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

BONUS: How Do We Trust in Church Authority? (with Bishop Cozzens) (2024)

December 29th, 2023  |  33 mins 14 secs

"In this special bonus episode, Bishop Andrew Cozzens joins Fr. Mike Schmitz to talk about his role as a bishop of the Catholic Church, his involvement in the Catechism in a Year podcast, and why we can continue to trust in the authority of the Church despite the brokenness of its leaders at times. Bishop Andrew Cozzens is the Bishop of the Diocese of Crookston in northern Minnesota.  He currently serves as the chair of the
USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis where he has been tasked by the Bishops with leading a three-year National Eucharistic Revival."

Day 363: Forgive Us Our Trespasses

December 29th, 2023  |  25 mins 31 secs

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Forgiving those who have hurt us is a challenging call. Fr. Mike explains what it means to "forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." We learn that forgiveness and reconciliation are not the same thing and that we can transform our hurt into intercession with God's grace. We ask the Lord to soften our hearts so that they may remain open to loving and forgiving others. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 2838-2845.

Day 362: Our Daily Bread

December 28th, 2023  |  21 mins 10 secs

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Asking God for our “daily bread” is a petition for him to fill our physical and spiritual hunger. Fr. Mike breaks down this simple yet profound petition that reminds us of our reliance on God for all our needs. In this part of the Lord’s prayer, we turn to God with childlike hearts, trusting that he will nourish us with all the appropriate material goods and, above all, with the Eucharist. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2828-2837.

Day 361: The Kingdom and Will of God

December 27th, 2023  |  22 mins 39 secs

christs return, gods will, kingdom of heaven, kingship of god, our father, the end times, the second coming of jesus, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, will of god

When we pray for God’s Kingdom to come and God’s will to be done, we are asking for the final coming of the reign of God and for his plan of salvation to come to fruition. This petition is most powerfully expressed in the Mass. Fr. Mike reminds us that anticipating Christ’s return should inflame our hearts to continue our mission here on earth and to carry out God’s will with perseverance. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2816-2827.

Day 360: Hallowing God’s Name

December 26th, 2023  |  18 mins 2 secs

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What does it mean to hallow God’s name? We are not the source or cause of God’s holiness. As the Catechism says, we hallow God’s name so it may be glorified, loved, and known. Jesus instructs us in the Our Father to petition and desire that we be drawn into God’s plan of loving kindness. In time, God’s name is hallowed in how we live and how we pray. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2807-2815.

Day 359: The Seven Petitions

December 25th, 2023  |  12 mins 52 secs

In the Lord’s Prayer, we make seven different petitions to our Father in heaven. Together, we examine what makes each set of these seven petitions different. Fr. Mike unpacks how the first three petitions emphasize love of the Father, the next two concern us in the present world, and the final two concern the battle of prayer. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2803-2806.

Day 358: Who Art in Heaven

December 24th, 2023  |  14 mins 45 secs

heaven, prayer, presence, the lord’s prayer, the our father, thrice-holy

As we reach the conclusion of the article on the opening words of the Our Father, we take a closer look at the phrase, “Who Art in Heaven.” Fr. Mike emphasizes that God is not distant, but is imminently present all around us. He also emphasizes that while sin has exiled us from heaven, conversion of heart allows us to return to the Father in heaven. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2794-2802.

Day 357: God, “Our” Father

December 23rd, 2023  |  13 mins 28 secs

individualism, prayer, relationship, the lord’s prayer, the our father, unity

God’s love has no bounds, and neither should our prayer. Fr. Mike emphasizes that when we say “our” we are highlighting that we have become God’s people. We belong to God, not in a possessive way, but in an “entirely new relationship”. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2786-2793.

BONUS: Why Scripture and Tradition? (with Jeff Cavins) (2024)

December 22nd, 2023  |  37 mins

In this bonus episode of The Catechism in a Year, Jeff Cavins joins Fr. Mike to share the connection between Scripture and Tradition, and provide the background on the origin, development, and structure of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Day 356: We Dare to Say

December 22nd, 2023  |  21 mins 39 secs

children of god, father, filial boldness, god’s children, holy spirit, humility, prayer, son, the lord’s prayer, the our father

When we pray the Our Father, we are invited to pray with “filial boldness” as children of God. Fr. Mike emphasizes that we are God’s adopted sons and daughters, and so because of that, we are able to call him “Abba, Father.” He also emphasizes that because of this adoption we are called to “continual conversion and new life.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2777-2785.

Day 355: Summary of the Lord’s Prayer

December 21st, 2023  |  9 mins 19 secs

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The In-Brief, or the “nugget day”, for the article on the Lord’s Prayer, emphasizes that understanding the identity of God is essential when it comes to our relationship with God. God is not a tyrant or dictator. He is our good Father. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2773-2776.

Day 354: The Prayer of the Church

December 20th, 2023  |  15 mins 19 secs

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Through the Catechism, we learn more about the Lord’s Prayer and how it should be included in our personal prayers as well as in community during the liturgy of the Mass. In giving us the Our Father, Jesus models how we are to use this prayer to speak directly with the Father. Fr. Mike drives home that we receive the words to pray and also receive the Holy Spirit when saying this prayer. Together, the words and the Holy Spirit enable us to pray like Christ and become more like him. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2765-2772.

Day 353: The Lord’s Prayer “Our Father”

December 19th, 2023  |  16 mins 18 secs

apostolic constitutions, article 1, article one, at the center of the scriptures, byzantine tradition, christian prayer, didache, disciples, doxology, good news, how we pray, our father, part 4, part four, roman missal, section 2, section two, st augustine, st luke, st matthew, st thomas aquinas, the lords prayer, the sermon on the mount, the summary of the whole gospel

Diving into the Lord’s Prayer, we look at the origin, meaning, and significance of this prayer. The Catechism reveals the Our Father as “the summary of the whole Gospel” as it includes all that we believe. Fr. Mike helps us understand that this prayer focuses our hearts on the Father and prioritizes our desires. As we begin this prayer in the Father’s name, we know who we are addressing, and we know we can trust the Lord as our Father. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2759-2764.

Day 352: Summary of The Battle of Prayer

December 18th, 2023  |  14 mins 22 secs

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Fr. Mike reviews this section of the Catechism, summarizing the battle of prayer and the prayer of the hour of Jesus. We are reminded that prayer is active, and we must engage in grace. The Catechism goes on to state that, “We pray as we live because we live as we pray.” In this, we see that God meets us where we are and wants us to pray always. Finally, Jesus’ prayer to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane exemplifies humility, filial trust, honesty, and perseverance; modeling how we are to pray to the Father. Today’s readings are paragraphs 2752-2758.

Day 351: The Prayer of the Hour of Jesus

December 17th, 2023  |  15 mins 20 secs

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Looking at the prayer of the Hour of Jesus, we learn from the Catechism that it “embraces the whole economy of creation and salvation, as well as his death and Resurrection.” This prayer summarizes everything: “God and the world; the Word and the flesh; eternal life and time; the love that hands itself over and the sin that betrays it; the disciples present and those who will believe in him by their word; humiliation and glory. It is the prayer of unity.” Fr. Mike reiterates that this prayer from the Son to the Father allows us to pray as sons and daughters of Christ and give glory to the Father. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2746-2751.

Day 350: Persevering in Prayer

December 16th, 2023  |  16 mins 13 secs

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The Catechism teaches about the effectiveness of prayer and how to persevere in prayer. Fr. Mike explains that although God already knows what we need before we ask, he wants us to pray, and he extends us dignity by allowing us to pray and ask for what we need. In the process of prayer, we are able to learn the heart of the Father, grow closer to him, and become more like him. The Catechism goes on to state that when it comes to prayer, it is always possible, a vital necessity, and inseparable from the Christian life. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2738-2745.