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

Day 303: Summary of the Fifth Commandment (2025)

October 30th, 2025  |  14 mins 26 secs

abortion, arms, ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, ethic of life, euthanasia, father mike, father mike schmitz, fifth commandment, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, homicide, jesus, murder, peace, respect for human life, sanctity of human life, scandal, scripture, suicide, thou shalt not kill, tradition, war, you shall not kill

The Church offers us a consistent ethic of life from the moment of conception until death. In today’s “Nugget Day,” we review the main takeaways from our readings about the fifth commandment. Fr. Mike reiterates that the Church’s teachings on the value of human life stem from the truth that every human life is sacred; God wills each person for his own sake. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2318-2330.

Day 301: Peace (2025)

October 28th, 2025  |  17 mins 54 secs

10 commandments, 5th commandment, anger, article 5, article five, ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, charity, commandments, dignity, father mike, father mike schmitz, fifth commandment, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, hatred, high call, how we live, jesus, justice, kill, life in christ, love, love of neighbor, mortal sin, part 3, part three, peace, peacemakers, prince of peace, respect, revenge, scripture, st augustine, st thomas aquinas, ten commandments, tradition, vengeance

Peace is not simply an absence of war. Fr. Mike breaks down the Catechism’s teachings about peace as the "work of justice and the effect of charity.” We learn that to cultivate true peace, we must do more than avoid anger, hatred, and harm to our neighbor; we must actively work toward becoming agents of peace. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2302-2306.

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 298: Respect for Others (2025)

October 25th, 2025  |  20 mins 49 secs

ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, commandments, dignity, father mike, father mike schmitz, fifth commandment, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, integrity, jesus, respect, scandal, scripture, ten commandments, tradition, virtue

We have seen how harming ourselves or others physically is a violation of the fifth commandment, but how can causing harm to another’s virtue or integrity violate this commandment? Fr. Mike unpacks what scandal is and exactly how it is a violation of the fifth commandment. He emphasizes the gravity of scandal when it comes from those who, by nature, teach, and how vital it is for all of us, but especially teachers, to avoid contributing to scandal. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2284-2287.

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.
"

Day 296: The Sin of Euthanasia (2025)

October 23rd, 2025  |  21 mins 50 secs

ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, commandments, dying, euthanasia, father mike, father mike schmitz, fifth commandment, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, handicapped, jesus, medical procedures, palliative care, scripture, sick, ten commandments, tradition

We continue our examination of the fifth commandment, taking a closer look at the sin of euthanasia. Fr. Mike emphasizes that whatever the motive, the action of ending a life in order to eliminate suffering is still a sin. He also emphasizes that palliative care, however, is an important and special form of charity and love. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2276-2279.

Day 303: Summary of the Fifth Commandment (2024)

October 29th, 2024  |  14 mins 26 secs

abortion, arms, ethic of life, euthanasia, fifth commandment, homicide, murder, peace, respect for human life, sanctity of human life, scandal, suicide, thou shalt not kill, war, you shall not kill

The Church offers us a consistent ethic of life from the moment of conception until death. In today’s “Nugget Day,” we review the main takeaways from our readings about the fifth commandment. Fr. Mike reiterates that the Church’s teachings on the value of human life stem from the truth that every human life is sacred; God wills each person for his own sake. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2318-2330.

Day 300: Science, Bodily Integrity, and the Dead (2024)

October 27th, 2024  |  24 mins 43 secs

10 commandments, 5th commandment, amputation, article 5, article five, autopsies, autopsy, bodily integrity, commandments, corporal work of mercy, cremation, death, dignity, experimentation, experiments, fifth commandment, hostage, how we live, kidnapping, life in christ, love of neighbor, mutilation, organ donation, organ transplant, part 3, part three, public health, respect, science, scientific research, sterilization, technology, ten commandments, terrorism, torture

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 301: Peace (2024)

October 27th, 2024  |  17 mins 54 secs

10 commandments, 5th commandment, anger, article 5, article five, charity, commandments, dignity, fifth commandment, hatred, high call, how we live, justice, kill, life in christ, love, love of neighbor, mortal sin, part 3, part three, peace, peacemakers, prince of peace, respect, revenge, st augustine, st thomas aquinas, ten commandments, vengeance

Peace is not simply an absence of war. Fr. Mike breaks down the Catechism’s teachings about peace as the "work of justice and the effect of charity.” We learn that to cultivate true peace, we must do more than avoid anger, hatred, and harm to our neighbor; we must actively work toward becoming agents of peace. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2302-2306.

Day 298: Respect for Others (2024)

October 23rd, 2024  |  20 mins 49 secs

commandments, dignity, fifth commandment, integrity, respect, scandal, ten commandments, virtue

We have seen how harming ourselves or others physically is a violation of the fifth commandment, but how can causing harm to another’s virtue or integrity violate this commandment? Fr. Mike unpacks what scandal is and exactly how it is a violation of the fifth commandment. He emphasizes the gravity of scandal when it comes from those who, by nature, teach, and how vital it is for all of us, but especially teachers, to avoid contributing to scandal. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2284-2287.