The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

Fr. Mike talks about the real reasons Christ tells us to fast. It isn’t just about strengthening our will and showing our love for God through some small sacrifice. Ultimately, it’s about freedom. When we give up something for Lent, by the time Lent is over we may find we never needed that thing in the first place and may never feel we need it again.

Fr. Mike offers a refreshing reason for fasting​ on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting shouldn’t be simply something Catholics do to show they are Catholic. It is a way to show God that we give him our hearts and care about what he asks of us.

The more we live in the truth, the harder it will be for others to offend us, because false statements about us won't bother us and true ones won't be hidden from us. In this video, Fr. Mike lays out why, as Catholic Christians, we are called to be both unoffensive and “unoffendable,” and explains how we can do that.

In this video, Fr. Mike explains how prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the three pillars of a spiritually fruitful Lent. He then challenges us to try new ways to exercise these Lenten practices, sharing several simple strategies for drawing closer to God during this holy season.

Even though mortal sins are more deadly than venial sins, that doesn’t mean venial sins are harmless. Fr. Mike explains the damage venial sins do to us and advises us to not become complacent in our sin, no matter how minor it may seem to us, because all sin negatively impacts our relationship with God.

First Thessalonians 5:17 says to “pray constantly,” but how do we do that? In this video, Fr. Mike Schmitz suggests a three-step approach used by St. Francis de Sales. These steps can be difficult or easy, but the important thing to remember is that simply inviting God into every moment is as good a way to pray as any. If you liked this episode, you may also like Oremus: A Guide to Catholic Prayer (http://bit.ly/2fEBTaB).

How can we know if God is speaking to us through a dream? Is it acceptable to wear a chapel veil to a Novus Ordo Mass? Fr. Mike responds to these questions from his audience with clarity and enthusiasm, helping us discover the underlying principles behind his answers.

In this episode, Fr. Mike lays out not just what sin is but also what it is not. He also explains the difference between regret and repentance, and how evil is really just the absence of good.

Who doesn’t want to have more constructive conversations in their close relationships? In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz explains how achieving this may be simpler than you think. So many times, we just don’t give the people we love the attention they deserve. Fr. Mike shows us how to fix that and master our love relationships.

It may be difficult to tell a non-practicing Catholic that he or she can’t receive ​C​ommunion, but—as Fr. Mike Schmitz proves in this episode—in the big picture​, ​​you would actually be helping the person. While telling an awe-inspiring story about a seminarian, Fr. Mike lays out what it means to be a practicing Catholic and shows how the requirements can transform ​a person's life.

We have a tendency to want to fix the people we love. While delighting in all their good traits, we think, “If only they didn’t have this one quirk...” In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz explains that love embraces the entire person just the way he or she is. ​He then gives some practical advice on how to do that.

The mark of an adult really comes down to one word: responsibility. In fact, being responsible just happens to be a sign of sainthood as well, according to Fr. Mike. Let’s take back the word "adult" and make it about holiness.

The question addressed in this episode runs much deeper than the cartoon classic All Dogs Go to Heaven. Fr. Mike ventures into the theology of the matter, even taking some words of wisdom from St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Paul—who says in Romans 8, that creation will “share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.” But Fr. Mike also redirects our interest in heaven, helping us focus on embracing Someone far greater than our beloved pets.

Fr. Mike explains that Church teachings can develop without essentially changing. Using examples such as the doctrine of the Incarnation and abstaining from meat on Fridays, he shows how the heart of certain teachings always remains the same, even though our explanation or practice of them may evolve.

How can God be good, but allow bad things to happen? Fr. Mike Schmitz tackles one of the toughest questions religious believers must answer

Fr. Mike reflects on why God often takes his time when working in our lives. Sometimes God has to go back to the foundation of a problem to answer our prayers. This takes time, but every moment is worth it because it’s time spent with him.

Fr. Mike Schmitz gives us some things to consider before getting a tattoo. If we do choose to place permanent marks on our bodies, Fr. Mike advises us to make sure the marks portray values we’ll always identify with and live up to, because tattoos do inevitably say something about who we are.

With all of the communication we do through the Internet and over the phone, why do we still have to go to confession in person? Fr. Mike Schmitz explains the importance of the matter.

Fr. Mike helps us break down the barriers that may keep us from evangelizing. He points out that the best way to spread the gospel is just by being yourself, and leading people to Christ in your own way. Sometimes the greatest witness is a quiet one.