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

Day 293: Legitimate Defense (2026)

Is there ever a time where legitimate defense is justifiable? The Catechism answers this question and how it relates to honoring the dignity of the human person as we div

Day 292: Respect for Human Life (2026)

We begin exploring the fifth commandment: “you shall not kill”. The Catechism reminds us that human life is sacred, and we must not take the life of another innocent huma

Day 291: The Political Community and the Church (2026)

We take a look at what the Catechism teaches about the Church in relation to political communities. Every institution has their own vision of what it means to be human, w

Day 290: The Duties of Citizens (2026)

As citizens of a nation, we have certain responsibilities in accordance with God’s Law. The Catechism provides parameters for contributing to society, welcoming the forei

Day 289: Family, Society, and the Kingdom (2026)

While family is important, the Catechism states, “The first vocation of the Christian is to follow Jesus.” This means that parents should support Christ's call for their

Day 288: The Duties of Parents (2026)

Being a parent is far more than just having kids. As the Catechism reminds us, the fruitfulness of married love extends to the moral and spiritual education of a couple’s

Day 287: The Gratitude of Children (2026)

Gratitude is the proper response of children toward their parents. Out of this gratitude comes respect. When we are children at home, this respect includes “true docility

Day 286: The Family and Society (2026)

The family is the foundational element of society. Fr. Mike explains how families initiate us into societal life and act as the foundation of freedom and community. Becau

Day 285: The Nature of the Family (2026)

In learning the core and fundamental definition of the family, we read today that a family is formed by a “man and a woman united in marriage, together with their childre

Day 284: The Fourth Commandment (2026)

The fourth commandment addresses the most universal human relationship: our relationship with our parents. Why does God command us to honor our father and our mother? Fr.

Day 283: The Day of Rest (2026)

We all tend to make an idol of work. The Catechism teaches us that Sunday is a day of grace and rest from work. Fr. Mike explains what holy leisure looks like, emphasizin

Day 282: The Sunday Obligation (2026)

Why are Catholics obligated to attend Mass every Sunday? The Catechism teaches us today about the centrality of the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist in the life of the

Day 281: Keep Holy the Lord’s Day (2026)

We begin exploring the third commandment and learn about rest and worship concerning the Lord’s Day. The Catechism points out that God models what he wants for us as he a

Day 280: The Christian Name (2026)

What does it mean to bear the Christian name? The Catechism reminds us that in Baptism, we are given our Christian name, which is sacred. Our name represents the dignity

Day 279: False Oaths (2026)

Together, with Fr. Mike, we continue our examination of the second commandment. Fr. Mike emphasizes that an oath engages the Lord’s name, and the Lord is the Lord of trut

Day 278: The Second Commandment (2026)

We begin our examination of the second commandment, to not take the Lord’s name in vain. Fr. Mike emphasizes that God has revealed his sacred name to us, and it is our du

Day 277: Agnosticism and Graven Images (2026)

As we reach the conclusion of the section on the first commandment, we end by taking a closer look at agnosticism and graven images. Fr. Mike unpacks the different forms

Day 276: Irreligion and Atheism (2026)

We continue our examination of the first commandment, unpacking irreligion and atheism. Fr. Mike highlights the different elements of irreligion, namely tempting God in w

Day 275: Superstition, Idolatry, and Magic (2026)

Superstition, idolatry, divination, and magic are all things we can encounter in our daily lives, and, with Fr. Mike, we unpack how they break the first commandment. Fr.

Day 274: Social Duty of Religion (2026)

The social duty of religion and the right to religious freedom are presented to us in the Catechism. We examine what it means to have respect for other religions and the