path that enable us to love God and fully do his will. If we can understand that these dogmas are guided by love, we can come to receive them as gifts for the salvation of our souls. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 88-95.
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Day 11: Sources of Divine Revelation
January 11th, 2023 | 19 mins 25 secs
apostles, apostolic tradition, ascension, bible, bishops, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, church, divine revelation, faith, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, magisterium, pope, sacred scripture, sacred tradition, scripture, teaching of the church, tradition, word of god
Fr. Mike breaks down the Catechism’s teaching that divine revelation consists of both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition and emphasizes why both sources are of equal importance in the Faith. He also clarifies the difference between Apostolic Tradition and ecclesial traditions. Lastly, Fr. Mike encourages us to receive with docility the teachings and directives of the Magisterium of the Church, trusting in the authority of the Pope and the bishops. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 80-87.
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Day 10: The Apostolic Tradition
January 10th, 2023 | 16 mins 48 secs
apostolic succession, catholic church, divine teaching, faith, god’s word, handing on the faith, holy spirit, revelation, scripture, teaching authority, tradition
The Gospel was handed on in two ways — orally and in writing. Both Scripture and Tradition are sources of Divine Revelation. Fr. Mike describes how the first apostles left bishops as their successors, passing down to them their teaching authority, and this apostolic succession is preserved until the end of time. The passing on of the Faith isn’t something reserved for bishops but something we are all called to participate in. Through the Holy Spirit, God’s Word is present and active in the Church today. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 74-79.
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Day 9: The Fullness of Revelation
January 9th, 2023 | 18 mins 24 secs
covenant, fullness of revelation, fullness of truth, god the father, god the son, god’s word, jesus, jesus christ, revelation, word made flesh
In our Catechism reading today we learn how out of love, God has fully revealed himself by sending his Son, Jesus Christ who established God’s covenant forever.
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Day 8: God Forms His People
January 8th, 2023 | 16 mins 35 secs
abraham, chosen people, christian joy, holy men, holy women, hope, hope in the lord, israel, jesus, prophets, redemption, saints, salvation
God chose Abraham and made him the “father of a multitude of nations.” Then God formed Israel as his people, freeing them from slavery in Egypt. Fr. Mike explains why God reveals himself in stages, and through the prophets who are honored as saints, he continues to form his people in the hope of salvation. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 59-64.
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Day 7: God Reveals Himself
January 7th, 2023 | 16 mins 30 secs
creation, creation of man, fullness of truth, god’s plan for man, grace, knowing god, love of god, loving god, meaning of life, promise of salvation, redemption, revelation, seeking truth, truth, understanding god, unity
God reveals himself to man and gives us the capacity to know and love him beyond our own natural abilities. From the very beginning, even after the first sin of Adam and Eve, God made himself known to human beings and gave us a promise of redemption. Fr. Mike explains how God’s covenant with Noah offers hope for salvation and unity that are only made possible in Christ. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 50-58.
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Day 6: Knowing God With Certainty
January 6th, 2023 | 18 mins 44 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.
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Day 5: How We Know God
January 5th, 2023 | 12 mins 48 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.