The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast
Faith, pop culture, and headline reflections from Fr. Mike Schmitz.
Episodes
July 25, 2024 • 7 mins
Calling all Moms and Dads! You might feel discouraged or frustrated as you parent and seek to keep your kids close to Christ.
Today, Fr. Mike wants to share a word of encouragement with you! "Moms (and Dads), you're doing a great job!"
You don't need to be perfect to get your kids to heaven. You must keep showing up and loving, and let God do the rest!
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July 18, 2024 • 8 mins
Maybe you've heard the phrase before, "the middleman is a lie." Or maybe you've found yourself wondering why we have an institutional church as Catholics when the Scriptures state clearly that there is only one mediator between God and man, namely Jesus Christ.
Today, Fr. Mike tackles this question and offers some guidance for those who may be tempted to get frustrated with the human and sometimes sinful element of the Catholic Ch...
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July 11, 2024 • 5 mins
The Bible is the Word of God. It is a foundation of our faith. And it tells the story of the human race—a story that you're a part of. But... what exactly is that story? What's the narrative? If you only had 10 minutes to share it... what would you say?
Ascension and Fr. Mike Schmitz—creators of the Bible in a Year podcast—teamed up to produce a beautiful, clear, shareable summary of the story of salvation: The Bible in 10 Minutes ...
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July 4, 2024 • 8 mins
If you have a family member, friend, or loved one who is far from God, you're not alone. You're in good company—not the least of which is God the Father himself, who works so hard to unite us with himself. If someone you love has stopped going to Church, or isn't practicing the faith anymore, or hasn't yet said "yes" to Jesus to begin with, what is the best way to love them?
Today, Fr. Mike has 4 simple things you can do to keep lo...
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June 27, 2024 • 8 mins
Does a passing blue jay remind you of a deceased loved one? Does a specific number or color call their loss to your memory? Could they be speaking to you through these signs?
Today, Fr. Mike opens up about navigating the loss of his own mother and finding hope and peace in the midst of that grief. The bottom line is, your loved ones can't cause these "signs" to happen—only God can work in nature in that way. But these unexpected oc...
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June 20, 2024 • 6 mins
We've got a "Marriage Pop-Quiz" for you! Would you ditch your spouse to catch a flight?
Imagine you're traveling with your spouse. They go to the bathroom while you wait for your flight to board. But they don't come back. And you're going to miss your flight. Should you board it and ditch your spouse? What would you do in this situation?
According to Fr. Mike, there is only one correct answer to this question. And the answer might ...
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June 13, 2024 • 8 mins
Momma always said, "Son, you don't like something? Well, offer it up!"
Today, Fr. Mike explores the traditional understanding of offering up your pain, embracing your suffering, and making sacrifices in the spiritual life.
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June 6, 2024 • 8 mins
The sacraments that Christ gave his church are powerful. They are life changing. But... they are not magic.
Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection makes salvation possible for all of us. But there is one key ingredient that only you can supply. Fr. Mike encourages you to give that key ingredient to God today.
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May 30, 2024 • 6 mins
If you're truly open-minded, you can find some truth in most religions. You can find plenty of goodness and beauty as well. But where is the whole truth of God—the "fullness of truth"?
Fr. Mike makes the case for Catholic Christianity, and why you should settle for nothing less.
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May 23, 2024 • 8 mins
When considering the people of the Old Testament before Jesus's coming, we might ask ourselves: "Are those without the knowledge of Jesus destined for eternal damnation?"
And what about those who have never had an opportunity in our day and age to hear the name of Jesus and accept faith? "Where do they go when they die?"
Today, Fr. Mike explores these tough questions, drawing on the sacred scriptures and the church's teachings on ...
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May 16, 2024 • 7 mins
Pope John Paul II said that what modern man needs—and is missing—is an "adequate anthropology", or, a full understanding of what it looks like to be human. Over the course of his pontificate, he gave it his best shot using the entirety of scripture, 2,000 years of church teaching, and the latest scientific understandings of the human person.
Today, we call it the Theology of the Body. And it will change the way you look at yourself...
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May 9, 2024 • 7 mins
Have you been confirmed? Have you received the Sacrament of Confirmation yet? Does this mean you're a "grown-up" Catholic now—that you've graduated? Not quite. There's so much more to it than that.
Today, Fr. Mike breaks down the 5 effects that flow from receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.
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May 2, 2024 • 8 mins
Is there any hope for unity in the United States of America? Fr. Mike gives a resounding "yes". But not over politics or policies—but the principles that our country was founded on.
What's the difference between politics/policies and principles? Fr. Mike has a take that might make you think.
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April 25, 2024 • 5 mins
A question to anyone who is thinking about rejecting Jesus (or has accepted him for that matter): have you even met him? Do you know who you are rejecting?
You might think the answer is yes. The answer might even be yes. But Fr. Mike has something that every single one of us needs to consider before deciding whether or not to stick by Jesus and his Church.
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April 19, 2024 • 4 mins
Have you ever had dark, disturbing dreams? If you did, did you feel guilty when you woke up? Did you have some vague sense of shame that such dreams came from your mind?
If you’ve ever experienced this, you might have even wondered whether or not such dreams could be considered “sinful.” Fr. Mike is here today to give you the short answer—no, dreams themselves cannot be considered sinful—and the long answer… what are you doing duri...
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April 11, 2024 • 8 mins
Does good prayer feel out of reach for you? Do distractions plague you unceasingly? Are you wondering if you're supposed to be getting more out of prayer time?
Fr. Mike proposes a simple 4-part roadmap to better, more fulfilling prayer time. It's not difficult—it just takes practice.
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April 4, 2024 • 7 mins
Who is orchestrating your life? If it's God—and not you—what will you say to him? Fr. Mike suggests trying "yes."
Whether life circumstances bring the best out of you or the worst out of you, you need Jesus more than you think you do. And that is a very good thing. Here's why.
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March 28, 2024 • 9 mins
Do you have FOMO? Are you always worried about what you might miss out on?
Today, Fr. Mike explores why this fear of missing out could be a gift in the spiritual life using the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ as he unravels how the disciples' FOMO led them to overlook a pivotal moment in history.
The call is to BE fully present. Don't miss out on God moments.
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March 21, 2024 • 5 mins
Everyone bears burdens and faces unseen challenges. Leading a life filled with love is often the simplest path to personal growth.
In this discussion, Fr. Mike delves into extending grace to strangers. A small gesture of kindness, such as offering a smile or lending a helping hand, can cultivate a community of grace and love. He reminds us that everyone navigates life's complexities differently. Fr. Mike emphasizes that acts of ki...
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March 14, 2024 • 5 mins
Fr. Mike Schmitz delves deeply into the profound significance of the leper's words to Jesus:
'If you will it, you can make me clean.'
This verse from Matthew's Gospel embodies the very essence of faith. Fr. Mike explains how this statement captures the heart of faith in two ways: the trust inherent in believing that Christ can purify us and the trust involved in believing in him even if he chooses not to. Fr. Mike says this is the ...
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