Discover the drawbacks of self-reliance and the sufficiency of God's grace. Learn how to recognize weakness and rely on God. Find out how to be patient with yourself and seek God's mercy and grace when stumbling.

The podcast discusses the concept of free will and the consequences of our choices. It shares personal stories about underestimating consequences and choosing rebellion and indifference to God. It emphasizes the opportunity we have to choose God and be restored.

Learn how to overcome repetitive sins by recognizing the patterns and triggers behind them, and rewriting the script. Explore the challenges of rewriting the script and the iterative process of finding what works. Discover the process of breaking free from sinful behaviors and patterns with recognition, planning, and intense effort, with the help of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Some people pour through comic books like they're devotional works, following the lives of superheroes like some study the lives of the saints. In this redux from the archives, Fr. Mike interviews sacred artist Neilson Carlin about the crossover between comics books and sacred art, and how the desire to emulate superheroes is truly fulfilled when we follow the saints to Christ. Be sure to check out Neilson's fine artwork (pun intended) at https://www.neilsoncarlin.com/Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

Learn how offering help and support to your parish priest can make a positive impact on your community. Find out the importance of humility and understanding when approaching new communities. Discover tips on becoming more involved in your parish and how to use your gifts to contribute to the greater mission of the church.

When we read the lives of the saints it can appear like prayer comes so easily to them; almost as if they were soaking in a hot tub of grace. But then when we go to pray we are confronted with the harsh reality that "Prayer is HARD." It can feel much more like struggling to swim laps in an Olympic sized pool. Today, Fr. Mike shares some wisdom from the fourth Pillar of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Our Life in Prayer. – "Prayer is both a gift of grace and a determined response on our part. It always presupposes effort. The great figures of prayer of the Old Covenant before Christ, as well as the Mother of God, the saints, and he himself, all teach us this: prayer is a battle. Against whom? Against ourselves and against the wiles of the tempter who does all he can to turn man away from prayer, away from union with God. We pray as we live, because we live as we pray. If we do not want to act habitually according to the Spirit of Christ, neither can we pray habitually in his name. The "spiritual battle" of the Christian's new life is inseparable from the battle of prayer." CCC 2725Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

When you're first growing in prayer and developing your relationship with Jesus, it is worth the effort to fight distractions in prayer. The more you can focus on our Lord, the more fruit you can see from prayer, and the deeper a bond you can experience with Jesus. But, let's be real—distraction is inevitable. It's human. And our brains are hardwired, in some ways, to move on to "the next thing". The Saints knew this, and there is an "advanced solution" to distraction in prayer—use it in prayer. Today, Fr. Mike tells us how.Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

They say that perfection is the enemy of the good. But what is true goodness in a pursuit? What does excellence actually look like and consist of? Today, Fr. Mike urges us to practice two qualities that lie at the heart of excellence: promptness and preparedness.Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

How do you know you've had an encounter with God? Sometimes it's hard to tell, especially if you were raised in the Faith. Today, Fr. Mike shares his own conversion story, and encourages us to think of a time or a season where you decided to devote your life to God, because Jesus was there in that time, even if you didn't realize it.Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

The podcast discusses the Christian perspective on grief and the hope of being reunited with loved ones in heaven. It explores the relationship between emotions and reality, emphasizing the victory over death through Jesus Christ. The Christian response to grief involves grieving with the knowledge that those who die in Christ continue to live and will be reunited in heaven.