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 262: Habitual and Actual Grace (2024)

    September 18th, 2024  |  19 mins 38 secs
    actual grace, deifying grace, grace, habitual grace, participation in god's life, sanctification, supernatural

    Without God’s help, we can do nothing. The Catechism delves into grace today, explaining how grace works and helps us achieve our supernatural vocation to eternal life. Fr. Mike unpacks the difference between habitual and actual grace and reminds us that God is always the initiator of all our spiritual efforts. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1996-2001.

  • Day 261: Justification (2024)

    September 17th, 2024  |  19 mins
    grace, holy spirit, justification, justified, righteous, righteousness, salvation, sanctification, sanctify, sin

    What does it mean to be justified? The Catechism teaches us today about the grace of the Holy Spirit and its power to justify us. Fr. Mike explains how justification detaches us from sin and purifies our hearts. We learn that justification brings about a marvelous inward transformation that bears witness to God's great mercy. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1987-1995.

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    Day 260: Summary of the Moral Law (2024)

    September 16th, 2024  |  10 mins 45 secs
    commandments, following moral laws, law, moral law, moral rules, morality, natural law, new law, obeying gods law, old law

    In today’s “Nugget Day,” Fr. Mike reviews the significant takeaways that the Catechism teaches us about the moral law. Fr. Mike highlights that God has written the moral law in the depths of every human heart. Today’s In Brief section also reminds us that the moral law is a “fatherly instruction by God,” rooted in love and oriented towards our joy, freedom, and flourishing. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1975-1986.

  • Day 259: The New Commandment (2024)

    September 15th, 2024  |  18 mins 46 secs
    golden rule, law of freedom, law of grace, law of love, new commandment

    We continue our examination of the New Law or Law of the Gospel, specifically the Golden Rule and New Commandment of Jesus. Fr. Mike emphasizes that the New Commandment requires us to love God as the center of everything we are and everything we have. He also unpacks how the New Commandment is also known as the law of love, grace, and freedom. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1970-1974.

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    Day 258: The New Law (2024)

    September 14th, 2024  |  15 mins 50 secs
    holy spirit, law, law of the gospel, new law, old law, sermon on the mount

    Together, with Fr. Mike, we examine the New Law or the Law of the Gospel. Fr. Mike emphasizes that the New Law “fulfills, refines, surpasses, and leads the Old Law to its perfection.” He also explains how the New Law of Christ that is expressed through the Sermon on the Mount is perfected by the grace of the Holy Spirit and works through charity and the Sacraments. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1965-1969.

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    Day 257: The Old Law (2024)

    September 13th, 2024  |  12 mins 57 secs
    justice, law, mercy, moral law, old covenant, old testament, revealed law

    We continue the section on moral law, specifically focusing on the Old Law. Fr. Mike emphasizes that the Old Law is the first stage of Revealed Law. He also unpacks how the Old Law acts as preparation for the Gospel. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1961-1964.

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    Day 256: The Natural Moral Law (2024)

    September 12th, 2024  |  26 mins 16 secs
    beatitude, evil, good, moral law, natural law, natural moral law

    Together, we begin the section on moral law, starting with natural moral law. Fr. Mike begins by emphasizing that we need both the law that guides us and God’s grace that sustains us in order to live out our call to beatitude. He also unpacks how natural moral law is written in the soul of each and every man to help him discern between good and evil. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1949-1960.

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    Day 255: Human Solidarity (2024)

    September 11th, 2024  |  16 mins 55 secs
    brotherhood, friendship, human solidarity, social charity, social justice, solidarity

    Together, with Fr. Mike, we reach the conclusion of the article on Social Justice. Fr. Mike emphasizes that although we have a right to private property, we also have a duty to meet the needs of those around us. Every human being has a right to what they need to thrive in this life. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1939-1948.

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    Day 254: Social Justice (2024)

    September 10th, 2024  |  22 mins 16 secs
    dignity, equality, human dignity, justice, love, love your neighbor as yourself, respect, social justice

    We begin to look at social justice as outlined by the Catechism by diving into two aspects: respect for the human person and equality and differences among men. The dignity of the human person is at stake without social justice. Fr. Mike highlights that since we are all made in the image and likeness of God, we are all equal in dignity and are to love everyone including our enemies. With that, we must recognize that we are not all the same and work towards fairer conditions for all. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1928-1938.

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    Day 253: Participation in Public Life (2024)

    September 9th, 2024  |  21 mins 51 secs
    citizens, common good, fraud, human dignity, in brief, institutions, justice, nugget day, obligation, participation, public life, responsibility, rights and responsibilities, social interchange, subterfuges, voluntary, volunteer

    The Catechism has shown us how the common good begins with the good of the individual. It further shows us that each individual can participate in the pursuit of the common good for all—and that this participation is not optional, but an obligation. Fr. Mike explains the nature of this obligation in quite simple terms: “see a need, fill a need.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1913-1927.

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    Day 252: The Common Good (2024)

    September 8th, 2024  |  18 mins 16 secs
    basic needs, citizens, civil society, common good, defence, defense, fulfillment, globalization, human family, inalienable rights, interdependence, migrants, military, peace, political community, politics, refugees, right to privacy, security, social conditions, social nature, universal common good

    The Catechism sets up a pair of definitions for us that, at first glance, appear circular, but upon close examination, reveal profound interdependence: “The good of each individual is necessarily related to the common good, which in turn can be defined only in reference to the human person.” Fr. Mike uses a fascinating thought experiment to illustrate where the common good originates: you. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1905-1912.

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    Day 251: Authorities in Society (2024)

    September 7th, 2024  |  19 mins 15 secs
    abuse of power, anarchy, authority, common good, duty of obedience, governing authority, government, human community, obedience, obey, participation in social life, political regime, politics, rule of law, social authority, society, the state, unjust laws

    The Catechism shows us that, in order for any good in society to last and flourish, legitimate authority must be instituted and respected by all. Furthermore, it is our duty as those under authority to obey those invested with authority. Fr. Mike acknowledges that most of us resist authority, but he bolsters the Catechism’s claim that legitimate authority in society is good and necessary. “Anarchy doesn’t work.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1897-1904.

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    Day 250: Conversion in Society (2024)

    September 6th, 2024  |  22 mins 19 secs
    conversion, hierarchy of values, inner conversion, justice, means to an end, social change, social justice, society, unjust structures

    Before we can see outward changes for the good in society, there must be inward conversion in the hearts of its members, so says the Catechism. Fr. Mike highlights the fact that societies are made up of people with both body and soul—and the soul is often overlooked. Because we are broken, there is a “permanent need” for our conversion, and any society that fails to take this into account is doomed to do violence to human dignity. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1886-1896.

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    Day 249: The Person in Society (2024)

    September 5th, 2024  |  20 mins 53 secs
    community, family, freedom, power, society, unity

    Man is made for communion. God created man in his triune image, making us naturally social and communal beings. We learn that various societies weave us together: the family, the state, our professions, and recreational activities, among others. Fr. Mike explains how the Church promotes the principle of subsidiarity to protect the goodness of the various levels of society as each level pursues the common good. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1877-1885.

  • Day 248: The Spread of Sin (2024)

    September 4th, 2024  |  20 mins
    injustice, justice, morality, oppression, sin, society

    We close the section on human dignity and goodness by learning how sin engenders vice. Our readings today discuss the proliferation of sin and how capital sins, in particular, lead to vices that can become rooted in a person or society. Fr. Mike reminds us that while sin is a personal act, it is also possible for us to cooperate in and encourage the sins of others. This can lead to the formation of “structures of sin” that lead others down the path of evil and contribute to establishing “social sins.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1865-1876.

  • Day 247: The Weight of Sin (2024)

    September 3rd, 2024  |  21 mins 47 secs
    bullfighting, freedom, hell, love, mercy, reconciliation, sin

    We can consider the variety of sins in light of their gravity or seriousness. In doing so, we see that some sins weaken charity while others destroy it. The first we call venial sins, the second mortal. Our very freedom makes possible this rejection of God. Yet, God’s mercy has no limits. God can and will forgive every sin of which we repent. Fr. Mike invites all listeners to seek this forgiveness and go to Confession. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1854-1864.