The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) Podcast
1) Day 350: Persevering in Prayer (2025)
The Catechism teaches about the effectiveness of prayer and how to persevere in prayer. Fr. Mike explains that although God already knows what we need before we ask, he wants us to pray, and he extend...Show More
2) Day 349: Temptation, Trust, and Prayer (2025)
What motivates our prayer? Do we see God as our “divine genie,” or do we look to him as our Father? We learn that the most common temptation in prayer is a lack of faith. Another major temptation is a...Show More
3) Day 348: The Battle of Prayer (2025)
Prayer is "grace and grit," as Fr. Mike phrases it. In this section, one of Fr. Mike's favorites in the Catechism, we hear that "we pray as we live because we live as we pray." This living and praying...Show More
4) Day 347: Contemplative Prayer (2025)
In contemplative prayer, we seek Jesus. As St. Teresa of Avila put it, contemplative prayer “is nothing else than a close sharing between friends.” The Catechism tells us this form of prayer is a gift...Show More
5) Day 346: Meditation and Vocal Prayer (2025)
Because man is both body and spirit, our prayers can be vocal and meditative. We learn that vocal prayer expresses the movements of our hearts and minds, enabling us to pray with the fullness of our b...Show More
6) Day 345: Animated by Prayer (2025)
We know we can pray anywhere at any time, yet certain places are more favorable for prayer. There are also certain rhythms of prayer in the life of the Church that foster regular attention to the Lord...Show More
7) Day 344: Guides for Prayer (2025)
We are lifelong learners in the school of prayer. The Church offers various guides to help us grow and cultivate our prayer lives. These include the family, the saints, priests, religious brothers and...Show More
8) Day 343: Praying Through Mary (2025)
To love Mary doesn’t mean our hearts belong any less to Jesus. Today, the Catechism explains our Blessed Mother’s role in prayer and why the Catholic Church prays in communion with her. We also explor...Show More
9) Day 342: Trinitarian Prayer (2025)
What is the significance of praying to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit? As we explore the path of prayer, the Catechism elaborates on the concept of trinitarian prayer and underscores the imp...Show More
10) Day 341: The Theological Virtues (2025)
The Catechism reveals the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love as additional “wellsprings” of prayer for us to connect with the Father. Fr. Mike explains that we must enter into prayer with fa...Show More