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

Day 300: Science, Bodily Integrity, and the Dead (2025)

October 27th, 2025  |  24 mins 43 secs

10 commandments, 5th commandment, amputation, article 5, article five, ascension, autopsies, autopsy, bible, bodily integrity, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, commandments, corporal work of mercy, cremation, death, dignity, experimentation, experiments, father mike, father mike schmitz, fifth commandment, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, hostage, how we live, jesus, kidnapping, life in christ, love of neighbor, mutilation, organ donation, organ transplant, part 3, part three, public health, respect, science, scientific research, scripture, sterilization, technology, ten commandments, terrorism, torture, tradition

The Catechism looks at matters relating to scientific research, bodily integrity, and the dead with the lens of the dignity of the human person. Fr. Mike helps us navigate the Catechism’s teachings by acknowledging science and technology as a good while emphasizing restrictions and conditions to ensure respect for the dignity of persons. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2292-2301.

Day 297: The Cross of Suicide (2025)

October 24th, 2025  |  20 mins 39 secs

ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, commandments, death, father mike, father mike schmitz, fifth commandment, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, salutary repentence, scripture, suicide, ten commandments, tradition

"The cross of suicide is a violation of the fifth commandment that, tragically, many of us have been impacted by in our world today. Fr. Mike explains that we are stewards of the life that God has entrusted to us, not owners. Our lives are precious gifts, and we have a responsibility to care for them. He also emphasizes that we should not lose hope for the eternal salvation of those who take their own lives. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2280-2283.

Listener discretion advised. This episode contains references to suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please contact someone you can trust and/or contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 (available 24 hours everyday). You are loved, you are beautiful, and you are absolutely irreplaceable.
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Day 143: Amen (2025)

May 23rd, 2025  |  16 mins 8 secs

amen, ascension, belief, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, death, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, grace, jesus, judgment, scripture, tradition

Congratulations, we have come to the conclusion of Part One of the Catechism! Fr. Mike reviews the last “nugget” section on death and judgment, inviting us to regularly ponder the moment of our own death and judgment before our Lord. We conclude today with an explanation of the meaning of the word “amen” and the significance it has for our belief in God. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1051-1065.

Day 140: Purgatory and Hell (2025)

May 20th, 2025  |  21 mins 15 secs

ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, death, eternal fire, eternity, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, gehenna, hell, holiness, jesus, purgatory, purification, salvation, sanctification, scripture, tradition

Why do purgatory and hell exist? The Catechism teaches us today about the existence and the meaning of purgatory and hell. We learn that purgatory is a transitional state of purification while hell is the state of permanent separation from God. Fr. Mike reminds us that nobody drifts into heaven because “we cannot be united to God unless we freely choose to love him.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1030-1037.

Day 139: I Believe in Life Everlasting (2025)

May 19th, 2025  |  18 mins 12 secs

ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, death, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, heaven, hell, jesus, judgment, particular judgment, scripture, tradition

Together, with Fr. Mike, we explore what happens to us at and after the moment of our death. We examine the importance of understanding that the Christian, who unites his death with Christ Jesus, takes a step towards Christ in everlasting life. Fr. Mike emphasizes that we have an active choice in our journey to our Father in heaven. We should not simply desire Heaven, but actively choose it. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1020-1029.

Day 138: Summary of the Resurrection of the Body (2025)

May 18th, 2025  |  14 mins 48 secs

ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, christian vision of death, death, dying, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, happy death, hour of death, jesus, resurrection, scripture, st. joseph, tradition

Together, with Fr. Mike, we arrive at the “nugget day” or summary for the Catechism paragraphs on the Resurrection and the Christian vision of death. Fr. Mike emphasizes that in the face of death, we must not grieve as though we have no hope. He also points out the importance of preparing for the hour of our death. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1012-1019.

Day 137: Dying in Christ Jesus (2025)

May 17th, 2025  |  16 mins 56 secs

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Fr. Mike examines the mystery of death and dying in Christ. Together, we explore the reality that in order to live with Christ, we must first die with Christ. Fr. Mike emphasizes that Christ accepted death in an act of free and complete submission to God’s will, and how we can follow that example by completely accepting God’s will in our own lives. Today’s readings from the Catechism are paragraphs 1005-1011.

Day 89: Jesus Christ Was Buried (2025)

March 30th, 2025  |  14 mins 1 sec

ascension, bible, body, burial, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, death, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, jesus, new life, resurrection, scripture, soul, tomb, tradition

When he was crucified, Jesus experienced a real human death, the separation of his soul from his body. Because of his divinity, though, Jesus’ body did not see corruption, and his body and soul were reunited in the Resurrection. The risen Christ is the meeting point of death and life. We learn that as Christians, in Baptism, we die to sin, are buried with Christ, and then in him, we rise to new life. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraph 624-630.

Day 88: Christ’s Definitive Sacrifice

March 29th, 2025  |  17 mins 35 secs

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Christ’s death is the unique and definitive sacrifice. It is both the Paschal Sacrifice that accomplishes redemption and the sacrifice of the New Covenant that restores man’s communion with God. Fr. Mike tell us that Jesus Christ is the one mediator, and yet invites us to participate in his sacrifice when he calls on us to take up our crosses and follow him. When we accept our sufferings out of love, we are united to Christ. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 613-623.

Day 87: Christ’s Life as Offering (2025)

March 28th, 2025  |  13 mins 52 secs

ascension, atonement, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, death, eternal life, eucharist, father mike, father mike schmitz, forgiveness, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, free will, humanity, jesus, obedience, offering, redemption, sacrifice, salvation, scripture, sin, suffering, tradition

Jesus Christ’s entire life was an offering to God the Father, and he freely embraced God’s will and his plan for salvation. We learn that the Eucharist memorializes Jesus’ free offering of himself. In the garden, the night before his Passion and death, Jesus suffered real agony as he contemplated his death, yet he accepted his death as redemptive. Fr. Mike invites us to participate in this redemption by attending Mass and receiving the Eucharist. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 606-612.