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

Ascension

A day-by-day walk through the transformative beliefs and teachings of the Catholic Church.

  • 14 minutes 46 seconds
    Day 38: Summary of the Trinity (2025)

    We have arrived at the “nugget day” or In Brief section for the paragraphs examining the nature of the Father in the Trinity. Fr. Mike reiterates some of the “nuggets” of wisdom from these past few days. He emphasizes the importance of how Baptism allows us to share in the life of the Holy Trinity. We conclude this section with a reflection on this profound call to share in the glory of the Trinity even though it exists “in the obscurity of faith.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 261-267.

    This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB.

    For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy

    Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

    7 February 2025, 8:15 am
  • 14 minutes 36 seconds
    Day 37: The Divine Economy (2025)

    Fr. Mike continues to unpack the Church’s teachings on the Trinity. Today, we move into an examination of the divine economy or how God has revealed and communicated himself on earth. The divine economy is not just the work of the Father, but rather the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together as one. Fr. Mike concludes this episode with a reflection on the impactful words of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity who asks God to “make our hearts his heaven.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 257-260.

    This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB.

    For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy

    Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

    6 February 2025, 8:15 am
  • 17 minutes 40 seconds
    Day 36: The Nature of the Trinity (2025)

    Together, with Fr. Mike, we continue our exploration of the Church’s teachings on the nature of the Holy Trinity. We examine three main ideas. The first is the unity of the Trinity, that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all one God. The next is the Divine Persons as distinct from one another: one God, three distinct persons. As Fr. Mike states, “The Son is not the Father, the Father is not the Son, and the Holy Spirit is not either.” Finally, Fr. Mike discusses the relation between each person of the Holy Trinity. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 253-256.

    This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB.

    For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy

    Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

    5 February 2025, 8:15 am
  • 15 minutes 45 seconds
    Day 35: Formation of Trinitarian Dogma (2025)

    Fr. Mike explores the formation of the Church’s dogma on the nature of the Trinity. He unpacks the terms used by the Church in an attempt to explain the nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. However, as Fr. Mike reminds us, with the story of St. Augustine and the child on the seaside, the Trinity is a mystery that none of us can fully comprehend. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 249-252.

    This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB.

    For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy

    Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

    4 February 2025, 8:15 am
  • 19 minutes 40 seconds
    Day 34: Unity in the Holy Spirit (2025)

    The Catechism introduces us to the Holy Spirit and describes how the Spirit reveals the Father and the Son to us. It also gives us some background and context regarding the way we describe the Holy Spirit in the Roman Catholic Church compared to the way that the Eastern Orthodox Church describes the Holy Spirit. Fr. Mike breaks it down for us and gives us some hope for a future reconciliation between Eastern and Western Churches. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 243-248.

    This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB.

    For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy

    Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

    3 February 2025, 8:15 am
  • 14 minutes 17 seconds
    Day 33: God as Father (2025)

    The Catechism describes the various ways that God has revealed himself to us as Father over the ages, and gives us insight into God the Father “in relation to his only Son,” Jesus. Fr. Mike entreats us to examine our relationships with our earthly fathers and how they might be impacting our vision of God as Father. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 238-242.

    This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB.

    For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy

    Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

    2 February 2025, 8:15 am
  • 14 minutes 56 seconds
    Day 32: The Most Holy Trinity (2025)

    Christians are baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” not the “names” of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Catechism explains this distinction by introducing us to the “central mystery of Christian faith and life”: the Trinity. Fr. Mike slows us down to meditate on what God reveals to us concerning his inner life, the very thing that “many prophets and righteous people longed to see… [and] hear.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 232-237.

    This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB.

    For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy

    Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

    1 February 2025, 8:15 am
  • 12 minutes 48 seconds
    Day 31: The Meaning of Faith (2025)

    The Catechism wraps up our “I Believe in God” paragraphs with an In Brief and “The Implications of Faith in One God”—or, what God’s being means for us and our lives. Faith in our God means knowing his greatness, living in thanksgiving, knowing the dignity of all men, making good use of creation, and trusting God in every circumstance. Fr. Mike reminds us that “in every circumstance,” meaning even in adversity, God uses all things for the good. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 222-231.

    This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB.

    For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy

    Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

    31 January 2025, 8:15 am
  • 17 minutes 43 seconds
    Day 30: God Is Who Is (2025)

    God is truth, God is love, and God is being itself. Today's Catechism readings begin to unpack the eternal nature of God and share with us God’s “innermost secret." Fr. Mike teaches us that because God made us in his image and likeness, then we too are called to embody truth and love. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 212-221.

    This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB.

    For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy

    Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

    30 January 2025, 8:15 am
  • 15 minutes 57 seconds
    Day 29: Knowing the Name of God (2025)

    We can learn a lot about the nature of God from his Divine Name revealed in Scripture. When God said to Moses, “I am who I am,” this was a revelation of a name as well as a refusal of a name. Fr. Mike explains how this mystery reveals truths about God: he is infinitely above all things; we cannot comprehend him, yet he draws close to us. This Divine Name expresses the steadfast, faithful, unchanging love of God for his people, even when we betray and abandon him. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 205-211.

    This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB.

    For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy

    Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

    29 January 2025, 8:15 am
  • 15 minutes
    Day 28: The Nature of God (2025)

    In this episode, we discuss the nature of God, “who” God is, beginning with God the Father. Our reading explains how the Creed begins with God the Father because he is the first Divine Person of the most Holy Trinity. God is one Divine Being made up of three persons, and his identity is a deep mystery. Fr. Mike explains that God is a single ‘what’ made up of three ‘who’s.’ Despite this mystery, God is not an anonymous force. He has revealed himself to us by making his name known to us, and he has thus made himself accessible. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 198-204.

    This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB.

    For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy

    Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

    28 January 2025, 8:15 am
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