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

Day 214: Priests and the Presbyterate (2024)

August 1st, 2024  |  18 mins 45 secs

co-workers, episcopal college, eucharistic assembly, eucharistic cult, holy orders, ordination, presbyterate, presbyterium, priest, priesthood, rite of ordination, sacerdotal, sacerdotal college, sacrament, sacrament of order, sacramental brotherhood, synaxis, the gospel

Day 213: Bishops and the Episcopacy (2024)

July 31st, 2024  |  16 mins 37 secs

acme, bishop, bishop of rome, college, collegial, consecration, deacon, diaconate, episcopacy, episcopal, hierarchical communion, high priesthood, holy orders, in eius persona agant, minister, ministry, ordination, presbyterate, priest, sacerdos, sacrament, summa, three degrees

There are three degrees within the sacrament of Holy Orders: the episcopacy (bishops), the presbyterate (priests), and the diaconate (deacons). The Catechism begins unpacking ordination with the bishops. Fr. Mike speaks on the special role that bishops play in the life of the Church. Today’s readings are from Catechism paragraphs 1554-1561.

Day 212: In Persona Christi (2024)

July 30th, 2024  |  20 mins 3 secs

baptismal priesthood, bishop, boys adrift, caput et membra, common priesthood, hierarchical priesthood, high priest, holy orders, in persona christi capitis, king, mediator, minister, ministerial priesthood, ordained minister, priest, priesthood, priestly, prophet, sacrament, sacred power, two participations in the one priesthood of christ, typos you patros

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.

Day 207: Celebrating the Anointing of the Sick (2024)

July 25th, 2024  |  11 mins 8 secs

anointing, death, eucharist, healing, illness, sacrament, sickness

The Anointing of the Sick is not just for those on the verge of death but for any faithful suffering from a grave illness. Fr. Mike explains that because of this, we don’t have to put this sacrament off to the very end; instead, we can enjoy the graces it confers as often as is fitting throughout a lifetime. This section also discusses how we can celebrate the Anointing of the Sick. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1514-1519.

Day 206: Healing the Sick (2024)

July 24th, 2024  |  18 mins 31 secs

anointing, healing, hope, physician, redemption, sacrament, sickness

By taking up our cross and following Christ, we gain a new way of seeing sickness and frailty. Along with this newness of vision, the Church is given the command from her founder to heal the sick. Since its beginning, the Church has anointed the sick among us, praying for their healing and salvation. Amid their sufferings, the suffering can endure, uniting themselves to Christ’s own afflictions for the sake of the Church. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1506-1513.

Day 197: Forms of Penance (2024)

July 15th, 2024  |  18 mins 54 secs

almsgiving, conversion, fasting, friday, penance, prayer, reconciliation, sacrament, sacraments of healing, the prodigal son

Together, with Fr. Mike, we continue our examination of the sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance. In particular, we explore the different forms of penance, such as prayer, fasting, almsgiving, as well as other things people can do that orient their hearts towards conversion. Fr. Mike emphasizes the importance of taking up our own personal cross, accepting the suffering that is given to us by the Lord to carry with him each and every day. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1434-1439.

Day 192: Unity in the Eucharist (2024)

July 10th, 2024  |  18 mins 14 secs

blood of christ, body of christ, church unity, communion, cup of blessing, eastern church, ecclesial communities, eucharist, full communion, holy supper, in sacris, intercommunion, mystical body, non-catholic, protestant, reformation, sacrament, unity of christians

The sacrament of Holy Communion unites the faithful together in a most profound, visible way. It also makes disunity in the Church all the more painful and apparent. The Catechism reveals the Church’s teachings regarding the Eucharist and Christian churches who are not in full communion with the Catholic Church. Fr. Mike addresses a most common and difficult question: “If a non-Catholic believes that the Eucharist is truly Jesus, why can they not receive him in the sacrament?” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1396-1401.

Day 175: Introduction to Confirmation (2024)

June 23rd, 2024  |  12 mins 25 secs

apostles, baptismal grace, confirmation, economy of salvation, pentecost, sacrament, salvation

We begin our examination of the sacrament of Confirmation. Fr. Mike emphasizes that the reception of Confirmation is necessary for the completion and strengthening of baptismal grace. He also highlights the vital importance of the reception of Confirmation because it gives us the power to be a witness to God’s grace on earth, just as the Apostles received that same power at Pentecost. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1285-1289.

Day 154: Sacraments of Eternal Life (2024)

June 2nd, 2024  |  13 mins 9 secs

efficacious signs of grace, eschatalogical, eschatology, eternal inheritance, eternal life, everlasting life, heaven, in brief, inheritance, marana tha, maranatha, nugget day, sacrament, sacrament definition, sacramental, sacraments, sacraments of eternal life, spirit and the bride

We’ve seen how the sacraments re-present what Christ worked for us in his Passion and death, but the Catechism also explains to us how the sacraments prefigure our eternal inheritance in heaven. Fr. Mike uses this “nugget day” as an opportunity to ensure we understand what the sacraments are and what they’re for. Today’s readings are Catechism, paragraphs 1130-1134.

Day 152: Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi (2024)

May 31st, 2024  |  16 mins 42 secs

baptism, baptizing, evangelization, evangelize, law of faith, law of prayer, lex credendi, lex orandi, make disciples, sacrament, sacramental mission, sacraments, sacraments of faith

The Catechism makes clear to us that evangelization and the sacraments go hand in hand. An ancient saying is highlighted, linking the two: lex orandi, lex credendi—or, the law of prayer is the law of faith. Fr. Mike illustrates this connection by showing us that, when you change the sign that points to an invisible reality, you risk changing where it’s pointing. This is why “no sacramental rite may be modified or manipulated at the will of the minister or the community.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1122-1126.