Today, Fr. Mike tells us about the story of the patron saint of confessors, St. John Nepomucene, who gave up his life because he refused to break something called the "seal of confession", which is a sacred duty of a priest to never reveal what is said in the confessional. God himself established the priesthood as the mediators of reconciliation in the Gospel (John 2-:21-22). The Church takes this sacred responsibility so seriously, that any priest who breaks the seal of confession is automatica...
Apr 13, 2023•9 min
Find out how the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist from Duluth pray during Holy Week, and maybe discover something you can use in your prayer life as we walk with Jesus from his entry into Jerusalem, to Calvary and the Resurrection. The unique prayer commitment Fr. Mike suggests in this episode follows Jesus through all of his experiences—from suffering to celebration—in this the holiest week of the year.
Apr 06, 2023•5 min
Reading the Old Testament can be so frustrating. We hear the stories of God’s chosen people forming a covenant with God, and then breaking that covenant over and over. How could God allow this? Today, Fr. Mike helps us read Scripture with a lens towards our own unfaithfulness and stubbornness, and shows why God chose the Jewish people to make manifest his glory.
Mar 30, 2023•8 min
Why do we "have" to love God? It seems very self-centered of God to demand our love. But is it? Today, Fr. Mike opens up the first sentence of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and helps us to understand more fully why God, who was never lonely in Heaven, chose to freely create us to be in relationship with Him.
Mar 23, 2023•9 min
“Is God calling me somewhere else?” Sometimes in our discernment—especially over major life choices, like our vocations—we start second guessing our decisions. Sometimes, we make hasty decisions because we thought we “messed up” our discernment. But most of the time… the best decision is to “stay the course”. As the scriptures says, “Let your yes be yes and your no be no.” Today Fr. Mike continues his series on vocational discernment and offers some helpful guidance on how and when to make life-...
Mar 16, 2023•8 min
Have you ever heard someone state, " I believe in God, but I don't believe in prayer?" Is it logical to have an intellectual belief in the existence of God, but not trust in His providence and care? Today, Fr. Mike challenges us to know God more than just knowing about God and to realize that belief alone is not enough. God is not some cosmic genie who doles out magic wishes but a loving Father who wants to meet us in the intimacy of prayer. Do you believe that?
Mar 09, 2023•8 min
Each day of our lives we make countless decisions. Many of them have small consequences, good or bad. But what about the BIG decisions we make, like what career to be in, who to marry, or what vocation to follow? Today Fr. Mike delves into the four principles surrounding our vocational discernment and what to do if we feel like we've made the "wrong decision" in that area of our lives.
Mar 02, 2023•9 min
When you make a Lenten commitment, you're probably not thinking of all of the special circumstances and unforeseen events that are going to make that commitment... inconvenient. A daily rosary might not be difficult... until that family vacation. Cold showers aren't so bad... until that cold snap. Charitable giving feels great... until finances are tight. Today, Fr. Mike invites us to let Lent interrupt us. Lent is inconvenient because Love is inconvenient. If we give more this Lent, we'll get m...
Feb 23, 2023•9 min
What are alms? Why must we give them? Am I supposed to go broke for Jesus? Fr. Mike Schmitz encourages us to be charitable this Lent, emphasizing how almsgiving is a foundational part of living the Faith. In being joyful givers, we imitate Christ, who became poor for our sake, and we show our gratitude for God’s grace. These are just a few of the reasons Fr. Mike offers in this video as to why we should exercise almsgiving according to our means.
Feb 16, 2023•7 min
For the past 50 years the institution of marriage has been under attack. More and more couples are choosing not to get married with the mindset that, "we don't need a piece of paper to show that we love each other." And yet, that is not at all what the Catholic Church teaches about this sacrament. Today, Fr. Mike delves into the difference between a contract between two persons and the covenant of marriage that every couple is called to enter into.
Feb 09, 2023•9 min
When we’re baptized, we become adopted sons or daughters of God. We become “children of God”. So… does that mean we aren’t children of God before that? And if we aren’t… what are we? Today, Fr. Mike explains to us how baptism makes us “partners in the divine nature”, so that we can truly call God our Father.
Feb 02, 2023•7 min
Why does the Catholic Church baptize babies rather than wait until they are older and capable of choosing this sacrament for themselves? Salvation requires faith, and it can be challenging to understand how an infant accepts the truths of the Catholic Faith at the moment of Baptism. Today Fr. Mike uses an example from Mark’s Gospel to help us understand how the profession of faith by our parents at the moment of our Baptism prepares us to receive the gift of salvation later in our lives.
Jan 26, 2023•7 min
Need more advice on prayer? Fr. Mike has you covered.
Jan 19, 2023•6 min
Stories matter. We tell them to help us understand the world around us. But what if the stories we tell don't mirror our Catholic morals? What if the lessons that they teach don't agree with our values? Should we keep telling those stories? Today Fr. Mike wrecks your childhood version of the Little Mermaid and spoils the ending of the real story. Spoiler: It doesn't have a happy ending.
Jan 12, 2023•10 min
"If not everyone is going to heaven, then I don't want to be there." Is this sentiment honorable? Or misguided? Fr. Mike addresses the mystery of heaven and hell and gets to the core of what it means to be with God... or without him.
Jan 05, 2023•8 min
What do I want to be true about me at the end of this year that is not currently true? At the beginning of this new year, Fr. Mike shares the advice of Stephen Covey: "Begin with the end in mind." Our days are limited and Fr. Mike encourages us to examine who we want to be and to start working towards that now.
Dec 29, 2022•7 min
How do we give God everything? It's obvious from the stories throughout the Scriptures that God is asking us to give him everything but is He also calling us to "sell everything and give alms to the poor" as he asks of the rich young man? Today, Fr. Mike helps us make the distinction between the sometimes particular call to "give everything away" and the universal call to give God everything. It is certainly the case that each and every one of us is called to relinquish all that we have and all ...
Dec 22, 2022•9 min
When we are struggling spiritually or experiencing some physical suffering we can find ourselves asking the question; "Is God listening to my prayer?" Since he already knows what we need before we even ask him, should we just trust in his providence? Is it an either or? Today, Fr Mike encourages us with examples from scripture to highlight that we ought to both pray for what we need as well as trust that God hears our prayers and will respond according to his good will and pleasure.
Dec 15, 2022•7 min
"God will never ask you to do more than Mary did." And what did Mary do? She said "yes". Today, on the eve of the celebration of Mary's Immaculate Conception, Fr. Mike wants us to meditate on how we can learn to say "yes" to God from the ultimate example of what a "yes" looks like: Mary, our mother.
Dec 08, 2022•7 min
If you or someone you know has benefited from Ascension's free media, would you consider giving a gift of financial support? (https://tinyurl.com/2g7flrnp) While Ascension is not a non-profit organization, support from Catholics around the world helps us produce this free Media content and reach as many people as possible. Because of the generosity of viewers like you, Ascension is able to secure the resources necessary to continue delivering podcasts and videos that seek to draw Catholics close...
Dec 01, 2022•11 min
If you or someone you know has benefited from Ascension's free media, would you consider giving a gift of financial support? (https://tinyurl.com/2z5t6ehd) While Ascension is not a non-profit organization, support from Catholics around the world helps us produce this free Media content and reach as many people as possible. Because of the generosity of viewers like you, Ascension is able to secure the resources necessary to continue delivering podcasts and videos that seek to draw Catholics close...
Nov 24, 2022•10 min
Let's talk about exercise! Today Fr. Mike challenges us to re-evaluate the way we treat and view our bodies as well as to compare the difference between doing a workout and training whether for a race, competition or towards a goal and that same approach to growing in the spiritual life.
Nov 17, 2022•10 min
"Honor thy Father and thy Mother." We know from our youth that we are called to obey our parents as commanded by the 4th Commandment. But what about once we're grown and out of their home? Today Fr. Mike doles out some advise for adult children on what obedience and respect for one's parents looks like and what the Catechism of the Catholic Church has to say about this relationship.
Nov 10, 2022•9 min
You've probably heard the phrase "cancel culture"—the phenomenon where public figures get "cancelled" for something they say or do in an effort to silence them. Well, today, Fr. Mike proposes the existence of a new and rising cancel culture—a culture where we cancel everything.
Nov 03, 2022•7 min
We believe as Catholics that at every Mass the simple bread and wine are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus. But do we need to receive both species, namely the Eucharist and the Precious Blood in order to receive ALL of Jesus? Today Fr. Mike explains the practice of intinction, dipping the Holy Eucharist into the chalice of the Precious Blood and when it's a bad idea and when it may be appropriate.
Oct 27, 2022•9 min
Today Fr. Mike shares with us how to approach praying a novena, whether it be a traditional nine day novena, a 33 day Consecration or even a 54 day Rosary Novena and what pitfalls to avoid when praying this way.
Oct 20, 2022•7 min
You're with a group of friends and they start gossiping about another friend; what do you say? You're with a coworker and they take the Lord's name in vain and blaspheme the Catholic Church; how do you respond? Today Fr. Mike challenges us to speak up for the truth and why you or I might have these three spiritual defects, lacking in wisdom, courage or love.
Oct 13, 2022•9 min
Sometimes when we look at the lives of the Saints we can be tempted to think that God singled them out to suffer more than most. But maybe that suffering is actually a gift... Today, Fr. Mike shares with us how we must orient our lives towards the cross and keep Christ's passion and death always before us so that when we encounter suffering we will have God's strength to sustain us.
Oct 06, 2022•9 min
(Today's video/podcast is an excerpt from, "The 99, A New System for Evangelization." To learn more about this amazing resource, visit: https://bit.ly/3E39THU) Every Christian is called to go into the world and make disciples. But how do we actually do this? Today, Fr. Mike tells us that before we can live out the mission of the Church, one thing is needed: a personal relationship with Jesus and his Church. Without this relationship, our missionary efforts simply become another well-meaning chor...
Sep 29, 2022•6 min
(Today's video/podcast is an excerpt from "Belonging: Baptism in the Family of God." To learn more about this amazing resource visit: https://tinyurl.com/2hms5dbe ) What happens when we get baptized? What exactly is the transformative power of the Holy Spirit? One of the best ways to understand this sacrament’s effect is through analogies of superheroes. Today, Fr. Mike explains the power of baptism by first recognizing what it is not. Because we are fallen creatures, we can’t be Superman, who h...
Sep 22, 2022•9 min
