The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
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.
Latest episodes
Jul 19, 2024 • 16min
Day 201: The Confessor’s Role (2024)
Exploring the priest's role as a minister of reconciliation, emphasizing servant leadership in facilitating confession. Clarifying the purpose of excommunication and the sacramental seal. Fr. Mike encourages gentle, loving, and truthful confessors.
Jul 18, 2024 • 24min
Day 200: The Confession of Sins (2024)
Explore the importance of confessing sins in the sacrament of Reconciliation and the difference between absolution, penance, and satisfaction. Learn why confession allows God to heal our wounds and how it is essential for spiritual growth and reconciliation. Delve into making amends for sins, the significance of contrition, and the necessity of confessing all mortal sins for complete forgiveness.
Jul 17, 2024 • 27min
Day 199: The Sacrament of Forgiveness (2024)
Fr. Mike delves into the sacrament of Reconciliation, discussing its origins and structure. He emphasizes the importance of contrition and the essential elements that have remained constant. Exploring perfect and imperfect contrition, he highlights the significance of understanding these differences in seeking forgiveness.
Jul 16, 2024 • 16min
Day 198: Reconciliation with God (2024)
Exploring sin, forgiveness, and reconciliation through the sacrament of Penance. Emphasizing sin as an offense against God and the Church. Importance of God's forgiveness through apostles. Reconciliation with God and the Church highlighted. Adult themes in the Catechism discussed.
Jul 15, 2024 • 19min
Day 197: Forms of Penance (2024)
Exploring different forms of penance in the sacrament of Reconciliation. Emphasizing the importance of personal cross and accepting daily suffering. Catechism readings 1434-1439 covered.
Jul 14, 2024 • 18min
Day 196: Conversion of the Baptized (2024)
Exploring the essential process of interior conversion, emphasizing the need for active repentance and a deep commitment to aligning one's life with God's purpose. The discussion highlights the ongoing journey of conversion within the church, focusing on purification, penance, and renewal. Delving into the theme of continuous conversion and repentance, the podcast emphasizes the transformative power of seeking forgiveness and trusting in God's mercy for a journey towards resembling Jesus.
Jul 13, 2024 • 21min
Day 195: Penance and Reconciliation (2024)
Fr. Mike discusses the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, highlighting its importance in receiving God's forgiveness and being reconciled to the Church. The episode explores the process of confession, forgiveness, and continuous call to holiness by God.
Jul 12, 2024 • 16min
Day 194: Summary of the Sacrament of the Eucharist (2024)
Father Mike Schmitz delves into the essential truths of Holy Communion in the Catechism, emphasizing God's desire to feed us and unite us with Him. The episode covers the significance of the Eucharist, Jesus' real presence, spiritual feeding in the Biblical narrative, and the sacrament's importance in worship and sacrifice.
Jul 11, 2024 • 15min
Day 193: Communion Forever in Heaven (2024)
Explore the profound nature of the Eucharist as a pledge of future glory, emphasizing its real presence of Jesus. Delve into the significance of the Church's celebration of the Eucharist as a sign of hope in anticipation of Christ's return. Uncover the miracles of Lanciano and Buenos Aires revealing the presence of human heart flesh in the Eucharistic species.
Jul 10, 2024 • 18min
Day 192: Unity in the Eucharist (2024)
Exploring unity in the Eucharist, the podcast discusses the pain of disunity, the Church's teachings on non-Catholic Christians receiving the Eucharist, and the significance of unity in the Church. Fr. Mike addresses the common question of why non-Catholics cannot partake in the sacrament if they believe in the true presence of Jesus. The episode emphasizes the call to unity among Christians and the transformative power of the Eucharist in fostering unity and serving the poor.
