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

Day 306: Gift of Self (2025)

November 2nd, 2025  |  21 mins 51 secs

ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, celibacy, chastity, engagement, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, friendship, jesus, marriage, scripture, self, sex, tradition

What are the different types of chastity? We learn chastity is "a school of the gift of the person." Mastering ourselves enables us to gift ourselves to another. Fr. Mike explains that chastity bears fruit in the form of true friendship. He explains that God calls everyone to this virtue, no matter his vocation. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 2346-2350.

Day 305: The Call to Chastity (2025)

November 1st, 2025  |  25 mins 8 secs

ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, chastity, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, integrity, jesus, prayer, purity, scripture, sex, sexuality, tradition

We are all called to the virtue of chastity, which integrates our sexuality within the fullness of our person. Chastity trains us in freedom, teaching us how to direct and guide our desires. Fr. Mike explains that this virtue requires sustained effort and leads to self-mastery and peace. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2337-2345.

Day 304: Male and Female (2025)

October 31st, 2025  |  17 mins 42 secs

ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, complementarity of the sexes, father mike, father mike schmitz, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, human body, human sexuality, jesus, male and female, male and female he created them, man and woman, scripture, sexual identity, sixth commandment, tradition, two sexes, you shall not commit adultery

Why did God create us male and female? We begin our journey through the sixth commandment by learning about the meaning of human sexuality and the complementarity between men and women. Fr. Mike underscores the significance of the body in revealing our sexuality and our vocation to love. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2331-2336.

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 302: War (2025)

October 29th, 2025  |  18 mins 17 secs

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The Church urges us to pray and work for peace to avoid the evils and injustices of war. Because we live in a broken world, the Church also offers guidance on approaching war. Fr. Mike breaks down just war theory and the criteria of legitimate defense by military force under principles of moral law. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2307-2317.

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

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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 299: Respect for Health (2025)

October 26th, 2025  |  14 mins 24 secs

alcohol, ascension, bible, catechism, catechism in a year, catechism of the catholic church, catholic, catholic church, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholic teachings, catholicism, commandments, drugs, father mike, father mike schmitz, fifth commandments, food, foundations of faith, fr mike, fr mike schmitz, health, jesus, scripture, temperance, ten commandments, tobacco, tradition

Our health is a gift from God, and so we have a responsibility to care for it. Fr. Mike emphasizes the importance of caring for our health while also explaining that we cannot idolize our health and bodies as an absolute good. If we do idolize health, it can greatly distort the way we view the dignity of those around us. He also unpacks the virtue of temperance, defining it as, “doing the right thing, in the right way, at the right time.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2288-2291.

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.
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