The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

They say that perfection is the enemy of the good. But what is true goodness in a pursuit? What does excellence actually look like and consist of? Today, Fr. Mike urges us to practice two qualities that lie at the heart of excellence: promptness and preparedness.

How do you know you've had an encounter with God? Sometimes it's hard to tell, especially if you were raised in the Faith. Today, Fr. Mike shares his own conversion story, and encourages us to think of a time or a season where you decided to devote your life to God, because Jesus was there in that time, even if you didn't realize it.

Grief is a human emotion and and affects each of us at one time or another. The Catholic Church in all her wisdom offers us this beautiful prayer in the rite of Christian burial: "Indeed for your faithful, Lord, life is changed not ended, and, when this earthly dwelling turns to dust, an eternal dwelling is made ready for them in heaven.” Continuing on the theme of death and grief, today, Fr. Mike offers a word of hope and encouragement to anyone who is grieving. Our grief as Christians should look different. We are called to grieve not like the rest.

Everyone you know and love is going to die someday. You will too, but... the thought of losing everyone else can sometimes be all the more frightening. This is a natural response to the ugly, "unnatural" reality of death, and those feelings of fear are not "wrong" to feel. But, today, Fr. Mike implores you to take heart. There is yet one person who will never leave you.

Do aliens from outer space really exist? Did God create them? Are they intelligent? What does that mean for our faith? Today, Fr. Mike's answer might not be what you're looking for, but... it's the truth.

What if no one ever told you about Jesus? Your life probably wouldn't have so many rules. You wouldn't be as guilty for any sins you commit (you wouldn't even know they were sins in the first place). You wouldn't need to evangelize. And you wouldn't know that the God of the universe—your creator—loves you with a burning passion that you can't even imagine. Today, Fr. Mike makes the case that it is better to know Christ. It is better to live in the truth. And it is better to take on the challenge of Christian discipleship.

When things don't go the way we expect, it's hard not to be frustrated and disappointed. How do we move on after unmet expectations? And how do we break the vicious cycle? Today, Fr. Mike tells us how to keep it real.

When you go to a concert for your favorite band, and that band has been around for a while, what songs are everybody showing up for? The new ones off of the most recent EP? Or the classics? And when that iconic song kicks off and the fans go mad... what do they want to hear? A modern reworking? Or the original—"just like the album"? Today, Fr. Mike makes the case for worshipping God at Mass the way that he asks to be worshipped—not the way that we think he should be worshipped. "O Beauty ever ancient, ever new..."

There is an age old question often debated among between Catholics and Protestant. Are we saved by faith or works? How are we saved? Today, Fr. Mike continues the discussion on faith and weighs in on the Catholic Church's teaching on faith and works. The answer may surprise you.

We must place our faith in Christ in order to allow him to save us. But what does it actually mean to have faith? What does it look like? Does it mean you just "agree" with everything Jesus and his Church say? Or is it deeper than that? Today, Fr. Mike draws a sharp distinction between faith and mere "agreement", and calls us to a more radical trust in our savior.

In our world today, there are millions trapped in slavery and sex trafficking. The most horrific and devastating example of this is the sale of the weakest and most vulnerable in society, our children. Today, Fr. Mike shares his honest review of the film, "Sound of Freedom," currently in theaters, and offers a word of encouragement for how each of us can confront this terrible reality head-on and proactively do something about it.

If you profess to be a Christian, that means that you profess to follow Jesus Christ. But, of course, that presupposes that you know who Jesus is—where he came from, what he came to do, where he went, and what he continues to do until the end of time. Our understanding of Jesus can be shaped by our parents, our schooling, our culture, and our own ignorance. But, today, Fr. Mike redirects us to the primary revelation about Jesus that we have access to: scripture.

You probably don't outright lie on a regular basis. But, do you exaggerate? Do you give half truths sometimes, or leave things unclear on purpose? Do you hide some facts in order to smooth things over? Today, Fr. Mike shows us the very-human reasons we all struggle with these "white lies", and how to tell the "full" truth more often. "Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil." —Jesus in Matthew 5:37

Whether you're cultivating a life of prayer with Jesus for the first time or you're trying to reignite that fire in your soul, the breadth of prayer advice can be dizzyingly overwhelming. If you're open to it, today, Fr. Mike has one more prayer to try out: T-A-R. Tell the Lord what's on your heart Ask him for what you need Rely on the Lord to answer your prayer It might seem simple, but it might change your prayer life forever.

"Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord." (Ephesians 5:22) Woah! Come again? On the list of controversial and misunderstood Bible verses, this is near the top. When it swings through in the cycle of Mass readings, folks are often left in the pew looking at each other like, "Did anyone else just hear what St. Paul said?" If you'll let Fr. Mike explain this scripture passage, it will transform the way you understand Christian marriage (for the better).

We know this: when we go to the sacrament of reconciliation with a truly contrite heart and receive absolution, we are forgiven of our sins by the blood of Jesus Christ. So, if you've ever left the confessional still feeling bad, you might wonder... "What gives?" Today, Fr. Mike identifies 3 reasons why we might be experiencing a lingering feeling of guilt after confession, and he gives us a bit of advice to deal with those feelings. "I'm forgiven, but I still have to deal with the consequences." "Someone else knows what I did." "I've broken God's heart." Finally, Fr. Mike reveals the source of these lingering regrets. The solution is deceptively simple.

"If no one gets hurt is it still a sin?" "It was just an accident." How can we know if our actions are a sin or just a mistake? Can we be committing sin without knowing it? Today Fr. Mike details the three elements that must be present for an act to be a sin and he helps us grapple with our own sinfulness and God's desire for mercy and reconciliation.

How much prayer is too much prayer? Our relationship with God is the most important relationship we will ever have. But what about when our devotions clash with our responsibilities to our loved ones? Or attendance to other obligations? Today, Fr. Mike tells us what it means to "pray without ceasing"... and what it doesn't mean.

The call to holiness can feel like an overwhelming challenge. In fact it can seem downright impossible. But in spite of our brokenness, sinfulness and littleness God keeps calling us to "walk on the water" with Him. Today Fr. Mike contrasts our "mercenary heart" – which so easily is swayed to pursue the pleasures of the world which draws our gaze away from Jesus – with the "Merciful Heart of Jesus" that seeks to draw us to Himself.

The question of evil, suffering and brokenness in our world can be a hard one to grapple with. Sometimes, when we're in a place of darkness, the question can arise, "Would it be better if I had never been born?" Today, Fr. Mike tackles these incredibly tough questions and offers some insights into why God created you, and why it is good that you exist.