Podcast Summary: Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz

Episode: 04/12/26 – The Next...: The Next Confession

Date: April 11, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension
Theme: Divine Mercy Sunday, the transforming power of “the next confession,” and keeping love for God alive.

Episode Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz speaks about the importance of not letting our spiritual fervor fade after moments of grace, such as first confession or Holy Communion. On Divine Mercy Sunday, he challenges listeners to consider not merely their "first" or "latest" confession, but their "next" confession. Drawing on contemporary Church life, the Gospel, and the message of Divine Mercy, Fr. Mike outlines practical steps to keep our love for God burning bright through the sacrament of reconciliation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Joy of New Beginnings, But What Comes Next?

• Timestamps: [03:40]–[06:40]
  • Fr. Mike celebrates the thousands of new Catholics who received Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion during the Easter Vigil. The Diocese of Duluth has seen remarkable growth, being “the most improved” in the state.
  • He acknowledges the “fire” new converts feel but asks a critical question: How can everyone – new or experienced Catholics – avoid letting that fire grow cold?
  • Quote: “We all know the reality is that I can have my first confession, I can have my first Communion, and then what can be true is my heart can still grow cold, love can still grow cold.” [05:23]

2. A Four-Week Series: Focus on ‘The Next’

• Timestamps: [06:20]–[07:30]
  • Fr. Mike introduces a mini-series leading up to summer: “The Next.” Topics will include the next confession, next communion, next step, and even next goodbye—to keep love alive as students prepare for graduation and summer breaks.

3. Divine Mercy Sunday: Context and Meaning

• Timestamps: [07:31]–[14:10]
  • Discusses how love can grow cold historically and in individual lives.
  • Shares the story of St. Faustina Kowalska and the rise of Divine Mercy devotion—how Jesus appeared to Faustina in the 1930s, saying the world is in need of mercy and inviting everyone to trust in his love.
  • The Chaplet and the Image of Divine Mercy serve as reminders that God’s love and forgiveness are inexhaustible.
  • Quote: “Let no soul fear to draw near to me, even if his sins be as scarlet.” [11:47] (Jesus, reported by St. Faustina)

4. Why the ‘Next Confession’ Matters

• Timestamps: [14:11]–[17:55]
  • Reflecting on the Gospel (John 20), Fr. Mike emphasizes that Jesus’ first act when appearing resurrected to the apostles is to grant them the authority to forgive sins—establishing confession as a central act of mercy.
  • Argues that confession is not about our first or latest experience, but about always looking forward to the next moment of grace.
  • Quote: “Confession is the exercise that your soul needs.” [17:13]

5. Why Regular Confession is Vital

• Timestamps: [17:56]–[26:30]
  • Fr. Mike recommends confession every 2–4 weeks, not as a rule, but as a spiritual ‘exercise.’
  • First Reason: Learning to be honest with oneself by taking an honest inventory of one’s soul, akin to knowing how many subscriptions one pays for or how much screen time one uses.
    • “I think a lot of us want to be honest, and we are honest as we can be. I think a lot of us are just ignorant. Like, meaning we haven’t paid attention.” [19:47]
  • These honest inventories are possible through various examinations of conscience, tailored to different states of life.
  • Encourages use of “consciousness examen” as a daily five-minute reflection on blessings, ignored opportunities, and shortcomings.
  • Second Reason: Confession is an act of faith—not just feeling faithful, but choosing fidelity via the concrete act of confession.
    • “Faith isn’t a feeling. Faith is a posture of trust. It’s a step of trust... faith is an action.” [25:06]
    • Going to confession is proof of faith in action, not just sentiment.

6. Surrender: Placing Everything Under Christ’s Dominion

• Timestamps: [26:31]–[29:30]
  • Fr. Mike explores how confession is an act of surrender, not giving up but giving God access to our hearts, past, present, and even future.
  • Quote: “Surrender is not for Christians... surrender is not giving up, it’s giving access.” [28:01]

7. Confession as the Moment God is Glorified

• Timestamps: [29:31]–[31:53]
  • Every confession you make is a moment of great glory for God—you give Jesus the victory for which he suffered, died, and rose.
  • Quote: “Every time you go to confession, God is glorified... you’re giving him what he wants. You’re giving him what he won. You’re giving him the victory.” [31:05]

8. Personal Testimony: New Life After First Confession

• Timestamps: [31:54]–[34:10]
  • Fr. Mike shares the moving story of a 46-year-old woman, newly received into the Church, who had a profound experience during her first confession, describing overwhelming peace and hearing the phrase, “heaven can begin now,” as she drove away.
  • Quote: “It was everything I imagined and nothing like I imagined.” [32:49]

9. The Enemy’s Tactic: Discouragement

• Timestamps: [34:11]–[36:20]
  • The real danger isn’t sin itself (since God’s mercy is greater), but letting discouragement prevent us from receiving that mercy in “the next confession.”
  • Quote: “The only way, the only weapon the enemy has left is to get us discouraged... to keep us from our next confession.” [35:14]

10. The FINAL Call: Resolve for the Next Confession

• Timestamps: [36:21]–[end]
  • Fr. Mike closes with a stirring challenge to all listeners: Let your next confession be the moment of grace that prevents your love from growing cold and makes space for Christ’s victory in your life.
  • Quote: "No matter how many times we fall… you and I will find mercy, grace, and healing and love in our next confession." [36:51]

Notable Moments & Quotes

• On the Divine Mercy Chaplet:
  “It’s literally my favorite prayer out of any prayer. Not just because it’s shorter than the rosary, but because I believe it’s more powerful than the rosary.” [12:40]

• On Honest Self-Examination:
  “Some of us, the last time we investigated or examined our conscience was as a kid... as opposed to having an adult examination of conscience.” [22:45]

• On Faith and Action:
  “Every time you and I go to confession, that is an exercise of faith.” [26:27]

• On Surrender in Confession:
  “What it is to let Jesus be your Lord. To surrender. Surrender is not for Christians… surrender is not giving up; it’s giving access.” [28:01]

Episode Structure (Timestamps Overview)

• Gospel Reading: [00:55–03:35]
• The Experience of New Catholics: [03:40–06:20]
• Identifying the Real Issue—Love Growing Cold: [06:21–07:30]
• Divine Mercy and St. Faustina: [07:31–14:12]
• The Scriptural Foundation of Confession: [14:13–17:25]
• The Necessity and Practice of Regular Confession: [17:26–26:30]
• Confession as Faith and Surrender: [26:31–29:30]
• Confession Glorifies God: [29:31–31:53]
• Personal Testimony: [31:54–34:10]
• Against Discouragement: [34:11–36:20]
• Closing Appeal for ‘The Next Confession’: [36:21–end]

Conclusion

Fr. Mike Schmitz calls all Catholics—new and seasoned—to see confession not merely as a past milestone but as a continual, vital “exercise” for the soul. “The next confession” is key to keeping love alive, encountering God’s mercy, and giving Jesus the victory he came to win in each heart. Avoid discouragement, take an honest inventory, act in faith, surrender all to Christ, and glorify God: this is how love will never grow cold.

Memorable Closing Quote:
“No matter how many times we fall, this is not my first confession—it’s not about my latest confession—but you and I will find mercy, grace, and healing and love in our next confession.” [36:51]