The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
A day-by-day walk through the transformative beliefs and teachings of the Catholic Church.
Episode Search
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Day 1: To Know and Love God (2024)
January 1st, 2024 | 17 mins 14 secs
1 timothy 2, acts 4, beginning, catechesi tradendae, catechesis, council of trent, doctrine, education in the faith, extraordinary synod of bishops, handing on the faith, john 17, john paul ii, make disciples, mark 16, matthew 28, proclaim the gospel, proclamation of the gospel, prologue, the good news, the life of man, to know and love god
Welcome to Day 1 of The Catechism in a Year! Today, we begin our journey with Fr. Mike through the Catechism from the very beginning: the Prologue. The Catechism tackles some big questions right out of the gate. Why did God make us? How can we know him? How do we help others understand him as well? Fr. Mike invites us to discover God’s plan for us and accept the challenge he has placed before us. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1-10.
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Day 211: The One Priesthood of Christ
July 30th, 2023 | 17 mins 8 secs
bishops, chosen people, consecration, consecratory, deacons, economy of salvation, levi, levites, mediator, melchizedek, ministers, ministry, new covenant, new testament, old covenant, old testament, ordination, prefigure, prefigured, prefigurement, priesthood, priesthood of aaron, priesthood of christ, priests, sacrament of holy orders, true priest, type, typology
The priesthood of the Old Covenant among the people of Israel is fulfilled in the one priesthood of Christ. The Catechism compares the Old Testament priesthood, “powerless to bring about salvation,” with the ordained ministry in the New Covenant. Fr. Mike unpacks the reality that there is only one true priest—Jesus Christ. His “priests” on earth are humble ministers. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1539-1545.
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Day 125: Vocation of the Laity
May 5th, 2023 | 19 mins 36 secs
ascension, bible, bishop, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, laity, lay people, priests, salvation, scripture, tradition, universal, vocation
The term "laity" refers to all the faithful, except those in Holy Orders and those who belong to a religious state approved by the Church. We learn about the special vocation lay people have to seek the Kingdom of God as they engage in temporal affairs.
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Day 124: Teaching, Sanctifying, and Governing
May 4th, 2023 | 22 mins 23 secs
ascension, bible, bishops, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, episcoal college, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, governing office, infallibility, jesus, pope, sanctifying office, scripture, teaching office, tradition
There are three offices that belong to the episcopal college: the teaching office, the sanctifying office, and the governing office. Fr. Mike gives us an overview of the functions within these offices and clarifies the charism of infallibility in matters of faith and morals. As we learn about the authority of the episcopal college, Fr. Mike encourages us to approach the teachings of the Church with docility. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 888-896.
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Day 1: To Know and Love God
January 1st, 2023 | 16 mins 27 secs
1 timothy 2, acts 4, beginning, catechesi tradendae, catechesis, council of trent, doctrine, education in the faith, extraordinary synod of bishops, handing on the faith, john 17, john paul ii, make disciples, mark 16, matthew 28, proclaim the gospel, proclamation of the gospel, prologue, the good news, the life of man, to know and love god
Welcome to Day 1 of the Catechism in a Year! Today, we begin our journey with Fr. Mike through the Catechism from the very beginning: the Prologue. The Catechism tackles some big questions right out of the gate. Why did God make us? How can we know him? How do we help others understand him as well? Fr. Mike invites us to discover God’s plan for us and accept the challenge he has placed before us. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1-10.
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Day 11: Sources of Divine Revelation (2026)
January 11th, 2026 | 19 mins 25 secs
ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, scripture, tradition
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 215: Deacons and the Diaconate (2025)
August 3rd, 2025 | 13 mins 31 secs
ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, scripture, tradition
Together, with Fr. Mike, we examine the ordination of deacons and the diaconate. Fr. Mike unpacks each of the essential elements of the rite of the ordination of deacons as well as each of the tasks of the deacon. He emphasizes that only a validly ordained bishop can validly confer the sacrament of Holy Orders. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1569-1576.
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Day 212: In Persona Christi (2025)
July 31st, 2025 | 20 mins 3 secs
ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, scripture, tradition
The Catechism unpacks—by way of comparison—the “two participations in the one priesthood of Christ”: the common priesthood of all the faithful and the ministerial (or hierarchical) priesthood of the bishops and priests. Fr. Mike hones in on the ministerial priesthood as a means for Jesus to minister to his Church. His ministers act on his behalf in persona Christi Capitis: in the person of Christ, the Head. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1546-1553.
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Day 187: The Church’s Sacrificial Unity (2025)
July 6th, 2025 | 18 mins 18 secs
ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, scripture, tradition
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.
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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.