The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast
Faith, pop culture, and headline reflections from Fr. Mike Schmitz.
Episodes
What's the difference between criticism and correction, and does it really matter?
Fr. Mike Schmitz explains how to offer correction in a way that is both loving and effective. Instead of assuming motives, resorting to name-calling, or making personal attacks, he encourages us to focus on the facts. And when we're unsure of someone's intentions, choose trust over suspicion.
Are headlines, podcasts, and politics consuming your attention?
Fr. Mike Schmitz encourages us to step away from the constant noise of news, politics, and our phones and turn instead to Scripture. In the Bible, we encounter the wisdom, truth, and peace that no news cycle can provide.
What do you say to someone when they're at their last moment of life?
Fr. Mike Schmitz shares what he would tell someone who's dying and it might be different than what you think.
Fr. Mike wants everyone to be Catholic, but why? Isn't Catholicism just a list of rules?
Fr. Mike Schmitz explains why the Catholic faith is about far more than simply “following rules.” Instead, it’s about encountering the goodness of God and experiencing the beauty of life with Him through the Catholic faith.
"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." Matthew 18:6
Fr. Mike Schmitz reminds us that our actions carry weight. He cautions us to remember that someone is always watching, and that we represent something greater than ourselves. Are our actions and behaviors leading others closer to God o...
If you're a Christian and you follow Theo Von at all, you've probably heard about his reaction to an audience member calling in and getting vulnerable about his struggles. Theo Von responds by opening up about his ongoing spiritual journey and his struggles in vice and prayer.
But Fr. Mike didn't choose to highlight this moment just because of Theo Von and his journey. Theo Von's vulnerability, honesty, and frankness reveal a lot ...
We can fall into two traps when it comes to the body: believing the body is nothing, or believing the body is everything. Both are distortions of the truth.
Fr. Mike Schmitz reminds us that we are both body and soul. Your body is part of who you are, and your soul is part of who you are, so caring for both matter.
At the same time, St. Pope John Paul II warned against the “cult of the body”, the idea that our value is...
Struggling to pray?
Fr. Mike Schmitz shows how Ignatian prayer makes prayer simple again by using Scripture and your imagination to enter into the Gospel. Begin by asking the Holy Spirit for help, choosing a short Gospel passage, and slowly immersing yourself in it one sense at a time.
Rather than replacing other prayers, Ignatian prayer deepens them, helping you grow in trust and a more personal relationship with Christ.
Pray the Luminous Mysteries with Fr. Mike Schmitz!
Struggling to understand the Bible?
Fr. Mike Schmitz shares how the Great Adventure Bible Timeline helped him finally connect the story of salvation. Now fully refreshed, with on-location filming and expert insights, this powerful series brings Scripture to life like never before.
Whether you're new or experienced, see the big picture of God’s plan and your place in it!
Happy Easter! In this joyful season, as we celebrate the beauty of our faith, we’re also reminded of our human brokenness, and how at times, that brokenness can reflect poorly on the Church.
Fr. Mike Schmitz encourages us not to get discouraged nor walk away, whether we’re new to the Church or have been Catholic our whole lives, but instead to refocus on what makes our faith truly unique, Jesus Christ, fully present in...
Throughout Lent, and really throughout the entire Christian life, we keep Christ crucified before our eyes as a reminder of how deeply we are loved. But it also confronts us with a question: Do I want to be associated with that?
Fr. Mike Schmitz challenges us, especially during Holy Week but also every day, to answer honestly: Do I want to be associated with Jesus, even if it means suffering?
Our hope is that the answer becomes &...
Fr. Mike Schmitz sits down with Michael Iskander, best known for his role as King David in House of David, for a powerful conversation on faith, vocation, and the journey toward God.
They reflect on David as a flawed man after God’s own heart, exploring what it means to live faithfully, trust God’s mercy, and simply do the “next right thing.”
Michael also shares his journey to Catholicism, including his ex...
Will only Catholics go to Heaven? Is there any hope for those outside the Catholic Church?
Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the doctrine, "Outside the Church there is no salvation," to help us understand God's plan for redemption and His intention to save all, both Catholic and non-Catholic.
Our lives are so full of noise, distractions, constant activity. But we weren’t made to be filled with these things.
Fr. Mike Schmitz reminds us that fasting isn’t just about food. It’s about emptying ourselves so God can fill us. Lent isn’t only about saying no, it’s about saying yes to Someone greater.
So often we focus our Lent on discipline, willpower, and perfection. But the goal isn’t perfection. The goal is union.
Fr. Mike Schmitz shares that the most powerful thing he ever did for Lent wasn’t adding more prayers, books, or practices, instead it was choosing silence.
See how this simple step can transform your Lent and bring you closer to the Lord than ever before!
When someone gets chosen instead of you, how should you respond?
Fr. Mike Schmitz reminds us that God has a unique plan for each and every one of us. When others are blessed by being chosen, there is often a hidden burden that comes with it. We tend to see the blessing, but we forget the weight that accompanies it.
Instead of giving in to jealousy or self-pity, remember this: everyone has their own story. If God didn’t choo...
Falling into the same sin again and again? Don't let the devil fool you, there is hope!
Fr. Mike Schmitz warns us of the lies of the devil and encourages us to go immediately to confession when we sin. Don't get discouraged, but have the humility to confess your sins and the hope that Christ can transform you!
If in weakness you sin, in freedom, claim the Lord.
What's in our heart that refuses to celebrate when good things happen to someone else?
Fr. Mike Schmitz reflects on the story of the man healed on the Sabbath. Many focus on the fact that Jesus healed on the Sabbath, though technically allowed, but Fr. Mike invites us to look deeper.
The real issue isn’t the law. It’s the heart. More than Jesus performing the miracle, what this story exposes is that sometimes we fail...
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