In Ascension’s The Catechism in a Year podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz guides you through the entire Catechism of the Catholic Church in 365 episodes, providing explanation, insight, and encouragement along the way. Unlike any other Catechism podcast, The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) podcast follows a reading plan inspired by Ascension’s Foundations of Faith approach, a color-coded approach that reveals the structure of the Catechism, making it easier to read and understand. With this podcast, you’ll finally understand what it means to be Catholic and how the beliefs of the Catholic Faith come together. Listen and… Read the ENTIRE Catechism of the Catholic Church in 365 days Understand the essentials of the Catholic Faith and why they matter Understand how Church teaching is rooted in Sacred Scripture Absorb over 2,000 years of Sacred Tradition Encounter God’s plan of sheer goodness for your life Each 15-20 minute episode includes: A guided prayer to help you enter into each episode A reading from the Catechism of the Catholic Church An explanation from Fr. Mike Schmitz about the reading The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
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Fr. Mike Schmitz addresses the challenging question of why evil exists in a world created by a good God. He explains that while there's no simple answer, the full Christian faith details God's redemptive plan, including His wisdom in creating a "journeying" world and His capacity to derive good from evil without causing it. The episode emphasizes trusting God's providence, even when His ways are unknown, drawing inspiration from the steadfast faith of the saints.
Fr. Mike delves into Catechism paragraphs 299-308, clarifying that God's creation is ordered, good, and continually upheld by His presence. The discussion highlights God's divine providence and how He grants human beings the dignity to be secondary causes, freely participating in His plan. Listeners learn that all human actions, prayers, and even sufferings have meaning when united to God's will.
Father Mike delves into Catechism paragraphs 290-298, explaining why and how God created. He emphasizes that creation is a common work of the Holy Trinity, stemming from God's wisdom, love, and free will, not necessity, and uniquely, out of nothing. This act reveals God's glory and goodness, inviting us to share in His divine life, and signifies His ongoing power to renew and give us faith.
Fr. Mike examines different explanations for God's existence and the world's origins, such as Pantheism, Dualism, Manichaeism, and Deism, including modern "moralistic therapeutic deism." He explains that while human reason can perceive a Creator, divine revelation is crucial for answering profound questions about creation and God's purpose. The episode emphasizes that God created all things for a covenantal relationship with humanity, a truth profoundly revealed in Genesis chapters 1-3.
Fr. Mike delves into the Catechism's teachings on God as the Creator, highlighting how understanding this truth is fundamental to human and Christian life, addressing the core questions of where we come from and where we are going. He discusses how scientific discoveries can enhance our admiration for the Creator, while also distinguishing faith's "who" and "why" from science's "how" and "what." The episode concludes by exploring the significant implications of rejecting a divine creator, particularly regarding free will, morality, and God's ultimate loving purpose for humanity.
Father Mike delves into what it means for God to be "Almighty," explaining that His power is universal, loving, and mysterious. He clarifies that God's power is not arbitrary but consistent with His reason and goodness, addressing questions about evil and suffering. The episode highlights that God's omnipotence is fully revealed through Christ's voluntary humiliation and resurrection, conquering evil not by squashing it but by redeeming it.
This episode, Day 38, summarizes paragraphs 261-267 of the Catechism, focusing on the Most Holy Trinity. Fr. Mike explains how God reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, inviting us into His divine life. The discussion covers key theological terms, the role of creeds like the Athanasian, and the profound call to share in the Trinity's glory through baptism, both now "in the obscurity of faith" and eternally.
This episode explores the "Divine Economy," explaining how God reveals and communicates himself through the unified, yet distinct, actions of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It emphasizes that all divine works are common to the three persons, while each acts according to their unique property. The ultimate goal is for humanity to enter into the perfect life of the Blessed Trinity, a concept beautifully captured by Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity's prayer for profound union with God.
Father Mike Schmitz continues exploring the Holy Trinity, focusing on its unity, the distinctness of the divine persons, and their essential relationships. The discussion explains that God is one in substance while being three distinct persons, countering misunderstandings of modalism or hierarchy. Drawing from Catechism paragraphs 253-256 and Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, he illuminates this profound mystery of faith, emphasizing that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are entirely God and eternally co-existent.
This episode delves into the historical formation of the Church's dogma concerning the Holy Trinity. Fr. Mike unpacks specific theological terms, such as substance, person (hypostasis), and relation, which the Church developed from philosophical origins to articulate the nature of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit while maintaining their distinctness. He concludes by emphasizing that despite these clarifications, the Trinity remains an infinitely profound mystery that human minds cannot fully grasp, illustrated by the story of St. Augustine.
Fr. Mike delves into Catechism paragraphs 243-248, exploring the Holy Spirit's role in revealing the Father and the Son. He discusses the historical theological differences between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches regarding the Holy Spirit's procession, particularly the 'Filioque' clause. The episode concludes with a hopeful message for future reconciliation and unity between the Eastern and Western Churches.
Day 33 of The Catechism in a Year explores paragraphs 238-242, focusing on God's revelation as Father. Fr. Mike explains how Jesus unveils God as eternally Father to His Son, a concept profound and distinct from human fatherhood. The episode addresses the complexities of relating to God as Father when earthly paternal relationships are broken, emphasizing God's transcendent and perfect nature as the ultimate standard. It concludes by delving into the Trinitarian understanding of God, as affirmed by the Nicene Creed.
Fr. Mike dives into paragraphs 232-237 of the Catechism, explaining the Most Holy Trinity as the central mystery of Christian faith. He clarifies the distinction between God's inner life (theology) and His saving works (economy), revealing God's singular identity. The episode emphasizes that the Trinity, though inaccessible to reason alone, is profoundly revealed as God's eternal exchange of love, a truth for which we should be immensely grateful.
Father Mike Schmitz delves into paragraphs 222-231 of the Catechism, discussing the enormous consequences of faith in one God. He outlines five key implications: coming to know God's greatness, living in thanksgiving, acknowledging the unity and dignity of all people, making good use of created things, and trusting God even amidst adversity. The episode emphasizes that God's being as truth and love demands our absolute trust and affects every aspect of our lives.
Day 30 of the Catechism in a Year podcast delves into paragraphs 212-221, unpacking God's divine attributes. Fr. Mike Schmitz explains that God alone is, the fullness of being from whom all creation derives existence. The episode then explores God as truth, whose promises always come true, and God as steadfast, gratuitous love. It culminates in the profound revelation of God's innermost secret: the Holy Trinity, an eternal exchange of love we are called to embody and share.
Father Mike discusses God's profound revelation of His name, 'I Am Who I Am,' to Moses, highlighting its mysterious nature and what it teaches about God's eternal faithfulness and infinite being. The episode explores humanity's awe and reverence in the face of God's holiness, and His boundless mercy even in human unfaithfulness. It culminates in understanding how Jesus Christ explicitly claims this divine name, affirming His co-equal identity with God the Father.
Day 28 delves into the nature of God, starting with the Creed's affirmation of "God the Father." Father Mike clarifies God as a singular divine being with three persons, "one what" and "three whos," a profound yet accessible mystery. The episode explains God's oneness, revealed in scripture and affirmed by the Church, and highlights how God makes Himself known by disclosing His name, becoming intimately knowable despite His infinite, ineffable attributes.
This episode explores the significance of the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds in the Catholic Church, explaining how they function as faithful summaries of belief. Father Mike emphasizes that creeds provide necessary boundaries for understanding God and Christian identity, acting as an "ever-present guardian" and "treasure of our soul," helping believers dive deeper into truth. The discussion clarifies why the Catechism will follow the Apostles' Creed while constantly referencing the Nicene Creed for detail.
Father Mike Schmitz unpacks the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds, defining them as powerful "symbols of faith" that foster communion among believers. He explains how these creeds, particularly the Nicene Creed, developed over centuries to articulate and clarify essential Christian doctrines in response to historical challenges. The episode highlights the creeds' role in providing a concise, shared language for what Christians believe, connecting past and present believers in a unified profession of faith.
Father Mike explores the Catechism's teachings on faith, highlighting it as a personal adherence of the whole self to God who reveals Himself, involving both intellect and will. He emphasizes the critical distinction of believing in God Himself, the author of truth, rather than merely assenting to individual statements. The episode also discusses the Church's role as Mother and teacher, acknowledging that the journey of faith involves wrestling, but we are called to walk it communally and pray daily to be good students.
Fr. Mike Schmitz discusses the unity of faith, highlighting that Catholics believe in the realities expressed by doctrine, not merely the formulas themselves. He explains how the Church faithfully guards and transmits these truths through apostolic succession, citing St. Irenaeus. The episode concludes by stressing the Church's vital role as a mother teaching the language of faith and encouraging continuous personal renewal in God's Spirit.
Fr. Mike discusses Catechism paragraphs 163-169, focusing on the dual nature of faith: "I believe" and "We believe." He explains that faith is the beginning of eternal life, offering a taste of heaven even amidst suffering and darkness. The episode highlights that faith, while personal, is not isolated; it's received, nurtured, and passed on within the community of the Church, which acts as our mother and teacher, sustaining us on our spiritual journey.
Day 22 of Catechism in a Year discusses the motives of credibility for belief, showing that God provides proofs like miracles and prophecies. Fr. Mike clarifies that true doubt differs from struggling with faith, emphasizing that faith is certain because God cannot lie, and it seeks understanding without contradicting reason or science. The episode also highlights faith as a free, necessary gift that requires ongoing nourishment and perseverance for salvation.
This episode delves into the profound nature of faith, beginning with the understanding that it is a personal adherence to God and a free assent to His entire revealed truth, encompassing belief in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Father Mike explains that faith is a supernatural gift from God, yet it requires a free human act, demonstrating that this commitment is neither contrary to human freedom nor reason. The discussion challenges listeners to embrace absolute belief in all God says, highlighting the importance of prayer to deepen this essential virtue.
Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the profound meaning of responding to God's Revelation, moving beyond merely "believing in God" to truly "believing God." He outlines faith as a complete submission of intellect and will, not just intellectual assent. The episode then examines Abraham and Mary as exemplary figures, demonstrating how to trust God's guidance for the "next step" even when the entire path isn't clear, emphasizing that saving faith is lived out through obedient action.
Today, we arrive, with Fr. Mike, at the In Brief section for Article III. Together, we revisit eight of the main ideas or “nuggets” from the readings of the past six days. Fr. Mike concludes this section by reminding us of the importance of the unity between and veneration of the 46 books of the Old Testament and the 27 of the New. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 134-141. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Sub...
Day 19 covers an "in brief" summary of sacred scripture, highlighting its divine and human authorship, its inerrancy, and the essential unity between the Old and New Testaments. Father Mike also stresses the importance of proper interpretation (exegesis) and the veneration of God's Word, akin to revering the body of Christ in the Eucharist, as a lamp and light for our path.
This episode delves into Catechism paragraphs 128-133, highlighting the profound unity between the Old and New Testaments, particularly through typological fulfillment. Father Mike explains how the Old Testament prefigures events and figures in the New, while retaining its own intrinsic value. The episode also stresses the critical importance of sacred scripture in the life of the Church, debunking myths about access and emphasizing that ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ.
Fr. Mike explores the formation of the canon of Scripture. He emphasizes the importance of contemplating and venerating all 73 books of both the New and Old Testaments given to us through Sacred Tradition. Together, with Fr. Mike, we further examine the definition of the canon of Scripture throughout history, spanning from the late 4th to the mid-15th century. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 120-127. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on...
This episode delves into the two essential senses of Scripture: the literal and the spiritual. Father Mike unpacks the spiritual sense's three subdivisions—allegorical, moral, and anagogical—providing scriptural examples to illustrate how these interpretations deepen our understanding of God's Word. The discussion emphasizes how these senses apply to Christ, our actions, and eternal significance, concluding with the Church's authority in interpreting Scripture.
