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

Episode: Day 12 — Receiving Dogmas (2026)
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Date: January 12, 2026
Reading: Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraphs 88–95

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the Church's dogmas—definitive teachings that Catholics are called to receive with gratitude. Fr. Mike explores what dogmas are, how they guide and illuminate faith, the role of the Magisterium, and the supernatural appreciation of faith (sensus fidei) gifted to all believers. Key Church teachings from Vatican II documents such as Lumen Gentium and Dei Verbum are highlighted, emphasizing the interconnectedness of Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and the teaching authority of the Church.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Dogmas and Their Role (00:05 – 04:30)

• Fr. Mike reiterates the Catechism’s structure: Revelation comes to us through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, interpreted by the Magisterium.
• Dogmas are introduced as “lights along the path of faith” (see Catechism 89) and as truths that illuminate and secure the journey of believers.
• Quote:
  — “Dogmas are those definitive beliefs that have been clearly and explicitly taught that we are bound to believe. So those dogmas of the faith are given to us and they're good.” (02:10)

2. Receiving Dogmas with Openness and Gratitude (04:30 – 09:30)

• Fr. Mike addresses common resistance to dogmas, emphasizing that they are not burdens but gifts meant for our good.
• The Catechism states:
  “If our life is upright, our intellect and heart will be open to welcome the light shed by the dogmas of faith.” (see para. 89)
• He ties this to John 8:31–32 (“you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free”) to illustrate how embracing dogma leads to freedom and deeper faith.
• Memorable Illustration:
  Fr. Mike shares a Chesterton-inspired analogy—a fence around a cliff-top meadow—which demonstrates how boundaries (dogmas) provide true freedom rather than restriction:
  — “When we have dogmas, yes, they give us boundaries, but they give us a boundary so A, we won't fall off the cliff, and B, that we can go anywhere we want within the boundaries. And that's the incredible thing...” (13:00)

3. The Supernatural Appreciation of Faith — Sensus Fidei (09:30 – 13:45)

• Explains how the whole people of God, from bishops to laity, share a supernatural sense of the faith, as articulated in Vatican II's Lumen Gentium.
• Quote from the Catechism:
  — “By this appreciation of the faith, aroused and sustained by the Spirit of truth, the People of God, guided by the sacred teaching authority, the magisterium, receives the faith once for all delivered to the saints...” (11:35)

4. Growth in Understanding the Faith (13:45 – 17:00)

• The Holy Spirit enables the Church’s understanding of faith to deepen through:
  1. Theological study and contemplation
  2. Personal spiritual experience (Scripture grows with the one who reads)
  3. Preaching and episcopal teaching with the charism of truth
• Fr. Mike emphasizes spiritual growth as a communal ecclesial process—not merely intellectual but incarnate in the lived experience of the faithful.
• Draws attention to the importance of moving from “hearers of the Word” to “doers of the Word.”

5. The Essential Unity: Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium (17:00 – End)

• Recites from Dei Verbum (Catechism 95):
  — “Sacred Tradition, sacred Scripture, and the magisterium of the Church are so connected and associated that one of them cannot stand without the others. Working together, each in its own way, under the action of the one Holy Spirit, they all contribute effectively to the salvation of souls.” (17:30)
• Highlights that all doctrine, revelation, and dogma ultimately aim at salvation—the deeper knowing and loving of God.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Reluctance Towards Dogmas:
  — “The degree to which we receive a dogma with hesitancy or resistance, and the degree to which we receive a dogma with open arms and joy, is going to reveal a lot about our hearts.” (09:15)

• On Dogmas as Gifts:
  — “The dogmas are not merely boundaries. They're also…lights along the path of faith. They illuminate it and make it secure.” (15:30)

• On the Church’s Protective Authority:
  — “If I get rid of the dogmas, if I get rid of the boundaries, what will happen is you'll have these little camps…People will stop diving deeply into the reality of God.” (13:45)

• Closing Reflection:
  — “The point of all of this…The whole point of dogmas, the whole point of revelation, is that you and I can know Him—not just know Him, but love Him like truly Him, the Lord God as He is, and that you and I can do as well. The result of that is the salvation of souls.” (18:55)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:05 — Episode introduction; what this episode will cover
• 02:10 — Definition and value of dogmas
• 07:20 — Receiving dogmas with gratitude
• 10:50 — Supernatural sense of faith: sensus fidei
• 13:00 — Chesterton’s island analogy: boundaries and true freedom
• 15:30 — Dogmas as lights, not just boundaries
• 17:30 — Unity of Scripture, Tradition, and Magisterium (Dei Verbum)
• 18:55 — Ultimate goal: salvation of souls and knowledge of God

Tone & Style

Fr. Mike’s delivery is warm, enthusiastic, and encouraging, rooted in pastoral care and genuine excitement for the richness of Catholic teaching. His tone remains empathetic, patient, and at times delightfully awestruck by the scope and depth of the faith.

Final Reflection

This episode is a compelling exploration of why the Church teaches what it does, how dogmas serve as both guides and protections, and how the entire process of receiving and living the faith is oriented toward the salvation of souls. Through scriptural references, analogies, and reflections on Church documents, Fr. Mike invites listeners to approach dogma not with suspicion or resentment, but with gratitude, seeing it as a luminous gift on the journey of faith.