The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast
Ascension
- 7 minutes 46 secondsYou’re Going to Die—What to Do in the Meantime (w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz)
You may have heard the phrase, "Memento Mori" when it comes to reflecting on death, but how should Christians really view death?
Fr. Mike Schmitz explains three common views we may hold about death:
- Death is the enemy
- Death is a natural part of life
- Death is a new birth (but we're not excited about it)
However, Fr. Mike explains that all three fall short; death is actually a lover. Our goal should not be a longing for death, but a longing for the One on the other side. How can you long for Heaven and Jesus today?
11 December 2025, 5:30 pm - 5 minutes 10 secondsThe Reason God Hasn’t Answered Your Prayer Yet (w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Do you trust God's timing?
Fr. Mike Schmitz reminds us that God is never late (and never early). We can trust whole heartedly that His timing is always perfect!
4 December 2025, 5:00 pm - 7 minutes 27 secondsGod’s Not Asking You to Be Successful (w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz)
"God does not ask us to be successful, He asks us to be faithful." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Fr. Mike Schmitz reflects on this quote along with the way St. Mother Teresa lived her life. So often we measure our lives by worldly success, however God wants your faithfulness, not your success.
Let us always say, "God let me honor you with my effort."
27 November 2025, 5:00 pm - 6 minutes 22 secondsMaybe I Should Have Said Something…
When you miss an opportunity to share the faith, what's the next step?
Fr. Mike Schmitz reflects on the question, "When should I say something?" We'll never have every answer, but if we take everything to the Lord, He will show us the way.
20 November 2025, 5:00 pm - 9 minutes 11 secondsAddressing the FAKE Videos of Me (w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz)
There have been numerous fake videos of Fr. Mike circulating online: clips of him supposedly asking for money for Lourdes, delivering sermons he never gave, and appearing on accounts that aren’t actually his.
These are all scams — and a concerning reminder of how easy it is to be deceived by AI-generated content.
Fr. Mike addresses these scams, shares tips for spotting fake content, and offers his perspective on artificial intelligence.
If you come across any AI profiles or questionable videos, please send the link(s) to [email protected] so our team can work on getting them removed. Thank you for helping us protect Fr. Mike's name, image, and likeness!
13 November 2025, 5:00 pm - 7 minutesSin, Emotions and Virtue Explained (w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Can your feelings be sinful?
Fr. Mike Schmitz reminds us that "sin and virtue do not reside in the emotions, they reside in the will." Our emotions, whether positive or negative, don’t make us good or bad; what matters is how we respond to them. Use your emotions to choose and pursue the good!
6 November 2025, 5:00 pm - 5 minutes 29 secondsDo NOT Receive Communion Until You’ve Seen This (w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz)
"Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment* on himself." - 1 Corinthians 11:27-29
Fr. Mike explains that receiving Holy Communion in a state of mortal sin, is itself a mortal sin. However, he also advises that if you’re genuinely uncertain about whether you’re in a state of mortal sin, you should go ahead and receive Communion. The reason is that true mortal sin requires three conditions:
- Grave matter
- Full knowledge
- Deliberate consent
If you’re honestly unsure, the third condition isn’t fully met — meaning it can’t be a mortal sin.
30 October 2025, 4:00 pm - 6 minutes 58 secondsHow Being a Christian Will Affect Your Life (w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz)
As we discover the lives of the saints, it seems they endured quite a bit of suffering before receiving their eternal reward. It begs the question, is it worth it?
Fr. Mike reminds us that in this life, we will have suffering. The question is not, can you avoid suffering by avoiding Jesus? The question is, can your suffering be transformed by embracing Jesus?
23 October 2025, 4:00 pm - 7 minutes 17 secondsHow to Get Better Friends
You may have close friends in your life, but do you have virtuous friendships?
Fr. Mike Schmitz shares three kinds of friendship and explains that while it's important to have good friends, you need to have this special kind of friendship with at least one person in your life: virtuous friendship.
Tickets are on sale now for Fr. Mike Schmitz's Parables Tour at https://www.AscensionPress.com/FrMikeTour
October 20 - Detroit, MI [SOLD OUT]
October 21 - Sugar Land, TX
October 22 - Cedar Park, TX
October 23 - Fort Worth, TXJoin Fr. Mike live for an unforgettable event as he unpacks the parables of Jesus. This is your chance to experience his powerful message in person!
16 October 2025, 7:00 pm - 10 minutes 48 secondsThe Liturgy of the Hours Explained (w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Big news! Ascension was selected by the USCCB to publish the long-awaited Second Edition of the Liturgy of the Hours!
You may have heard of the Liturgy of the Hours, but not quite like this. Fr. Mike Schmitz shares why this ancient prayer holds such a special place in his heart and how praying it can transform your relationship with God.
For updates and preorder opportunities, sign up at https://www.AscensionPress.com/LOTH
9 October 2025, 5:00 pm - 25 minutes 41 secondsFr. Mike Schmitz Reacts to The Chosen
Fr. Mike Schmitz is back, reacting to powerful scenes from The Chosen. Find out which moments brought him to tears, which ones he wrestled with, and hear his honest perspective on how the series portrays the life of Christ.
2 October 2025, 4:00 pm - More Episodes? Get the App