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

Episodes page 2 of 6

1. Day 258: The New Law (2026)

   15 Sep 2026 · 16 min

   Together, with Fr. Mike, we examine the New Law or the Law of the Gospel. Fr. Mike emphasizes that the New Law “fulfills, refines, surpasses, and leads the Old Law to its perfection.” He also explains how the New Law…

2. Day 257: The Old Law (2026)

   14 Sep 2026 · 13 min

   We continue the section on moral law, specifically focusing on the Old Law. Fr. Mike emphasizes that the Old Law is the first stage of Revealed Law. He also unpacks how the Old Law acts as preparation for the Gospel.…

3. Day 256: The Natural Moral Law (2026)

   13 Sep 2026 · 26 min

   Together, we begin the section on moral law, starting with natural moral law. Fr. Mike begins by emphasizing that we need both the law that guides us and God’s grace that sustains us in order to live out our call to…

4. Day 255: Human Solidarity (2026)

   12 Sep 2026 · 17 min

   Together, with Fr. Mike, we reach the conclusion of the article on Social Justice. Fr. Mike emphasizes that although we have a right to private property, we also have a duty to meet the needs of those around us. Every…

5. Day 254: Social Justice (2026)

   11 Sep 2026 · 21 min

   We begin to look at social justice as outlined by the Catechism by diving into two aspects: respect for the human person and equality and differences among men. The dignity of the human person is at stake without…

6. Day 253: Participation in Public Life (2026)

   10 Sep 2026 · 22 min

   The Catechism has shown us how the common good begins with the good of the individual. It further shows us that each individual can participate in the pursuit of the common good for all—and that this participation is…

7. Day 252: The Common Good (2026)

   9 Sep 2026 · 18 min

   The Catechism sets up a pair of definitions for us that, at first glance, appear circular, but upon close examination, reveal profound interdependence: “The good of each individual is necessarily related to the common…

8. Day 251: Authorities in Society (2026)

   8 Sep 2026 · 19 min

   The Catechism shows us that, in order for any good in society to last and flourish, legitimate authority must be instituted and respected by all. Furthermore, it is our duty as those under authority to obey those…

9. Day 250: Conversion in Society (2026)

   7 Sep 2026 · 22 min

   Before we can see outward changes for the good in society, there must be inward conversion in the hearts of its members, so says the Catechism. Fr. Mike highlights the fact that societies are made up of people with…

10. Day 249: The Person in Society (2026)

    6 Sep 2026 · 21 min

    Man is made for communion. God created man in his triune image, making us naturally social and communal beings. We learn that various societies weave us together: the family, the state, our professions, and…

11. Day 248: The Spread of Sin (2026)

    5 Sep 2026 · 20 min

    We close the section on human dignity and goodness by learning how sin engenders vice. Our readings today discuss the proliferation of sin and how capital sins, in particular, lead to vices that can become rooted in a…

12. Day 247: The Weight of Sin (2026)

    4 Sep 2026 · 22 min

    We can consider the variety of sins in light of their gravity or seriousness. In doing so, we see that some sins weaken charity while others destroy it. The first we call venial sins, the second mortal. Our very…

13. Day 246: Mercy and the Mystery of Sin (2026)

    3 Sep 2026 · 25 min

    Jesus reveals God’s offer of loving mercy to sinners. To accept this gift, we must identify and admit our failings. Recognizing our sins enables us to further cooperate in our redemption. Sin can be understood and…

14. Day 245: Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit (2026)

    2 Sep 2026 · 19 min

    As we end our exploration of the virtues, we learn about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These gifts perfect our virtues and increase our ability to respond to God’s guidance and inspiration. The fruits of the Holy…

15. Day 244: The Virtue of Charity (2026)

    1 Sep 2026 · 22 min

    The greatest of all the theological virtues is charity. Fr. Mike explains that charity, or love, is to love God above all things for his own sake and to love our neighbor as ourselves. This includes loving our enemies…

16. Day 243: The Virtue of Hope (2026)

    31 Aug 2026 · 14 min

    A desire for the Kingdom of heaven and eternal life is at the heart of the virtue of hope. Fr. Mike breaks down the definition of the theological virtue of hope and explains how it protects us from discouragement and…

17. Day 242: The Virtue of Faith (2026)

    30 Aug 2026 · 18 min

    The origin, motive, and object of the theological virtues are God himself. Today, we dive into the theological virtues, beginning with the virtue of Faith. Fr. Mike unpacks the meaning and purpose of the virtue of…

18. Day 241: The Cardinal Virtues (2026)

    29 Aug 2026 · 22 min

    A virtuous person is someone who consistently chooses the good. Fr. Mike unpacks the four human or cardinal virtues that are essential in helping us become more like Jesus: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.…

19. Day 240: Erroneous Judgment of Conscience (2026)

    28 Aug 2026 · 13 min

    It is possible for our moral conscience to remain in ignorance for a variety of reasons. Fr. Mike delves into the sources of errors of judgment in moral conduct and how habitual sin blinds our conscience. As we wrap up…

20. Day 239: The Formation of Conscience (2026)

    27 Aug 2026 · 22 min

    Together, with Fr. Mike, we unpack the formation of our conscience. Fr. Mike emphasizes that a well-formed conscience is one that is both “upright and truthful.” He also highlights the idea that a well-formed intellect…

21. Day 238: Our Moral Conscience (2026)

    26 Aug 2026 · 19 min

    Together, with Fr. Mike, we explore the moral conscience. Fr. Mike emphasizes that even though our intellect has been weakened by sin, we still have some sense, our conscience, that tells us that there is a right and…

22. Day 237: The Morality of the Passions (2026)

    25 Aug 2026 · 23 min

    Together, we examine The Morality of The Passions. Fr. Mike unpacks and explores the different elements of the definition of “passions”. He emphasizes that while passions, themselves, are neither good nor bad, there…

23. Day 236: The Morality of Human Acts (2026)

    24 Aug 2026 · 18 min

    Together, with Fr. Mike, we examine the article on the morality of human acts. Fr. Mike unpacks the three “sources” of morality: the object chosen, the end in view or the intention, and the circumstances. He emphasizes…

24. Day 235: Human Freedom in Salvation (2026)

    23 Aug 2026 · 17 min

    Together, with Fr. Mike, we examine the reality of our human freedom in the economy of salvation. Fr. Mike emphasizes that the right to freedom does not imply a right to say or do anything. Rather, it is the power to…

25. Day 234: Freedom and Responsibility (2026)

    22 Aug 2026 · 16 min

    The Catechism gives us an overview of what it means for humans to have freedom, as well as some of the ramifications of that freedom. It introduces us to the countercultural notion that true freedom is to choose the…

26. Day 233: The Beatitudes (2026)

    21 Aug 2026 · 20 min

    “The Beatitudes are at the heart of Jesus’ preaching,” the Catechism tells us. Jesus’ proclamation in Chapter 5 of the Gospel of Matthew purifies our hearts, sets a standard for earthly discernment, and directs our…

27. Day 232: Man Is Made in the Image of God (2026)

    20 Aug 2026 · 20 min

    We enter a new chapter examining the dignity of the human person, and Article 1 shows us that we have dignity because we are made in the image and likeness of God. We preserve that dignity when we exercise virtue and…

28. Day 231: Our Calling (2026)

    19 Aug 2026 · 19 min

    As we step into Part Three of the Catechism on How We Live, we begin with an overview of our high calling as sons and daughters of God. Truly our “first and last point of reference” will always be “Jesus Christ…

29. Day 230: How We Live (Part 3 Introduction with Dr. Mary Healy)

    18 Aug 2026 · 59 min

    The third part of the Catechism tells us how to live—how God has revealed that we are made to act toward him, toward each other, and toward ourselves. Fr. Mike and Dr. Mary Healy dive deep into moral theology, the…

30. Day 229: Christian Funerals (2026)

    17 Aug 2026 · 21 min

    In this final episode of Pillar 2, we learn about the Christian funeral rite. Fr. Mike explains how the new life begun in Baptism comes to greater fulfillment as the Christian passes over from this earthly life into…

31. Day 228: Blessings, Sacramentals and Popular Piety (2026)

    16 Aug 2026 · 23 min

    Sacramentals are sacred signs that resemble the sacraments. Blessings of people, places, and objects are foremost among the various sacramentals found in the life of the Church. Among these blessings are those of…

32. Day 227: Summary of the Sacrament of Matrimony (2026)

    15 Aug 2026 · 13 min

    This summary of the Catechism's teaching on the sacrament of Matrimony pulls together several beautiful themes regarding marriage and family. Fr. Mike emphasizes the family as the Domestic Church, that community where…

33. Day 226: The Supreme Gift of Marriage (2026)

    14 Aug 2026 · 16 min

    “Children are the supreme gift of marriage,” says Vatican II. Marriage is directed by its very nature toward the procreation of children. Beyond this, parents are the primary educators of their children, responsible…

34. Day 225: Total Fidelity in Marriage (2026)

    13 Aug 2026 · 20 min

    “Love seeks to be definitive,” the Catechism tells us in this section on marital fidelity. The faithfulness of husband and wife in the sacrament of Matrimony is a sign of God’s irrevocable covenant with humanity. This…

35. Day 224: The Grace of the Sacrament of Marriage (2026)

    12 Aug 2026 · 21 min

    The grace of the Sacrament of Marriage provides husbands and wives the strength to love one another with supernatural, tender, and fruitful love. Fr. Mike covers the characteristics of the marriage bond and the…

36. Day 223: Differences in Religion in Marriage (2026)

    11 Aug 2026 · 18 min

    Can a Catholic marry a baptized non-Catholic or a non-baptized person? Fr. Mike breaks down the Church’s teaching on mixed marriages and disparity of cult. The Catechism teaches us that while a difference in religion…

37. Day 222: Matrimonial Consent (2026)

    10 Aug 2026 · 23 min

    Matrimonial consent is an indispensable element of the Sacrament of Marriage. Fr. Mike explains why it is essential for those entering marriage to express their consent freely and why in the Church’s eyes, “if consent…

38. Day 221: The Celebration of Marriage (2026)

    9 Aug 2026 · 16 min

    What does a Catholic wedding look like? Today, we dive into the liturgical celebration of marriage and learn that the celebration must be valid, worthy, and fruitful. Additionally, we briefly cover virginity for the…

39. Day 220: Marriage in the New Covenant (2026)

    8 Aug 2026 · 22 min

    How is the meaning of marriage different in the New Covenant? The Catechism teaches us today that Christ elevates the gift of marriage to a sacrament and restores the original order of this powerful union between man…

40. Day 219: Marriage in God’s Plan (2026)

    7 Aug 2026 · 21 min

    Together, with Fr. Mike, we begin the section on the sacrament of holy Matrimony. We unpack two elements of the sacrament, namely marriage in the order of creation and marriage under the regime of sin. Fr. Mike…

41. Day 218: Summary of Holy Orders (2026)

    6 Aug 2026 · 15 min

    Together, with Fr. Mike, we reach the conclusion and “nugget day” for the section on the sacrament of Holy Orders. Fr. Mike reiterates that all three degrees of the sacrament are a longed for element of the “priestly…

42. Day 217: The Effects of Holy Orders (2026)

    5 Aug 2026 · 18 min

    Together, with Fr. Mike, we examine the effects of the sacrament of Holy Orders. Fr. Mike emphasizes that once a man is ordained a priest, he is always a priest because he receives an indelible spiritual mark. He also…

43. Day 216: Who Receives Holy Orders (2026)

    4 Aug 2026 · 25 min

    We continue our examination of the sacrament of Holy Orders. Specifically, we explore exactly who can receive the sacrament of Holy Orders. Fr. Mike emphasizes that only a baptized man can receive the “sacred…

44. Day 215: Deacons and the Diaconate (2026)

    3 Aug 2026 · 14 min

    Together, with Fr. Mike, we examine the ordination of deacons and the diaconate. Fr. Mike unpacks each of the essential elements of the rite of the ordination of deacons as well as each of the tasks of the deacon. He…

45. Day 214: Priests and the Presbyterate (2026)

    2 Aug 2026 · 19 min

    The Catechism moves on from bishops—the episcopacy—to priests in the presbyterate, who share in the bishop’s ministry “in a subordinate degree”, to be “co-workers”. Fr. Mike dives deep into the service-leadership that…

46. Day 213: Bishops and the Episcopacy (2026)

    1 Aug 2026 · 17 min

    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…

47. Day 212: In Persona Christi (2026)

    31 Jul 2026 · 20 min

    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…

48. Day 211: The One Priesthood of Christ (2026)

    30 Jul 2026 · 17 min

    The priesthood of the Old Covenant among the people of Israel is fulfilled in the one priesthood of Christ. The Catechism compares the Old Testament priesthood, “powerless to bring about salvation,” with the ordained…

49. Day 210: The Sacrament of Holy Orders (2026)

    29 Jul 2026 · 17 min

    The Catechism enters Chapter Three on the “Sacraments at the Service of Communion” which include both Holy Orders and Matrimony. As it introduces the sacrament of Holy Orders, Fr. Mike reminds us that every vocation is…

50. Day 209: Summary of the Anointing of the Sick (2026)

    28 Jul 2026 · 13 min

    This summary of the Catechism’s teaching about the Anointing of the Sick is concise and rich. This holy anointing brings us hope and courage as we endure illness and the difficulties of old age. While we pray for…