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

Day 321: Offenses Against Truth (2024)

November 16th, 2024  |  29 mins 26 secs

10 commandments, 8th commandment, adulation, article 8, article eight, boasting, bragging, calumny, charity, commandments, complaisance, detraction, eighth commandment, false witness, flattery, gossip, honor, how we live, humility, irony, judgment, justice, liar, lie, lies, life in christ, love of neighbor, lying, offense, part 3, part three, perjury, rash judgment, reparation, reputation, st. ignatius of loyola, ten commandments, trust, truth, truthful, truthfulness, violation, you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor

What does it mean to live out the truth? This theme carries over as we continue our evaluation of the eighth commandment. We learn the Catechism’s teachings on ways we violate truth, degrees of gravity based on circumstances, and the duty of reparation. Fr. Mike discusses each offense and offers resonating examples to reflect on. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2475-2487.

Day 320: The Truth (2024)

November 15th, 2024  |  21 mins 40 secs

10 commandments, 8th commandment, article 8, article eight, bear false witness, bear witness, candor, commandments, discretion, eighth commandment, god is the source of all truth, honesty, how we live, lie, lies, life in christ, love of neighbor, lying, martyr, martyrdom, martyrium polycarpi, martyrs, objective truth, part 3, part three, sincerity, st. ignatius of antioch, st. paul, subjective truth, ten commandments, truth, truthfulness, witness of the gospel, you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor

We begin our dive into the eighth commandment: “You shall not bear false witness.” The Catechism defines truth, identifies the importance of truth, and reflects on martyrdom. Fr. Mike unpacks all of this information and reminds us that our duty as Christians is to live in the truth and bear witness to the truth in what we say and how we act. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2464-2474.

Day 314: Goods of Others (2024)

November 9th, 2024  |  22 mins 25 secs

10 commandments, 7th commandment, article 7, article seven, commandments, commutative justice, contracts, distributive justice, enslavement of human beings, gambling, games of chance, goods, how we live, justice, legal justice, life in christ, love of neighbor, part 3, part three, private property, promises, reparation for injustice, respect for persons and their goods, respect for the goods of others, seventh commandment, solidarity, temperance, ten commandments, the right to private property, theft, universal destination of goods, wagers, you shall not steal

What does it mean to have respect for the goods of others? Fr. Mike unpacks the Catechism’s answer to this question and what it teaches about the seventh commandment in regards to respect for persons and their goods. We learn that it comes down to the dignity of persons and the virtues of temperance, justice, and solidarity. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2407-2414.

Day 313: Ownership of Goods (2024)

November 8th, 2024  |  21 mins 22 secs

10 commandments, 7th commandment, article 7, article seven, catholic social teachings, charity, commandments, goods, how we live, justice, life in christ, love of neighbor, ownership, part 3, part three, private property, seventh commandment, steward, ten commandments, the right to private property, universal destination of goods, you shall not steal

Beginning our look at the seventh commandment, the Catechism focuses on the universal destination of goods and the private ownership of goods. Fr. Mike helps us understand that at first glance, these concepts may seem contradictory, but upon closer inspection, they are paradoxical. Each concept is necessary, and they must be held “in tension”. We have the right to private property, and at the same time, we should have the mindset that we are stewards of our earthly possessions and talents with the intention of using them to benefit others. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2401-2406.

Day 312: Polygamy, Incest, and Free Union (2024)

November 7th, 2024  |  20 mins

10 commandments, 6th commandment, article 6, article six, cohabitation, commandments, free union, how we live, husband, incest, life in christ, love of neighbor, marriage, nugget, offense, part 3, part three, polygamy, sexual abuse, sin, sixth commandment, st paul, ten commandments, wife

The Catechism continues on with other offenses against the dignity of marriage and concludes our look at the sixth commandment. Polygamy, incest, sexual abuse, and free union are reviewed in detail. Fr. Mike highlights that these sins are grave, but God gives hope to all of us experiencing wounds or guilt. We have the opportunity to change in order to live in accordance with the Gospel. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2387-2400.

Day 311: Adultery and Divorce

November 6th, 2024  |  23 mins 21 secs

10 commandments, 6th commandment, adulterer, adultery, article 6, article six, commandments, commitment, divorce, fidelity, gift, how we live, infidelity, life in christ, love of neighbor, lust, marriage, offense, part 3, part three, sacrament, separation, sin, sixth commandment, spouse, st basil, ten commandments, unfaithful, union

The Catechism goes into detail about offenses against the dignity of marriage. The two topics we look at are adultery and divorce. These sins against marriage are not isolated between the spouses, but affect others including family, children, and society. With this, Fr. Mike reminds us that we live in a broken world, but God is among us, and he is a merciful Father with the ability to redeem. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2380-2386.

Day 310: The Gift of a Child (2024)

November 5th, 2024  |  20 mins 5 secs

10 commandments, 6th commandment, abraham, article 6, article six, artificial insemination fertilization, child, children, commandments, conjugal act, dignity, donation of sperm or ovum, embrio, families, family, fruit, fruitful, gift, how we live, jacob, life in christ, love of neighbor, marriage, parenthood, part 3, part three, procreate, rachel, right, sexual act, sixth commandment, sterile, surrogate uterus, ten commandments

Children are a gift from God. Children have integrity and rights. With these key principles in mind, Fr. Mike reviews the Catechism’s teachings about marriage, family, child bearing, sterility, and adoption. Because “a child is not something owed to one but is a gift”, we must protect the dignity of the child at the forefront of all decisions. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2373-2379.

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 294: Homicide (2024)

October 20th, 2024  |  12 mins 11 secs

5th commandment, direct and intentional killing, eugenics, fifth commandment, fratricide, homicide, how we live, indirectly killing, infanticide, intentional homicide, life in christ, love of neighbor, manslaughter, murder, parricide, part 3, part three, the commandments, thou shalt not kill, unintentional killing, you shall not kill