The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast
Episodes
Will I Ever Find the One?
24 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Are you expecting to find that special someone someday, and are you hoping you’ll live happily ever after? Be honest. We’ve all had that hope at s...
Praying Through Holy Week
24 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Find out how the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist from Duluth pray during Holy Week, and maybe discover something you can use in your prayer life a...
Prepare to Die
24 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
When we’re caught up in life, it’s easy to forget that it’s going to end someday. So, will you be prepared? Fr. Mike suggests that we use Lent a...
Shifting into a New Relationship
24 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
There will be conflict and arguments in relationships; it’s inevitable. But, we don’t have to let those situations cause irreparable damage. In th...
Confirmation Sponsors & Female Priests
24 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz answers questions about the Catholic Faith from his listeners. In his first answer, he offers a few practical ways t...
Aren't All Churches the Same?
24 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
There’s an ancient symbol that uses a ship or boat to represent the Catholic Church. In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz takes that analogy a step fur...
Tips for Praying
24 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Prayer isn’t just another good thing to do; it’s absolutely necessary if we want to know God’s will in our lives and draw closer to him. The tro...
What Defines You?
19 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Whether it’s our reputation as the smartest person in the class or office or a signature beard that makes us look like Chuck Norris, we all have som...
Martha or Mary? - Who Should You Be?
12 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Learning from Your Past
05 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this video, Fr. Mike advises us to dwell in the present and bring into this moment what we learned from the past. He points out that, while it isn'...
The Gospels of Grace and Nature
01 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Fr. Mike’s popular Ascension Presents video series in audio form.
Season for Everything
22 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The Church in its great wisdom has designed the liturgical calendar with the human spirit in mind. In this video, Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the reason...
The Immaculate Conception Explained
18 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that Mary actually knew her child would save the world? In fact, she was saved around forty-seven years before Jesus died. Fr. Mike Schmi...
Waiting for Christmas
15 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes when God tells us to wait he wants us to actively receive his grace for that moment. This is especially true during Advent. In this video, F...
Advent- More than a Chocolate Calendar
01 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
What does Advent mean to you? A time to put the lights up, gift shop, and eat chocolate? Or is it something more? Fr. Mike says it’s good to prepare...
The Cure for Entitlement
29 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
G.K. Chesterton said “thanks are the highest form of thought, and gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” In this video, Fr. Mike Schmitz maint...
Spiritual Blind Spots
05 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Fr. Mike Schmitz shines light on the blind spots in our spiritual life and points out that sometimes we are unaware of spiritual battles waging within...
The Power of Prayer
03 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Fr. Mike lays down the reasons we should pray and gives a few spot-on examples of how real life reflects the nature of prayer. Through prayer, God inv...
How to Avoid Being Ungrateful
22 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Fr. Mike Schmitz reminds us to appreciate our blessings while we have them, rather than complaining when they are taken from us. Gratitude is a powerf...
Does God Love Some People More Than Others?
15 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Fr. Mike’s answer to this question may make you think differently about God’s love. He helps to reorient our perspective—explaining that it is n...
Hope in the Face of Suicide
07 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
With the way our culture disregards life sometimes, it is easy for the question “Is life worth living?” to surface. In this episode, Fr. Mike Schm...
Save Yourself from Helplessness
09 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
When life throws challenge after challenge at us, it is easy to just give in and think we are helpless. In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz offers an up...
I Ain't Afraid of No Ghosts!
21 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The mere thought of ghosts can give us goose bumps sometimes, but there are still moments when we think ghost stories are just made up to scare us. Ma...
4 Reasons for Fasting
18 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The Significance of Ash Wednesday
10 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
They may just be ashes, but Fr. Mike points out that what they represent goes far beyond mere dust of the earth. With a simple cross on the forehead, ...
Lucifer, the Trinity, and Leisurely Sundays
28 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Fr. Mike Schmitz tackles several tough questions from his listeners, like “Who became the new light-bearer after Lucifer fell?” and “How do we m...
I'm Sorry Versus Thank You
21 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
When we inconvenience someone, we may feel like we are in their debt. If so, Fr. Mike Schmitz encourages us to apologize to that person, but further, ...
Ways to Read the Bible
14 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Maybe you used to read the Bible for inspiration, for its great stories, or for answers to the big questions in life. But now, it sits on your nightst...
Did the Church Ever Sell Indulgences?
07 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
When we think of indulgences, many of us think of an outdated and unfair Church practice that alienated many Catholics and sparked the Reformation cen...
Why God Loves You
29 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Fr. Mike Schmitz offers a relieving truth about God's paradoxical love for us, how he loves us: not in spite of our weaknesses, but because of them.
Influencing the World
16 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone has influence over someone. If we are striving to be great saints, then the people we influence will observe how we live and model themselves...
Making a Good Confession
10 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
If you have ever wondered how to make a good confession, Fr. Mike Schmitz offers four powerful ways we can examine our consciences so that our experi...
What's Your Bedtime?
03 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
What if today's attempts to be productive deprive us of the sleep we need to function tomorrow? Fr. Mike Schmitz gives us several good reasons to stop...
Thanksgiving Special- Squanto
25 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
In this special Thanksgiving episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz offers different perspectives on the story of Squanto, showing how blessings can be found in di...
No Spiritual Director- No Problem!
16 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Fr. Mike Schmitz offers resources for those who want spiritual direction but can’t find a spiritual director. He recommends the study program Oremus...
Getting a Spiritual Director
12 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever thought you might like a spiritual director, but you don't actually know where to begin? As always, Fr. Mike comes through for you. He o...
All Saints Day Pep Talk
29 Oct 2015
Contributed by Lukas
What does a triathlon have to do with the Communion of Saints? Fr. Mike Schmitz draws parallels between his experience of completing a triathlon and t...
The Greatest Surprise- Jesus' Second Coming
15 Oct 2015
Contributed by Lukas
When Christ comes again, will it be a great surprise, or will it be more like an unwelcome Halloween scare? Father Mike Schmitz recommends getting to ...
Do Catholics Follow All Those Weird Old Testament Laws?
08 Oct 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Fr. Mike Schmitz explains why Christians are called to follow some laws of the Old Testament and not others. Passing on the advice of Pope Benedict XV...
Padre Pio's Secret to Holiness
01 Oct 2015
Contributed by Lukas
What is the true sign of sainthood? Fr. Mike Schmitz explains why it’s not the stigmata or the ability to miraculously heal people. Saints like Padr...
Overwhelmed?
17 Sep 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Father Mike Schmitz tells us what you can do when you’re overwhelmed. Sharing the advice of engineers, artists, and St. Paul himself, Father Mike he...
Ashley Madison & Crushes on Other People
10 Sep 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Ascension Presents’ Father Mike Schmitz breaks down the strong emotions behind the Ashley Madison scandal, laying out the real dilemma deep in the h...
Did God Change?
03 Sep 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Father Mike Schmitz explains why God focuses on justice in the Old Testament and then shows his mercy in the New Testament. To some readers of the Bib...
What Does God Want Me To Do?
27 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Father Mike Schmitz directs us to the story of Israel’s desert wanderings in the Old Testament and the Annunciation to Mary in the Gospels, describi...
Captain America-Superheroes Analyzed
20 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Why Captain America is a true Christian superhero.
Acceptance
15 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Father Mike Schmitz discusses the personal renewal that can come from accepting the hardships, tragedies and difficult situations that hit us througho...
TV-MA- America's Addiction
07 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Father Mike discusses why our culture is addicted to "mature" content on television. This addiction is a sign of deeper issues facing society.
Learning from Judas
23 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
What if Judas chose to share his true intentions with one of the other apostles? Instead, he kept his plans to himself, preferring to keep them unexpo...
Heaven: You're Not Good Enough (and why that's okay)
15 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
If getting to heaven were anything like getting into the Olympics, no one would make it. None of us are good enough to spend eternity in God’s prese...
Forgiveness
09 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Father Mike Schmitz teaches us that forgiveness is rooted in justice. It doesn’t forget or ignore the injustice done, but it frees us from the need ...
What's My Vocation?
02 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Father Mike Schmitz gives some direction that can lead to an answer for ourselves or someone we know. He shares how a vocation is mor...
Batman V Superman Anticipation
25 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we tend to bring down our heroes to a more ordinary, human level, and make them less worthy of our aspirations. Fr. Mike challenges this trend,...
Time to Pray
18 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Father Mike Schmitz points out how oftentimes the issue is not whether we have time to pray but whether we truly believe that prayer works. If we trul...
Bruce Jenner & the Transgender Question
11 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Commenting on the recent Bruce Jenner “gender reassignment” issue, Father Mike Schmitz discusses the difference between one’s perception of gend...
Bears. Beats. Battlestar Galactica.
21 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Father Mike discusses how unwanted thoughts and temptations come and go, like a bear that intrudes upon your campsite and then leaves if you don’t b...
Fr. Mike Reviews the Avengers 2
14 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Father Mike offers a reflection on Avengers: Age of Ultron. Totalitarian governments tried to protect people by offering them comfort and security. Fr...