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
-
Day 201: The Confessor’s Role (2024)
July 19th, 2024 | 16 mins 20 secs
confession, confessor, forgiveness of sins, mercy, minister of reconciliation, penance, priest, priesthood, reconciliation, sacramental seal
If God is the one who forgives our sins, why do we need priests as confessors? The Catechism teaches us today about the role of the priest as the minister of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We learn that priests ought to be "servants" of God's mercy rather than "masters" of God's mercy. Fr. Mike invites us to pray for all priests' hearts, encouraging gentle, loving, and truthful confessors. Lastly, Fr. Mike clarifies the purpose of excommunication and the sacramental seal. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 1461-1467.
-
Day 200: The Confession of Sins (2024)
July 18th, 2024 | 23 mins 51 secs
absolution, confession of sins, forgiveness of sins, healing, mercy, penance, reconciliation, restitution, wounds
When we confess our sins, we’re not telling God something he doesn’t know; we’re giving God access to something he doesn’t have: permission to heal our wounds. Today we learn why the act of confessing our sins is an essential part of the sacrament of Reconciliation. Fr. Mike also clarifies the difference between absolution, penance, and satisfaction. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1455-1460.
-
Day 199: The Sacrament of Forgiveness (2024)
July 17th, 2024 | 27 mins 4 secs
contrition, examination of conscience, penance, reconciliation, sacraments, sacraments of healing
Together, with Fr. Mike, we continue our examination of the sacrament of Reconciliation. Specifically, we explore the origins and structure of the sacrament that we use today. Fr. Mike emphasizes that although some of the ways we celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation have changed, the essential elements have always remained the same. He also explores the importance of understanding the differences between perfect and imperfect contrition. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1446-1454.
-
Day 198: Reconciliation with God (2024)
July 16th, 2024 | 15 mins 35 secs
conversion, forgiveness, healing, penance, reconciliation, sacraments, sacraments of healing, sin
We continue our examination of the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Fr. Mike emphasizes that sin, above all else, is an offense against God and his Church. It damages our communion with both. He also unpacks how important it is that God has extended his ability to forgive sins to his apostles and their successors. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1440-1445.
-
Day 197: Forms of Penance (2024)
July 15th, 2024 | 18 mins 54 secs
almsgiving, conversion, fasting, friday, penance, prayer, reconciliation, sacrament, sacraments of healing, the prodigal son
Together, with Fr. Mike, we continue our examination of the sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance. In particular, we explore the different forms of penance, such as prayer, fasting, almsgiving, as well as other things people can do that orient their hearts towards conversion. Fr. Mike emphasizes the importance of taking up our own personal cross, accepting the suffering that is given to us by the Lord to carry with him each and every day. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1434-1439.
-
Day 196: Conversion of the Baptized (2024)
July 14th, 2024 | 18 mins 27 secs
conversion, interior conversion, penance, reconciliation, repentance, sacraments, sacraments of healing
We continue our examination of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Fr. Mike explores that interior conversion, or conversion of the heart, is a radical reorientation of our whole life. Conversion is so much more than just going through the motions or checking off the boxes. He emphasizes that interior conversion and repentance requires an active hatred for sin. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1427-1433.
-
Day 195: Penance and Reconciliation (2024)
July 13th, 2024 | 20 mins 31 secs
confession, conversion, forgiveness, healing, pardon, penance, reconciliation, sacraments, sacraments of healing
Together, with Fr. Mike, we begin the chapter on the sacraments of healing, starting with the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Fr. Mike emphasizes that Christ has given the Church the power of the Holy Spirit to continue his earthly ministry of healing and redemption with the sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. He also points out that through Reconciliation, we not only receive God’s forgiveness, but are also reconciled to the Church. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1420-1426.
-
Day 194: Summary of the Sacrament of the Eucharist (2024)
July 12th, 2024 | 15 mins 35 secs
adoration, blood of christ, body of christ, communicant, consecration, eucharist, eucharistic, grace, holy communion, in brief, in-brief, john 6, living bread, mystical body, new covenant, nugget day, reparation, sacrament of sacraments, sacrifice, species of bread and wine, state of grace, thanksgiving, transubstantial, transubstantiation
The Catechism has spent considerable time unpacking Holy Communion—the “sacrament of sacraments”—with us, and now she summarizes the most essential truths that we must internalize and move forward with. Fr. Mike takes this “nugget day” to tell us that God desires to feed us. He has given us his Son so that we might be filled with him and made whole again, in unity with him for all of eternity. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1406-1419.
-
Day 193: Communion Forever in Heaven (2024)
July 11th, 2024 | 14 mins 36 secs
beatific vision, eschataological, eucharist, eucharistic, heaven, heavenly glory, holy communion, last supper, marana tha, maranatha, my father’s kingdom, pledge of glory, veiled
The Catechism wraps up its overview of the Eucharist by reminding us that the sacrament of Holy Communion is a foretaste of what is to come in heaven. Fr. Mike exhorts us to prepare our hearts here on earth so that they might be conformed to God, ready to unite with him forever in heaven. The Eucharist is a most excellent path to such unity. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1402-1405.
-
Day 192: Unity in the Eucharist (2024)
July 10th, 2024 | 18 mins 14 secs
blood of christ, body of christ, church unity, communion, cup of blessing, eastern church, ecclesial communities, eucharist, full communion, holy supper, in sacris, intercommunion, mystical body, non-catholic, protestant, reformation, sacrament, unity of christians
The sacrament of Holy Communion unites the faithful together in a most profound, visible way. It also makes disunity in the Church all the more painful and apparent. The Catechism reveals the Church’s teachings regarding the Eucharist and Christian churches who are not in full communion with the Catholic Church. Fr. Mike addresses a most common and difficult question: “If a non-Catholic believes that the Eucharist is truly Jesus, why can they not receive him in the sacrament?” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1396-1401.
-
Day 191: The Eucharist Changes Us (2024)
July 9th, 2024 | 17 mins 35 secs
drink my blood, eat my flesh, eucharist, eucharistic banquet, eucharistic communion, fruits of holy communion, mortal sins, union with christ, venial sins
As the popular adage goes, “you are what you eat.” The Catechism tells us that, as food nourishes the body, so Jesus present in Holy Communion nourishes the soul. It especially highlights the Eucharist’s role in separating us from sin. Fr. Mike reminds us we must be open to change if Jesus is going to change us in the reception of Holy Communion. If—to use Fr. Mike’s analogy—Holy Communion is a “shower” of graces, we must ensure that we’re not wearing a raincoat. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1391-1395.
-
Day 190: Receiving Holy Communion (2024)
July 8th, 2024 | 19 mins 37 secs
communion, communion fast, confession, eucharist, profaning the body and blood, reconciliation, species, unworthy manner
The Catechism goes over the prerequisites to receiving Jesus in the Eucharist, as well as how often the faithful can and should receive him. Fr. Mike ensures that we understand the gravity of our obligation to go to the sacrament of Reconciliation before receiving Communion. As St. Paul said, “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1384-1390.
-
Day 189: Worship of the Eucharist (2024)
July 7th, 2024 | 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 Christ's true and real presence 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 (2024)
July 6th, 2024 | 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 (2024)
July 5th, 2024 | 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 (2024)
July 4th, 2024 | 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 1362-1386.